📅 24th August 2025 📍Gulcha, Kyrgyzstan

Across the Taldyk Pass – From Osh to Gulcha

We left Osh with a drive around a large equestrian monument in the middle of a roundabout, which was the grand equestrian statue of Manas, the legendary hero of the Kyrgyz national epic. It rose proudly before us, celebrated as a symbol of resistance, freedom, and unity. His presence seemed to guide us onwards, deeper into the mountains.

Soon the road began to climb, and we noticed it immediately—the ID. Buzz consumed more energy, the terrain pulling us steadily higher toward the Chinese border. Yet the challenge of ascent was softened by human warmth. On the roadside, we were invited by smiling locals to taste small berries that resembled wild strawberries. Handpicked and sold by the bucket, their sweet and slightly tart flavor lingered on our tongues, a taste of the mountain land itself.

The steppe slowly gave way to mountain pastures. Horses grazed along the roadside, their riders watching with calm mastery. Many Kyrgyz still live with horses as naturally as others live with cars, and their skill was breathtaking. At one point, we saw a horseman riding along a narrow ridge, moving straight into the low evening sun. The image was so cinematic it felt like a scene from the Wild West—timeless, free, and bold.

The ascent reached its climax at the Taldyk Pass, almost 3,000 meters high. We stopped for photos, the valley below unfolding in layers of light and shadow. The road, twisting down from the pass, curved like a giant serpent through the rocks, guiding us slowly toward the depths of the valley.

As dusk settled around us, the mountains shifted into purple and silver tones. The last light accompanied us until we finally reached Gulcha, where relief awaited: the chance to recharge our faithful ID. Buzz and ourselves for the next day’s road.

Next stop: China!