There are 5 ways to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) by plane, car, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, drive
best- Fly from Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Almaty International Airport (ALA)CIT - ALA
- Drive from Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Issyk-Kul (Lake)
7h 15m$77–167Train, drive
cheapest- Take the train from Shymkent to Almaty 2026T / ...
- Drive from Almaty 2 to Issyk-Kul (Lake)
17h 12m$40–200Bus, drive
- Take the bus from Shymkent Samal Bus Station to Almaty Sayran Bus Station3
- Drive from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Issyk-Kul (Lake)
16h 52m$45–65Drive 673.7 km
- Drive from Shymkent to Tamchy673.7 km
9h 41m$51–73Train, drive via Almaty
- Take the train from Shymkent to Almaty 1022T / ...
- Drive from Zhandosova / Saina to Issyk-Kul (Lake)
20h 7m$48–76
Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Almaty International Airport (ALA) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is to bus and drive which costs $45 - $70 and takes 16h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is to fly and drive which takes 7h 15m and costs $75 - $170.
The distance between Shymkent and Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 1105 km. The road distance is 673.7 km.
It takes approximately 7h 15m to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake), including transfers.
Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 1h ahead of Shymkent. It is currently 6:32 AM in Shymkent and 7:32 AM in Issyk-Kul (Lake).
Yes, the driving distance between Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 674 km. It takes approximately 9h 41m to drive from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake).
There are 218+ hotels available in Issyk-Kul (Lake).
What companies run services between Shymkent, Kazakhstan and Issyk-Kul (Lake), Kyrgyzstan?
There is no direct connection from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake). However, you can take the taxi to Shymkent International Airport (CIT) airport, fly to Almaty International Airport (ALA), then drive to Issyk-Kul (Lake). Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) via Shymkent Samal Bus Station and Almaty Sayran Bus Station in around 16h 52m.
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Almaty International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $35–300
- Website
- scat.kz
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Almaty International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–120
- Website
- flyr.com
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Almaty International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $35–110
- Website
- airastana.com
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Almaty International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
- Phone
- 1433
- KensePP@railways.kz
- Website
- railways.kz
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 19m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $9–14
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
- 1st Class (Lux)
- $30–45
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $21–30
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- $9–14
- Phone
- 1433
- KensePP@railways.kz
- Website
- railways.kz
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–19
- Website
- https://railways.kz/en/
- Schedules at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/post/schedule?_locale=us
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $14–19
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $11–15
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 1
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10–19
- Website
- https://railways.kz/en/
- Schedules at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/post/schedule?_locale=us
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $14–19
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $10–15
- Phone
- +7 (717) 260-66-60
- KensePP@railways.kz
- Website
- railways.kz
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 13m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–150
- Website
- https://railways.kz/en/
- Schedules at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/post/schedule?_locale=us
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $75–110
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $110–150
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 1
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–150
- Website
- https://railways.kz/en/
- Schedules at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/post/schedule?_locale=us
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $75–110
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $100–150
- Phone
- 1005
- compliance@railway.uz
- Website
- railway.uz
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 1
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 38m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $16–25
- Website
- https://railway.uz/en/
- Book at
- https://eticket.railway.uz/en/home
- Sleeper
- $16–18
- Coupe
- $22–25
- SV
- $40–44
- Phone
- +77252451241
- samal@avokzal.kz
- Website
- samal.avokzal.kz
Bus from Shymkent Samal Bus Station to Almaty Sayran Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14
- Schedules at
- samal.avokzal.kz
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