Salam, everyone! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, specialists in scenic horseback riding trips across Central Asia.
Out of the blue: have you ever crossed a border on foot?
It’s a thrill completely different from catching a flight. You hand over your passport, it gets stamped, and the moment you walk through the gate you realize, “Wow, I’m in another country now.” It’s a unique mix of nerves and excitement.
That’s not something you get to experience very often in Japan, is it?
When traveling from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Kyrgyzstan, you can actually cross the border overland instead of flying. Since Almaty has plenty of flights, flying into Almaty greatly widens your options for getting to Kyrgyzstan!
In this article, a staff member who has made the crossing many times explains how to get to the Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan border, how the crossing works, and what to watch out for!
⚠️ Our staff took these photos well before reaching the border. Photography inside the border-crossing buildings is strictly prohibited! Never take photos inside the facilities.
Benefits of Crossing Overland from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan
Many people may feel nervous about crossing a border, but there are two great benefits.
More Ways to Get to Kyrgyzstan
As of 2026, there are no direct flights from Japan to Kyrgyzstan. Most travelers connect via South Korea, China, or elsewhere, but the number of flights to Bishkek is limited.
Flights to Almaty, on the other hand, offer many more options, even with connections. If you arrive in Almaty early in the day, you can cross the border overland that same day (it’s about 5 hours from Almaty to the Kyrgyz border). If you arrive late, depending on your schedule you can stay overnight first and set off the next day.
You can also fly between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, but there are few flights, and tickets are fairly expensive for such a short flight, so going overland is also a great choice if you want to travel around Central Asia!
An Experience You Can’t Have in Japan
Crossing overland from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan is a completely different experience from flying. Walking through the gate on your own two feet and into another country feels truly out of the ordinary.
On ASHU TRAVEL’s tours starting and ending in Almaty, this border crossing becomes part of the journey itself.
What Are the Korday and Ak-Zhol Border Crossings Between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan?
The border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is the largest in Central Asia.
Basic Information
| Name on the Kazakh side | Korday (Қордай, Korday) |
| Name on the Kyrgyz side | Ak-Zhol (Ак-Жол, Ak-Zhol) |
| From Bishkek | About 21 km |
| From Almaty | About 210 km |
| Opening hours | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Currency exchange | Available on both sides |
*Korday and Ak-Zhol are right next to each other, but since they are in different countries, they have different names.
Kazakh Side (Korday Kazakh Border Station)
Address on Google Maps: 2PG4+8JQ, M39, Korday, Kazakhstan ▶ View on Google Maps
*The map shows the general area, so please check the exact location yourself as well.
Kyrgyz Side (Ak zhol border control point)
Address on Google Maps: 2PG3+3P, Lugovoye, Kyrgyzstan ▶ View on Google Maps
*The map shows the general area, so please check the exact location yourself as well.
What’s It Like?
It’s one of the busiest border crossings in Central Asia. It’s such an everyday place that locals use it to commute to work and school, and crowds of local people, not just tourists, cross back and forth every day.
After its renovation in 2021, it was expanded into a large facility that can handle up to 25,000 people and 2,500 vehicles a day (*).
*Source: The Astana Times (April 2021)
How to Get to the Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan Overland Border Crossing
Whichever direction you’re going, as long as you know the process, you’ll get through smoothly.
Getting Between Bishkek and Ak-Zhol (Kyrgyz Border Post)
Depending on where you start, it takes about 30–45 minutes by car from central Bishkek to the Ak-Zhol border.
Yandex Go Taxi
From Bishkek to Ak-Zhol, type Ак-жол into “Where to go” in the app.
From Ak-Zhol to Bishkek, enter the name of your hotel, the airport, or wherever you’re heading into “Where to go” in the app.
Ask Your Hotel Staff to Call a Taxi
If you’re going from Bishkek to Ak-Zhol and are worried about the language barrier, asking your hotel staff is the most reliable option!
