From Tashkent to Bishkek | overland budget travel
There is no direct international bus from Tashkent to Bishkek as of 2018.
You can use bus and share taxi by way of Kazakhstan or Osh (South Kyrgyzstan).
The route by way of Kazakhstan is inexpensive and time effective.
* As of 2019, there seems to be a direct bus from Tashkent to Bishkek.
Travel season : June, 2017 / June 2018
Route : Tashkent central station (bus terminal) >> Yunusabad >> Chernyayevka >> Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan border >> Zhibek Zholy (Jibek Joly) >> Darkhan Bus Terminal >> Zapadnyi Bus Terminal
Total cost : about 13 USD (94,700 UzSom + 400 Kazakhstan Tenge) in 2017/ about 11 USD (78,300 UzSom + 200 Kazakhstan Tenge) in 2018
Total hours : 14-15h (incl.crossing border)
*Time difference : 1h between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, no difference between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
1) Tashkent central station (bus terminal):Bus #60 >> Yunusabad
Fare : 1200 UzSom
Duration : about 30 min.
Bus stop at Yunusabad
You can find Damas(small van) for the border town, Chernyaevka after crossing the underpass on the right.
2) Yunusabad >> Chernyaevka
Fare : 1500 UzSom (in the case of full 7-8 passengers )
Duration : about 30 min.
3) Chernyaevka >> border
The distance is about 2 km.
<2017>
You also can take a shuttle bus.(Large green bus like a regular city bus)
Fare : 1000 UzSom
Duration : about 5 min.
<2018>
A white mini bus is going from Chernyaevka to the border.
Fare : 600 UzSom
Duration : about 5 min.
4) Crossing the border
The border town in Kazakhstan is Zhibek Zholy. (Jibek Joly)
“The purpose of your visit” on the immigration card should be “TRANSIT” if you are not going to stay in Kazakhstan and directly going to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
5) Zhibek Zholy >> Darkhan Bus Terminal (Darkhan Avtovakzal)
Many local people will head for Shymkent after crossing the border, but it would be better to get a direct bus to Bishkek from Darkhan Bus Terminal, if you don’t have to stop by Shymkent.
Fare : 200 Tenge (in the case of full 4 passenngers on a normal taxi)
Duration : about 5 min.
Darkhan Bus Terminal (Darkhan Avtovakzal)
Darkhan is the bus terminal located about 3km north from the border and on the right side of the road.
The long distance buses for Bishkek, Almaty, Astana are available.
Money exchange from UzSom to Kazakhstan Tenge is available.
6) Darkhan Bus Terminal >> Zapadnyi Bus Terminal (Zapadnyi Avtovakzal)
The departure time for Bishkek is 17:00 and 20:00.
<2017>
Fare : 3500 Tenge (payment by UzSom was acceptable:91000 UzSom)
<2018>
Fare : 3000 Tenge (payment by UzSom was acceptable:75000 UzSom)
Duration : about 12 hours
You can get the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border town, Chaldovar after midnight.
Security check for foreigners is pretty easy.
After crossing the border, it takes about 2.5 hours to get Zapadnyi Bus Terminal in Bishkek.
