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In comparism to overcrowded transport with often very pushing Despite the fact that some locals and inpolite driverstravellers who actually never tried it by themselves, will tell you that hitching is a pain in the ass or even impossible in Kyrgyztan, hitch-hiking it is absolute recommended here and a positive experience. Taxi drivers can work great!be very pushing and indiscrete from time to time.
→Experiences
As soon as somebody agrees to take you for free, you can be sure it is really like this. The concept of hitching rides for free is just unknown and strange for the people, be prepared to be asked a lot of questions like how you can survive without money, where will you sleep, where are your children.
"I hitched from Osh-Arslanbob-Song Kol-Issyk Kul- Karakol and based on my experience, here are my tips: learn how to say 'no money' (nyet tienge) 'how much/many' (skolka) and other basic words you'll use to explain where you're going and basic conversation, like if they say 'Kuta' they're asking where you're from. My travel buddy spoke a good bit of Russian so she managed well for us. We went through Karzaman-Aktul-Song kol- Kochkor which was very scenic and VERY remote. I recommend it as almost everyone invited us for tea and food, took pictures with us and if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, ask a yurt family for a bed, they probably won't accept your money and it's a great experience. When truck drivers are passing and looking, indicate that you are going their direction and they will usually stop due to the extra effort, but they never charge and are reliable rides, especially through mountain passes where cars usually don't go and the roads are dirt. We payed twice when we were desperate but it was very easy to find rides! Definitely go here and do the mountain passes, it's incredible to experience in the back of a truck!" -- [[User:rwescott]] ''Personally I had a great time hitch hiking in KGZ all around the country with cool people, short waiting times and offered places to sleep (for free) all the time. Worth to mention my girlfriend speaks Russian and we could explain our situation, that made it much easier of course. Because of hitch hiking I had the chance to get interesting contact to people. I didn't like the fact that in KGZ everything and everyone gets labeled with "Hospitality". Taxi drivers, homestays, guides, CBT...they all want your best, your money, so of course they are friendly, but if this is the definition of hospitality, also workers from my local Mc Donalds are hospitable. This honest hospitality, like getting into houses of people not used to strangers and without money as highest value, I witnessed because of hitching and it was cool!'' --[[User:dorfdisco|dorfdisco]] [[File:Locals h-hiking in Kyrgyzstan.jpg|200px|thumb|left|This old woman stopped that Kyrgyztans favourite car, the Audi 100]]
This is an excellent guide for all [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] countries in general, but unfortunately in Russian.
Note that all of the Daewoo Tico cars are shared taxis.
The Kyrgyz slang for no money is "Ach Che Jook" and it makes them laugh.
== Border Crossing ==
* [[Talas]]
== Experiences ==
* [http://marcandoelpolo.com/como-es-viajar-a-dedo-por-asia-central-kazajistan-kirguistan-tayikistan-uzbekistan/ Lot of information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Only in spanish]
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{nomadwiki}}
{{IsIn|Central Asia}}
