Kyrgyzstan‘s capital city and Kazakhstan‘s largest city are close together and connected by bus. If you find yourself in one, you might as well check out the other. The journey from Almaty to Bishkek (or Bishkek to Almaty) is one of the lower-effort international trips you will make in Central Asia. Still, it is not particularly easy. This will walk you through the trip going both directions. For more tips on navigating Kyrgyzstan, see my guide to getting around Kyrgyzstan.
Almaty to Bishkek
First, take a Yandex or public transportation to the Sairan bus station in Almaty. Be aware: traffic in Almaty can be bad. The drive itself is not far, but it can take a long time depending on the time of day. I’ve done it in twenty minutes, but I have also had it take an hour-and-a-half. Be prepared.
Tickets can be purchased either online or in person at the ticket counter. Buses leave Almaty at 8, 12, 14, and 18.
Buy a ticket (cheap) and head to the platform on your receipt. These are real buses, not marshrutkas. The ride to the Kyrgyz border is about four hours and the bus stops once about halfway. Use this as a chance to grab some snacks and use the restroom. Your next stop will be at the border. Here, you exit the bus with your bags on the Kazakh side. You are stamped out, walk a little ways across a bridge, and are stamped in to Kyrgyzstan. The crossing might take some time depending on crowds, but it has never been too bad when I have done it.
Once you are let into Kyrgyzstan, you have two options. The first is to ditch your bus and take a Yandex to Bishkek. The border is about twenty minutes from the Bishkek bus station and maybe forty-five minutes from the city center. This is not a bad option if you are in a rush.
The second option is to walk a little way and wait for your bus. This is a little bit confusing. When you are set free into the country, there is a long walkway with lots of taxi drivers trying to convince you to become their next customers. Ignore them and keep walking to where the sim card stands and small shops are. You can wait here for your bus to get through the border. I recommend looking for people you recognize from your bus and sticking with them.
Once you find your bus again, you are in the clear. Get on, ride for twenty minutes, and you will be dropped off at the Bishkek bus station. It is a little ways from the city center, so I recommend getting a Yandex to your accommodation. There is also a public bus.
Bishkek to Almaty
The ride from Bishkek to Almaty is similar to the ride in the other direction, with one big difference: you change buses at the border.
Your ride starts at the Bishkek bus station. Please be careful with this step. The first time I tried to make the trip I ended up at an abandoned bus station on the outskirts of the wrong side of town. The old bus station was recently replaced by a new one, and Google Maps and Yandex Maps have not been updated to reflect this change. This is the Google Maps location of the new bus station.
Once you’ve made it to the station, go inside to the ticket counter (the building to the right of the buses) and ask for Almaty. You will then be told when the next bus is and how much ti costs. There are several buses throughout the day (10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 18.00, I think), and the journey is inexpensive (600 Som, or about 7 USD).
From the station in Bishkek, you will travel about twenty-five minutes to the border with Kazakhstan. Get off the bus and be sure to bring all your belongings. This will be the last you see of your first bus. The driver will tell the passengers what the bus looks like on the other side, so I would recommend asking around to see what they said. Alternatively, just try to follow group members.
Get off the bus, pass through both sides of the border, and walk out into Kazakhstan. To get to the bus, walk out to the main road, walk around the railing, and take a left. You are let out kinda at a corner. The buses are in a yard to the right. Here is the approximate Google Maps location. If you are lost you can just ask around, but again I recommend sticking with someone from your previous group.
Once you find the bus you get on and it will leave when everyone is back on board. The drive to Almaty takes about four hours once you are through the border and the bus will stop once about halfway. This is a good chance to stock up on snacks and use the bathroom. Before you know it, you will be dropped off at the Sayran Bus Station in Almaty. From there, your options are public transit or Yandex in to the city.
Wide Open Road 