Salamatsyzby! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, scenic horse riding journeys in Central Asia.
Did you know there’s a tourist train in Kyrgyzstan? It runs only in summer and goes straight from Bishkek to the spectacular Issyk-Kul. It’s a little-known route.
I actually rode it last July, and it far exceeded my expectations.
Stunning views of the Tian Shan from the window, VIP seats like a moving hotel, and conversations with local strangers. The 5 hours flew by.
This time, from the perspective of a staff member living here, I’ll cover everything from basic information about trains in Kyrgyzstan to my ride itself.
What are trains like in Kyrgyzstan? Basic info on the summer-only scenic route
Mountains make up 94% of Kyrgyzstan’s territory, so the country has very few railway lines. They are broadly divided into a northern and a southern network, which aren’t connected.
The route I’m introducing here is on the northern line, linking Bishkek with Balykchy (station name: Rybachye) on the western shore of Issyk-Kul.
In a nutshell, this route is a “scenic train that runs only in summer.” The tourist train operates only in the summer season and doesn’t run in winter, when only freight trains use the line.
The journey crosses mountain passes in the Tian Shan and takes about 5–6 hours. It’s by no means fast, but that’s exactly why the views from the window are breathtaking.
Few people use the train when traveling in Kyrgyzstan, and there isn’t much information about it. That’s why I want to share my experience exactly as it was.
Here’s where to catch the train in Bishkek | Getting to Bishkek-2 station
You board at Bishkek-2 station.
I got there from central Bishkek using the taxi app Yandex. If you enter the station name in the app, you’ll get there without any trouble. (But it has to be in Russian… if you use Yandex in English, it sometimes takes you somewhere completely different. Please copy and paste БИШКЕК-2 ВОКЗАЛЫ!)
The station isn’t big. It’s compact, about the size of a small regional station in Japan, so you’re unlikely to get lost. However, the signs are only in Cyrillic, so it helps to remember the name “БИШКЕК-2 ВОКЗАЛЫ.”
Be careful searching in English on Google Maps!
If you type “Bishkek2” in English on Google Maps, a completely different place comes up. Kind users have written “this is wrong” in the reviews, but it doesn’t seem to have been removed.
We recommend searching for “БИШКЕК-2 ВОКЗАЛЫ” on Yandex Maps, or searching in Cyrillic for “БИШКЕК-2 ВОКЗАЛЫ” on Google Maps too. Take care if you plan to walk there.
I rode the VIP seats on a Kyrgyz train
Ask your guide to get tickets
I asked our guide Nuriya to arrange the tickets in advance.
In Kyrgyzstan, communication is basically in Russian or Kyrgyz (young people use English, but it’s not yet common). Buying tickets is no exception, so honestly it’s a challenge if you aren’t used to the local languages. At times like this, having a guide who knows the area really helps.
A stylish platform and a blue train got me super excited
When you step onto the platform, the tiled floor stretches on and on, and it looks really stylish. I’m always struck by how much attention Kyrgyzstan pays to the little details.
Further along, the blue train is waiting. It’s big and impressive. At the entrance, the conductor checks your seat number.
Is the VIP car a moving hotel?!
This time I rode in a VIP seat. I’d looked it up on Instagram beforehand, so I knew it had air conditioning and lovely interiors. But the surprise when I actually stepped inside was even greater.
This isn’t a “seat,” it’s a “room”!
Large facing sofas lined with cushions, with a small table in the middle. The walls are decorated with patterns inspired by the petroglyphs (rock art) found in Kyrgyzstan, and the ceiling is arched.
There’s even wall decoration featuring the lattice pattern of a yurt. It’s a space packed with Kyrgyz culture.
Rather than a “moving hotel,” I felt like calling it a “moving yurt.”
Clean, stylish toilets
Each car has a toilet, a clean space with a unified monochrome design. You can feel the attention to detail everywhere.
A leisurely start!
The train didn’t leave exactly on time but set off a little leisurely. That’s very Kyrgyz, and I liked it.
There was also onboard sales, and I bought a cappuccino.
Then a local stranger sitting next to us started talking to us. Watching Nuriya chat away with a smile warmed my heart.
I had only just started learning Russian at the time, so I hardly understood anything, but just exchanging greetings made me happy.
I felt a quiet glow, thinking, “This is what travel is really about.”
The joy of a Kyrgyz train journey | Spectacular views from the window
Once the train starts moving, the scenery gradually changes.
At first, it’s the highlands around Bishkek, a peaceful landscape of mixed green and brown.
After a while, the view changes completely. Powerful mountains of bare reddish-brown rock loom up to fill the window, and I caught my breath. Rock walls with clearly layered strata, and the tracks weaving along beside them. I really felt the richness of Kyrgyzstan’s nature.
A river appears, then disappears; you’re back in the highlands, and then the mountains close in again.
Every time the scenery changes, a buzz goes through the car and everyone pulls out their smartphones.
The 5 hours went by in a flash.
Getting around after arriving at Rybachye station on Issyk-Kul
When we arrived at Rybachye, the last stop, a driver was there to meet us. On ASHU TRAVEL tours, too, a driver will be waiting when you get off the train.
If you don’t have a guide or driver to pick you up, you’ll need to catch a marshrutka (shared minibus) or a shared taxi at the station.
This requires communicating in the local language, so it may be challenging if it’s your first time traveling in Kyrgyzstan. When preparing for your trip, we recommend checking your transportation in advance.
Things to know before taking a train in Kyrgyzstan (Q&A)
Q: Where can I buy tickets?
A: You can buy them at the ticket window at Bishkek-2 station or at ticket offices in the city. You’ll need to communicate in Russian, so asking a local guide is the smoothest option.
It seems you can also buy them on online booking sites, but when I actually looked, even after selecting English it ended up in Russian, and depending on when you check, it says “no service for that period” (even in summer). It’s quite a hurdle… I’ve also heard it can be more expensive than at the ticket window.
Q: What’s the difference between VIP and regular seats?
A: VIP seats are fully air-conditioned, in a space close to a private compartment with sofas and a table. Regular seats are standard seats and may not have air conditioning. In the hot season, we recommend VIP seats.
Q: Where can I check the timetable?
A: You can check it on the official Kyrgyz Railways website, at Bishkek-2 station, or on your ticket.
Q: Is the service ever canceled?
A: Yes. This route passes through the mountains of the Tian Shan, so service can be suddenly canceled due to landslides or other natural disasters. On ASHU TRAVEL tours, if the train is canceled, we switch to a private vehicle, so there’s no need to worry.
A Kyrgyz journey that starts with a train
Five hours sinking into a VIP sofa while gazing at the spectacular Tian Shan. The journey itself becomes a special memory of your trip to Kyrgyzstan.
ASHU TRAVEL is currently running horse riding tours that include the train to Issyk-Kul. Even beginner riders can join with confidence, since a Japanese-speaking guide accompanies you.
If you’ve been thinking “Kyrgyzstan someday,” why not make that someday this summer?
↓ This year’s shared train tour, now accepting participants
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