Take a Shared Taxi
If you’re going from Ak-Zhol to Bishkek, once you cross the border you can take one of the shared taxis whose drivers call out “Taxi!” Communication is basically in Russian or Kyrgyz.
Bus
From Bishkek to Ak-Zhol, type Ак-жол into “Where to go” in the Yandex app and choose “Transportation” instead of a taxi, and it will show you how to get there from the nearest bus stop.
From Ak-Zhol to Bishkek, enter the name or address of your destination into “Where to go” in the app.
However, it involves transfers and other hassles and takes about an hour and a half, so we recommend a taxi.
Korday (Kazakh Border Post) to Central Almaty and the Airport
It takes about 3.5–5 hours to central Almaty.
Yandex Taxi
You can call a taxi from “City to city” and set central Almaty or the airport as your destination.
Korday and Almaty are separate cities, so be careful not to enter an Almaty address into “Where to go”!
Shared Taxi
You can catch a shared taxi near the border. The fare is roughly 2,000–3,000 Kyrgyz som. Near the border, drivers will sometimes accept Kyrgyz som.
Communication is basically in Russian or Kazakh, so it’s a good idea to write down your destination in Cyrillic.
On ASHU TRAVEL Tours
On an ASHU TRAVEL tour, we support you through the border crossing too!
Guides and drivers may change between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
On the Kazakh side, a driver takes you to the border in a private vehicle. Once you cross, a driver on the Kyrgyz side will be there to pick you up.
You’ll walk through the border itself on your own, but with private vehicles on both sides, everything goes smoothly!
How the Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan Overland Border Crossing Works
Know the process ahead of time so you’re mentally prepared! If you know what to expect, you’ll get across smoothly.
Kazakh Side
When leaving Kazakhstan, you go through baggage inspection and then passport control; when entering Kazakhstan, it’s passport control and then baggage inspection. When it’s busy, there’s hardly any conversation with the officers.
Occasionally there are staff who speak English, but communication is basically in Russian or Kazakh.
Kyrgyz Side
Baggage inspection is done on the Kazakh side, so on the Kyrgyz side it’s basically just immigration control, for entry or exit.
About Currency Exchange
On both the Kyrgyz and Kazakh sides, there are currency exchange booths just outside the inspection facilities.
Things to Watch Out for When Crossing Overland Between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Check these tips for crossing the border so you can avoid any trouble!
Don’t Take Photos of the Border Buildings
Photography is prohibited in the border area. You may be fined, so keep your camera and smartphone put away.
*The photos in this article were taken well before reaching the border.
Stand Close to the Person in Front of You in Line
Many people crossing the border are traveling on business with lots of luggage, and if there’s a gap in the line, people may keep cutting in.
It’s fine to let elderly people or families with children go ahead, but they inevitably take longer, and people with large bags will keep pushing in ahead of you.
It’s different from what you may be used to in Japan, so don’t leave any space—stand as close as you can to the person in front of you while you wait.
Allow Extra Time on Kyrgyz and Kazakh Holidays
Around May 1–10, Kyrgyzstan has a long holiday period, similar to Golden Week in Japan.
There have been reports of border crossings taking more than 2 hours during this time. When holidays or long weekends overlap, give yourself plenty of time.
My Experiences Crossing Overland from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan
Even at the same border, your experience can be completely different depending on how you get there.
Crossing the Border on My Own Was Tough…
I’ve crossed the border from Kyrgyzstan to Almaty on my own several times for business trips to Mongolia and to scout Almaty. Sometimes I used Yandex, and sometimes I caught a shared taxi.
With Yandex, you can choose between a private ride and a shared ride, so it’s relatively smooth. The problem was when I took a shared taxi.
In Korday, I caught a shared taxi whose driver was calling out “Airport! Almaty!” and was told we’d leave once there were three passengers. So far, so good…
Partway there, the driver said something to me in Russian. From the few words I could catch, it seemed he meant, “Most people in this car are going to the city, so please switch to another car coming later that’s going to the airport.”
