Almaty (TDI): Kazakhstan has set up a working group to develop a new road connecting Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, a route that could cut travel time by nearly half and boost regional tourism.
The planned road would provide an alternative to the existing 460-kilometer journey via Korday and Bishkek. Preliminary estimates suggest the new route will span about 277 kilometers, with travel time reduced to roughly three hours. Of the total, approximately 127 kilometers will be in Kazakhstan and 150 kilometers in Kyrgyzstan. Most infrastructure is already in place, though Kazakhstan will need to repair around 80 kilometers of road and Kyrgyzstan roughly six kilometers.
The project is being supported by the Asian Development Bank, which has provided grant funding for a feasibility study. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed the agreement in December 2024 and formed a joint working group in spring 2025 to oversee infrastructure development along the Almaty-Bishkek and Almaty-Issyk-Kul corridors. Border facilities have also been upgraded as part of the initiative.
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The feasibility study, led by Kazakh authorities in partnership with the Eurasian Development Bank, is expected to be completed by September 2026. It will define the road’s exact alignment, classification, traffic forecasts, financial framework, and potential toll structure. Early indications suggest the highway may operate as a toll road. Once approved by both governments, the study will guide the final construction plan, likely following a public-private partnership model with a joint Kazakh-Kyrgyz venture.
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The idea of a direct route to Issyk-Kul has been discussed for decades. Political disagreements have repeatedly stalled progress, and previous initiatives, including reopening a historic hiking trail from Almaty to Issyk-Kul, were suspended. The trail, which once allowed tourists to walk from Kol-Sai to the Kyrgyz village of Tyup, was closed in the 2000s due to bilateral tensions.
Experts say that with sustained political will, both the highway project and the revival of the hiking route could be realized, significantly enhancing cross-border tourism and connectivity.
