Safety

We chose peaks and slopes by our own. No avalanche forecasting. We did avalanche tests (blocks) and had avalanche backpacks to mitigate the risk as much as possible. 

Driving by car

Independent travel by Chevrolet Express passenger van V8 6.0 l rented from ironhorsenomads.com $500/10 days. 

• Hostile police looking to ask for a bribe for anything. Speeding 10 km/h can cost €40. 

• Headlights must be always on.

• Ask for winter tires (they use tires with spikes as well)

• Very slow driving due to many villages.

• Car rental

Buchanka vs. western cars

• More expensive than better cars

• Unreliable: friends were loosing fluids, petrol pump stopped, not working speedometer etc.

• Weak heating: freezing cold. 

• Even 100km/h ride seems dangerous.

• Two tanks with manual switching of pumps.

• Best for terrain if you have good tyres.

Communication, money and habits

• Exhange on airport and ATMs are OK

• Really cheap data on SIM: with good prices even on the airport. 

• Take change, they don't give back

• Cheap accomodation

• They eat horses

Another sources of information

Indy Guide

Visit Karakol

Tips for tours