Every page that ranks for these prices is selling you the transfer. This one is not selling anything — it is the vehicle price, the seat count, and the division, with the source of each figure named and the date it was checked.
Almost every mountain vehicle in Kyrgyzstan is priced per vehicle, not per person. The UAZ to Altyn-Arashan costs 8,000 som whether one of you gets in or four. The 4x4 to Kel-Suu costs up to 20,000 som regardless. This single fact is why cost-splitting is worth more here than in most countries, and it is also the thing drivers will not volunteer if you turn up alone.
Marshrutkas, shared taxis and yurt beds are priced per person. Sharing those saves you nothing. We have separated the two below rather than pad the first table, because a cost page that implies a buddy halves your yurt bill is a dishonest cost page.
The per-person column assumes the vehicle is full. Half-full, halve the saving.
| Leg | What it costs | Where this figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Karakol / Ak-Suu → Altyn-Arashan, 4x4 (UAZ)one way, the classic shared UAZ up the river track | 8,000 somper vehicle, up to 42,000 som each at 4 | The Partying Traveler (paid, 2025)checked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Karakol → Ala-Kul trail, 2nd bridge (taxi)skips roughly a day of walking on the approach | 9,000 somper vehicle, up to 42,250 som each at 4 | The Partying Traveler (paid, 2025)checked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Karakol → Ala-Kul trail, 1st bridge (taxi)the short hop most people actually take | 2,000 somper vehicle, up to 4500 som each at 4 | The Partying Traveler (paid, 2025)checked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Karakol → Jyrgalan (taxi)1.5–2 hSource page is undated. | 4,000–5,000 somper vehicle, up to 41,250 som each at 4 | jyrgalan.comchecked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Kochkor → Song-Kul → Kochkor, whole cardriver drops and collects; no scheduled transport existsSource page is undated. | 3,000 somper vehicle, up to 4750 som each at 4 | Explore Travel Oasischecked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Naryn → Kel-Suu → Naryn, 4x4 with the driver waiting overnightunder 100 km but 5–8 h each way on the track | 13,000–20,000 somper vehicle, up to 45,000 som each at 4 | kgnomad, last verified July 2026checked 1 Jul 2026 |
These are reference figures collected from public sources and travellers' own reports, not quotes — RideKG sells nothing. Drivers negotiate, fuel moves, and a bad road year changes everything. Treat them as the number to start haggling from.
Included so you can see where the board is not worth using. Take the marshrutka.
| Leg | What it costs | Where this figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Karakol → Ak-Suu village (marshrutka)plus 30 som per trekking bag; every ~10 min from 07:20, 20 min | 50 somper person | Destination Karakol (DMO)checked 5 Jun 2025 |
| Karakol → Jyrgalan (marshrutka)from Ak-Tilek bazaar; summer 08:30 / 14:00 / 17:30Destination Karakol still lists 'from 100 som' — the higher figure is what people actually paid. | 150–200 somper person | jyrgalan.com; 200 som paid Nov 2025 (Wei-Ting Wanders)checked 28 Nov 2025 |
| Karakol → Jeti-Oguz (marshrutka)80 som to the village, ~150 to the resort/valley | 80–150 somper person | Destination Karakol (DMO)checked 5 Jun 2025 |
| Bishkek → Karakol (marshrutka)6–7 h from the Eastern bus stationSources disagree (400–750). Budget 750 and be pleasantly surprised. | 500–750 somper person | Destination Karakol 'from 500'; 750 som actually paid Nov 2025checked 28 Nov 2025 |
| Bishkek → Karakol (shared taxi)5–6 h, leaves when full | 1,000–1,500 somper person | Destination Karakol (DMO)checked 5 Jun 2025 |
| Kochkor → Song-Kul, seat in a shared carreturn; the price people are told to aim forSource page is undated — the weakest figure in this table. | $20per person | Caravanistanchecked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Kochkor → Kyzart (shared taxi, for the horse-trek start)the cheap way in if you are walking or riding to the lakeSource page is undated. | 200 somper person | Caravanistanchecked 28 Aug 2026 |
| Osh → Sary-Mogol (marshrutka)4–5 h from the New Bus Station, leaves when full ~14:00 | 300 somper person | NOMADasauruschecked 15 Jan 2026 |
| Osh → Sary-Mogol (shared taxi)same road, leaves sooner | 400 somper person | NOMADasauruschecked 15 Jan 2026 |
| Osh → Murghab (shared 4x4, Pamir Highway)~12 h; the classic seat-sharing leg in Central AsiaSource page is undated. | $30per person | An Alay operator's published price listchecked 28 Aug 2026 |
Fixed fares, paid to the driver in som, in cash. Sharing changes nothing on these — they are here so you can see when the board is not worth using.
Naryn → Kel-Suu → Naryn, 4x4 with the driver waiting overnight costs 13,000–20,000 som whether one person or 4 are in it. That is the whole reason this board exists — the price does not change, only the number of people paying it.
Filling the vehicle saves the person who would otherwise ride alone 15,000 som (≈ $171) on this one leg.
Put in the price you were actually quoted for the vehicle and how many of you there are.
If you have paid any of these recently, tell us what and when. It goes in the table with your date on it. Being the page that admits what it does not know is, oddly, the whole strategy here — every competitor quietly guesses.
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