There are 6 ways to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) by plane, bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU)plane CIT - IKU
3h 43m$152–603Train, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Shymkent to Almaty 2train 012X / ...
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Atabus 404
17h 52m$22–172Bus
- Take the bus from Shymkent Samal Bus Station to Almaty Sayran Bus Stationbus 3
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Atabus 404
16h 23m$26–39Train, drive
- Take the train from Shymkent to Almaty 2train 012X / ...
- Drive from Almaty 2 to Issyk-Kul (Lake)car
17h 30m$43–201Drive 674.1 km
- Drive from Shymkent to Tamchycar 674.1 km
9h 45m$51–73Train, bus via Shyganak
- Take the train from Shymkent to Shyganaktrain
- Take the bus from Shyganak to Almaty Sayran Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Atabus 404
23h 6m
Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is to bus which costs $26 - $40 and takes 16h 23m.
The fastest way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is to fly which takes 3h 43m and costs $150 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Shymkent station to Issyk-Kul (Lake). However, there are services departing from Shymkent Samal Bus Station and arriving at Cholpon-Ata via Almaty Sayran Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 23m.
The distance between Shymkent and Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 604 km. The road distance is 674.1 km.
The best way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) without a car is to bus which takes 16h 23m and costs $26 - $40.
It takes approximately 3h 43m to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake), including transfers.
Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) bus services, operated by Shymkent Samal Bus Terminal, depart from Shymkent Samal Bus Station.
The best way to get from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is to fly which takes 3h 43m and costs $150 - $650. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $26 - $40 and takes 16h 23m.
Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) bus services, operated by Shymkent Samal Bus Terminal, arrive at Almaty Sayran Bus Station.
Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 1h ahead of Shymkent. It is currently 9:24 AM in Shymkent and 10:24 AM in Issyk-Kul (Lake).
What companies run services between Shymkent, Kazakhstan and Issyk-Kul (Lake), Kyrgyzstan?
Flyr, Air Astana, and SCAT fly from Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU) 6 times a week. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Shymkent to Cholpon-Ata via Shymkent Samal Bus Station and Almaty Sayran Bus Station in around 16h 23m.
- Website
- flyr.com
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Issyk-Kul International Airport via Almaty
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- airastana.com
Flights from Shymkent International Airport to Issyk-Kul International Airport via Almaty
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–650
- Phone
- 1433
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $13–17
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 1st Class (Lux)
- $40–55
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $35–50
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- $13–17
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $13–17
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 1st Class (Lux)
- $40–55
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $35–50
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- $13–17
- Phone
- 1433
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $17–29
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $17–18
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $25–29
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 54m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $17–29
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $17–18
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $25–29
Train from Shymkent to Shyganak
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $15–27
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $15–17
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $23–27
- Phone
- 1433
- [email protected]
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 17m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $80–160
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $80–110
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $110–160
Train from Shymkent to Almaty 2
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 17m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $80–160
- Website
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Schedules at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- Book at
- Kazakhstan Railways
- 3rd Class (Berth)
- $80–110
- 2nd Class (Coupe)
- $110–160
- Phone
- +77252451241
- [email protected]
- Website
- samal.avokzal.kz
Bus from Shymkent Samal Bus Station to Almaty Sayran Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16
- Schedules at
- samal.avokzal.kz
- Phone
- +7 727 396-70-63
- Website
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Ata
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–21
- Website
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
- Schedules at
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Ata
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–21
- Website
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
- Schedules at
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Cholpon-Ata
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–21
- Website
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
- Schedules at
- Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal
Bus from Shyganak to Almaty Sayran Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- Astana Saparzhai Bus Terminal
- Schedules at
- Astana Saparzhai Bus Terminal
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake) is 674 km. It takes approximately 9h 45m to drive from Shymkent to Issyk-Kul (Lake).
There are 406+ hotels available in Issyk-Kul (Lake).






