Bishkek to Sarry Tash...

Bishkek to Osh to Sarry Tash taxi to start our ride from where Pedr left off


Pedr was taken by the hotel manager (x Kyrgyzstan special forces) to barter a personal taxi for us.  Two bikes two blokes and a 12 hour ride, Bishkek to Osh was agreed for 6000 som (£60).

However surprise was in store for us. This humble Honda van had wings from a jet, an engine from hell and an incredible ability to squeeze through the tiniest of gaps. VR games didn’t even come close. 12 hours ensued of adrenaline fuelled bare knuckle riding shotgun in the ‘space van’ as it hurtled through the mountains and tunnels. Road works, red lights and oncoming traffic didn’t stop us, workmen fleeing the mad van were perfect for a crazy Frank Spencer Sketch. 

We had a comfort break after about 8 hours, our esteemed ‘driver’ recommended a pint of milky yellowish liquid with brown floaters. One sip however proved way too much, frankly it was the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted. It turned out to be horse milk, left to ferment and sour in the sun. Our driver drank two pints, he was clearly enjoying our pain and suffering by now.  


From 4 star hotel to hostle to homestay and tomorrow a shipping container is planned


Sarry Tash was the taxi destination being a little village on a three way fork, Tajikistan Pamir Highway one way, Osh in Kyrgyzstan the other and our route to China the third. 

Our homestay was booked through booking.com and while other destinations promised showers or air conditioning ours boasted complementary toilet paper. What we didn’t realise at the time was that although sure enough he had toilet paper, he didn’t actually have a toilet to go with it. 

Shamurat is our host and the very proud homestay owner is also a ski guide in winter, where the temperatures get up to -22 degrees in the day and down to -35 at night. Glad we are here in summer.

The view from the Homestay was truly spectacular with three peaks over 7000 meters, seemingly all within touching distance, the most well know was one called Lenin which is one of the easier peaks over 7000 meters to climb. 





We set off from the homestay with 40kg bikes for a ‘gentle introduction’ cycle to ease me in to the world of touring cycling.

It turned out to be a 1000 meter climb, reaching a peak of 3773 meters and a proper switchback road to get to the Chinese border 45 mikes away. 

Well I am not used to a heavy bike, or climbing it up 1000 meters at ridiculous heights where the air is thinner than a mosquito’s whisker. 


The views compensate handsomely though. The most spectacular mountain scenery becoming even more jagged and snowy as we headed towards the Chinese border.

By this time I am completely knackered and the thoughts of the ‘shipping container’ “hotel” seemed heaven sent. No showers, toilet or toilet paper this time either but it didn’t seem to matter in my current state of exhaustion. We were to be disappointed though because the shipping container was fully booked! 

So as it started raining we had to resort to putting the tent up in the only flat ground around.. the quarry dump!




Some gentle introduction, China here we come!!


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