He told me, “It’ll come in 5 minutes,” and dropped me off in the middle of the highway in the dead of winter. I felt like I was hitchhiking! Twenty minutes later, still no car… Just as I started to think I’d been tricked, a car finally showed up.
It was freezing, and back then I barely understood any Russian, so I panicked a little. I can laugh about it now, but it’s a pretty tough experience for a first-timer.
Crossing the Border in an ASHU TRAVEL Private Vehicle Was Smooth
The best part of crossing the border in a private vehicle is that you don’t have to think about anything.
Whether I’m with a guide or traveling alone, I get a transfer all the way to Bishkek: after crossing the border, I just check the license plate number I was given in advance and get in. Compared with that midwinter highway ordeal, it was unbelievably smooth!
If you want to keep costs down or travel around independently, arranging things yourself is totally fine. But if you want to enjoy your trip stress-free, we highly recommend a private tour vehicle.
FAQ About Crossing the Border Overland
Get your questions answered here and cross the border with peace of mind.
Q. Yandex Go App: Anything I Should Watch Out For When Using It?
A. There are three things.
First, you need a phone number to register for Yandex. Please buy a SIM card that comes with a phone number. You can’t register with a data-only SIM.
Second, when entering your destination, it’s best to copy and paste the place name in Russian. I once typed it in English, tapped one of the suggestions, and called a taxi, only to be taken somewhere completely different.
Finally, when traveling to another city, call your ride from “City to city” rather than the usual “Where to go.” For example, Almaty and Korday (where the border is) are separate cities, so if you’re heading to Almaty, drivers may not accept the ride unless you use “City to city.”
Q. Can I Exchange Japanese Yen Near the Border?
A. Unfortunately, exchange booths near the Kazakh and Kyrgyz border generally do not exchange Japanese yen.
It’s difficult not only near the border but in town as well… Once, when I forgot to bring dollars from Japan, I begged and managed to exchange yen, but the rate was terrible and I lost money.
When you come to Central Asia, be sure to bring US dollars! You can exchange Kyrgyz som and Kazakh tenge at the exchange booths near the border too.
Q. Do Shared Taxi Drivers Speak English?
A. Shared taxi drivers basically speak Russian, Kazakh, or Kyrgyz.
In Kazakhstan, English is sometimes understood to some extent, but in Kyrgyzstan it’s often difficult (younger people may understand it).
Write down your destination in Cyrillic or use a translation app.
On an ASHU TRAVEL tour, you’ll travel in a private vehicle, so there’s no need to worry about the language at all.
Q. How Should I Enter My Destination in Yandex?
A. We recommend copying and pasting the name in Russian (Cyrillic) whenever possible. For example, for Ak-Zhol, typing Ак-жол will be recognized correctly.
That’s because when I entered a place in English, I was dropped off somewhere completely different… Luckily the driver was a kind person, and for an extra fee he helped me find the correct address and took me there.
Q. If the Guide Changes Between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan During the Tour, Where Do I Meet the Driver?
A. From Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan
Right after crossing the border, turn right and you’ll find a waiting area with currency exchange and SIM card shops. Please wait there.
From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan
We’ll be waiting for you in a parking-lot-like area just past the border.
In either case, we inform the driver or guide about you in advance, but just in case, we’ll also give you the driver’s or guide’s vehicle number and WhatsApp number.
Try Crossing Overland from Almaty to Kyrgyzstan
That thrilling moment of stepping across a border is something you can’t get on a plane. Crossing overland from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan is one of the experiences that makes a trip to Central Asia so rich.
First-timers may feel nervous, but if you know the process, it’s smoother than you’d expect. If you’re still worried about the language barrier or arranging transportation, join an ASHU TRAVEL tour and leave everything to us.
I hope my experiences and mishaps shared here are helpful.
We look forward to welcoming you in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan!
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