Almaty → Cholpon-Ata transfer
Almaty to Cholpon-Ata on Issyk-Kul is 470 km via the Korday border and Bishkek — about seven hours door to door, the summer holiday run for half of Almaty.
- Distance470 km
- Drive time7 h
- Pricefrom $240
Almaty → Cholpon-Ata: price per car
| Car | Per car one way | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Camry or similar | $240 ≈ 122,500 ₸ | $120 | $80 | — | — |
| Minivan up to 6 Hyundai Starex / Delica | $290 ≈ 148,000 ₸ | $145 | $97 | $73 | $48 |
| 4x4 up to 4 Land Cruiser / Prado / UAZ | $320 ≈ 163,000 ₸ | $160 | $107 | $80 | — |
| Sprinter up to 16 Mercedes Sprinter, up to 16 seats | $430 ≈ 219,500 ₸ | $215 | $143 | $108 | $72 |
English-speaking driver +$15–20 · return — same price. Prices updated 12 October 2026.
The road
Korday border, Bishkek bypass, Boom gorge, Balykchy and the north shore.
Good to know
- In summer, leave Almaty before 7:00 to beat the Korday queue.
- Kegen route to the east end of the lake (Tyup, Karakol) is shorter — ask.
Included
- Private car and driver, fuel, tolls
- Meet & greet with name sign at airports, 60 min free waiting
- Stops on the way where you ask (up to 1 h in total)
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before
- Pay the driver in cash or card — no prepayment for transfers
Almaty → Cholpon-Ata: questions
How long is Almaty to Cholpon-Ata?
About 7 hours including the border; Friday evenings in July can add 2 hours at Korday.
Is there a cheaper way?
Summer buses and shared cars run from Almaty Sayakhat station; a private car is door to door with stops.
Can you collect us from a resort for the return?
Yes — same price in both directions.
Nearby routes
Almaty → Bishkek
240 km · 4 h 30 min
from $130
Almaty → Karakol
400 km · 8 h
from $280
Almaty → Karakol via Charyn & Kolsai
650 km · 14 h · 2 days
from $480
Cholpon-Ata → Bishkek
255 km · 3 h 45 min
from $120
Almaty → Charyn
200 km · 3 h
from $120
Almaty → Kolsai Lakes
650 km · 12 h · 2 days
from $430
Almaty → Big Almaty Lake
30 km · 1 h
from $60
Almaty → Altyn-Emel
250 km · 4 h
from $390