Our time in Central Asia is almost over, and we’re taking slow but steady steps to head back west. Unfortunately, we were unlucky in getting a visa appointment at the Russian embassy in Tashkent, which we had planned to be our last stop before the long journey back to Turkey. As a result, we have to take a 1,000 km detour back to Bishkek, but fortunately we get an appointment within a few days. We decide to drive on to Lake Issyk-Kul for a few days. We loved the lake the last time we were here, and it presents itself in all its autumn glory this time too. As well as spending a few relaxing days at our favourite spot on the lake near Ottuk, we go for a hike to the Barskoon Waterfalls in the Terskej-Alatau mountains.
Afterwards, we drove through a heavy snowstorm back to Bishkek, which is now, in mid-October, covered by a thick blanket of snow. Apart from the weather-related camping troubles, the visa procedure at the Bishkek embassy goes extremely smoothly, and we have a 10-day transit visa from Kyrgyzstan to Georgia within less than 24 hours. On the same day that we get our passports back, we set off on the 3,500 km journey back to Georgia.