Guest houses in Jalal-Abad Province

Guest houses in Jalal-Abad Province

The guest house is the standard way to stay in the south: 45 of them across the province, and it is the cheapest segment in the country — a median of about 2,000 som a night, starting at 800. A room with the family, home-cooked food, help with transport; there are almost no hotels in the rural districts, so the choice is usually between guest houses.

Where they are

More than half of the supply is in Arkit — 23 houses: the village at the entrance to the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve, and the lake is why people come. Kazarman has 9, a stop on the road between Jalal-Abad and Naryn over the Kara-Keche pass. Arslanbob, with its relict walnut forests and waterfalls, is the point most international travellers head for. In Jalal-Abad (Manas) itself there are three guest houses and rather more hotels. There are also places in Kerben, Suzak, Bazar-Korgon and Shamaldy-Sai.

What is usually included

A room or the whole house, breakfast, often dinner with home cooking. Many hosts arrange a transfer from the main road, horses or a guide to the lake or the walnut forest. Hot water is not everywhere and the internet in the mountain villages is weak — that is the district, not a fault of a particular house.

What to check before booking

How you will get there: scheduled transport to Arkit and Arslanbob is sparse, so most people drive or arrange a transfer with the host. Whether meals are included and how many. Whether there is heating if you travel outside summer. And how many beds are in the room: in the south a bed is often let rather than the whole room.

Booking and payment

You book directly with the host, with no agency fees. Some houses confirm a booking right away, others once the host has checked the dates. Meiman holds your prepayment until you check in and passes it to the host only afterwards; the rest you pay on arrival. You can pay by card or by QR. For July and August in Arkit and Arslanbob, book ahead.