In Soviet times, from Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul, there were simple routes through the mountains. People traveled on foot and by bicycle. In Soviet times, on foot, and then, when mountain biking became more popular among our people, began to overcome this distance on two wheels.

In Soviet times, from Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul, there were simple routes through the mountains. People traveled on foot and by bicycle. In Soviet times, on foot, and then, when mountain biking became more popular among our people, began to overcome this distance on two wheels. Sometimes managing to get to Issyk-Kul in one daylight. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this route lasted for some time, but crossing the state border is currently prohibited.

The ban on crossing the borders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan occurred around 2009. From now on, the border can only be crossed in designated places, that is, where there is a normal checkpoint, border guards, electricity and video surveillance cameras. The mobile post that served the border during the summer was removed. Since then, the dirt road has been filled up and, apparently, none of the state officials of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are going to raise the issue of reviving this wonderful route.

In addition, being in the border zone requires tourists to have permission from the National Security Committee to stay in this border zone. But both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, at this time, are developing their countries as a destination for international tourists, and mountain routes could be an excellent success story for the interaction of the two countries of tourist potential in the region. Despite the fact that enormous financial costs for the development of a border crossing mechanism are not needed here.

In my humble opinion (I never had to work in the KNB, by the way), you just need to develop a website for receiving and processing documents from companies that organize tourist groups, have a tour operator license, are registered as taxpayers in any of the countries (Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan).

On this website, provide the opportunity to create a list of a group of tourists, download their passport data, download the exact route and the exact dates of the route. Wait for approval from the border services of the two countries - this process should be carried out in an accelerated mode, because many foreign tourists come to the country and only then decide on some excursion trips. And, of course, this process should be paid. It seems to me that a small fee of $ 20-30 for online registration of crossing state borders is a very normal price.

Waited for approval, approval of the route and the list of tourists - and go! A scenic route awaits you and your friends in the next few days, and if you meet a border patrol along the way, you have a printed routing sheet, details of the group members and confirmation of the head office. Any deviations from the approved documents are punishable according to the laws of two countries - personally in relation to tourists and in relation to the legal entity that filed the application for a group of tourists.

I think I missed nothing? If you have any suggestions, I will be glad to hear them in the comments.

In the meantime, let's dream about how an important person from an important public service will read this text, think about the development of tourism in our region and give appropriate recommendations to other, equally important, public services, so that they can think through the mechanism, agree with the Kyrgyz brothers and put accessibility into development this once popular route to the USSR.

And after some time, our brother will ride a bicycle with a satisfied smile along the Almaty route - Issyk-Kul Lake and barely restrain his smile on a magnificent mountain descent 30 km to the lake.

And the whole route is 85 km of beautiful mountain trails, by the way.