After unforgettable adventures in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, we were now set to cap off our month-long journey through Central Asia with some time in Kazakhstan. Early in the morning, we left our cozy guesthouse in central Bishkek and made our way to the city’s western bus station (location) to catch a bus to Almaty.
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We found out that buses departed approximately every two hours. We bought tickets for the next one at 600 som per person and used the short remaining time to wolf down some pastries from the station’s restaurant. At the last minute, we hurried onto the bus—good thing we hadn’t delayed another minute. Three other foreign travelers weren’t so lucky. Arriving at the platform gasping for breath just three minutes after the scheduled departure, they were denied boarding by the indifferent, grim-faced driver—even though he had just shut the door seconds ago and reversed a mere meter.
The trip was comfortable, and the border crossing was fairly smooth, especially compared to the one from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan that we had gone through earlier on this trip. It took only three hours to reach Almaty’s outskirts and another two to navigate the vast city’s chaotic traffic.
We were dropped off at Sayran Bus Terminal (location) in Almaty’s western suburbs and called an Uber. Some more traffic later, we checked into our hostel and began exploring this fascinating city.
Accommodation and activities in Kazakhstan
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