Reviews
★★★★★
Brilliant trip. Excellent communication and nothing too much trouble. Highly recommend these guys!
★★★★★
We rented a Russian Buhanka from Alex. Alex was extremely kind to send us all the necessary documentations with tips and reccomendations on how to drive the van. He kept in touch with us during our self-driving trip, we didnt have any problems with the van !
I highly reccommend dealing with Alex and experiencing a van trip , without a driver !!!
O
★★★★★
Alex is a great operator. We rented the LandCruiser 78 with him.
Contact during preparations was clear and fast (response within 4h) with Competitive pricing.
Arriving in Bishkek we got the car delivered to our hostel with a clear explanation from the driver.
During our 3-week trip through most of Kyrgyzstan, we had only one flat. This was resolved (within 1 day) by the great efforts from Alex and his team. Very efficient and effective help.
Handing in the car, we had a realistic and fair handover.
We would recommend hiring with Alex to anyone. Apart from being great at his work, he is also a nice guy who will help you if he can.
We had an amazing trip in Kyrgystan.
Kind regards,
Paul
P
★★★★★
We rented the 2018 UAZ buhanka from Alex (and Vlad). First off all I would say that when renting one if Alex his cars a little technical/car skills are preferable! Biggest example would be changing a tire, the roads are not great nor are they extremely horrible. If you are able to change a tire you are good to go! I myself have never driven a 4x4 before and I have to say it is very, very easy to drive once you get the hang of it. The clutch, gears it`s all very rough and heavy. The engine works great, more then enough horsepower for basically everything.
We rented the van for 8 days and did a trip around the issyk-kul lake. And easy going trip, not a lot of passes but we went up to the gold mine and son-kul lake. Both roads are in good condition.
The van itself has everything you need, a stove, kitchen utilities, chairs. The only thing we missed were pillows but we brought them with us from the overnight flight. The bed is fine, don`t except hotel comfort box springs! With 1.93 I was on the taller side for it but still it worked out.
Communication: the superb communication between Alex Vlad and myself. Also beforehand communication with Alex was great, with vlad as well! Keep this up gentleman!
F
★★★★★
Awesome adventure exploring Kyrgystan! It just seemed to get better and better with Kel Suu an absolutely incredible lake to finish things up with.
Many thanks to Alex for being so responsive in pulling together the trip despite my last minute request. He really went the extra mile in answering my questions and making sure I fully understand the itinerary etc.
Dina was an excellent guide with lots of experience of the country, history, nature, people etc... She was very flexible and friendly, which meant I felt we got an access and exposure to local Kyrgyz people and culture that would have been otherwise impossible - thank you!
W
★★★★★
We rented the 2018 UAZ Buhanka from Alex and Vlad for 12 days. Alex was great with communication before our trip, sending us lots of recommendations and making himself available for any questions we had.
The van itself was amazing and was a really unique way to experience the country. Lots of locals came up to ask us about it and take a look around.
Alex and Vlad were both great at helping us out with any issues we had with the van while on the road, and even talked us through making a minor repair to something that had broken.
Overall, I would definitely recommend renting a Buhanka from Alex and Vlad, we had a brilliant time!
G
★★★★★
Alex, what a great guy! I booked with my friends 3 UAZ Bukhanka`s for to weeks. We went to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Best adventure ever! Alex did give us good tips, did show the roads on maps and helped us through our journey. If you would like to drive by yourself in those countries, you must check Alex!
N
★★★★★
The trip to Kyrgyzstan was a big adventure! We loved the nature around Iyssk Kul, Song Kul and Jyrgalan. The UAZ Buhanka was a reliable friend for three weeks and no matter how bad the roads were, the bus brought us to our final destinations without breaking down!!!
The service of Alex and Vlad made that we had an unforgetable time!
L
★★★★★
Everything went as planned. Alex provided a lot of useful support before and during the trip. We rented his vintage Buhanka for 18 days and had an amazing time. The car however is definitely not for everybody. It takes time to get used to and to love this car. It is very basic and lots of dust get into the car all the time.
D
★★★★★
Our journey to Kyrgyztan was amazing! Many thanks to Alex and Mirbek, our highly reliable contact person and guide. We just loved the whole trip, most of all beautiful Kol Suu and Son Kul...we really had some breathtaking moments there!
Mirbek was the perfect guide for us! He is a really funny and great guy, he is open-minded and he knows many things about the country, history, nature, people...
We hope he`ll be happy with his future little family. :D
And furthermore, without the amazing support of Alex the journey would never have become such a great one! Keep it coming! Thank you Alex!
S
★★★★★
My family, all five of us, including three children, 12 11 and 11, hired a UAZ buhanka for six days to drive around Issy-Kul. We had a great time enjoying the independence and freedom the UAZ buhanka gave us. The children loved the van, watching the stunning, countryside pass by the window, then setting up camp in some secluded spot.
Alex was a fantastic host, giving us the security that he was behind the scenes and available if anything, as to go amiss.
The holiday flew by, and my family have fallen in love with the UAZ and Kyrgyzstan. We will be back!
J
★★★★★
We rented a UAZ Buhanka VAN for 2 weeks from Alex and had an amazing trip trough kyrgyzstan!
Alex is a very kind and friendly person and is able to give great tips for your tour, because he knows the country and people very well. He is also able to get you a border permit and special equipment like for examle a WiFi Router, if you need this.
If you would have any problems or just questions on your trip, you can contact him and he will help you immediately.
The VAN was in a very good condition and customized with love, so that you can sleep in it really comfortable. Also the equipment which comes with the VAN was very good!
Driving the Buhanka is great fun and it is kind of a door-opener if you arrive somewhere, because the locals are always interested in the VAN and will start a conversation with you.
We can highly recommend the rent from Alex because you´ll get more than just a VAN!
We definately want to come back ans discover more places in the beautiful kyrgyzstan!
J
★★★★★
Everything was really mesmirizing
Mirbek is good & knowledgeable
Cheers
Jeevan
J
★★★★★
Dear Alex and team,
Thanks again for the good care, the support during the preparations and the trip itself. This has certainly contributed to a carefree and unforgettable holiday in Kyrgyzstan. The knowledge of the country and the advice about route choice are highly appreciated and have yielded beautiful adventures and photos, but also good food and good places to sleep. For anyone who is planning to discover Kirchizie and wants to be free in safety, I highly recommend organizing this with Alex. The Buhankas were comfortable, well-equipped and a great travel companion. We hope to meet again. Many thanks again to Alex.
All the best for the future !!
Greeting Sander, Huib and partners
S
★★★★★
Rented a UAZ Buhanka camper van from Alex for 10 days when I was traveling around Kyrgyzstan together with a friend. The rental went smoothly, and everything from mattresses to cutlery was provided by him and ready for use when we picked up the van in Bishkek. All we had to do was enjoy our road trip around the country. Definitely recommend this guy and this van!
M
★★★★★
Alex arranged our 4 days trip to Song Kol Lake in April. Not many tour guides would arrange this tour during this month due to the cold/snowy weather. He managed to find us one of his best guide who came from the nearby village. He taught us many cultural things about Kyrgystan which was great to understand the country and its people.
I highly recommend Alex to organise your trip, he knows the best things to do with the best people.
J
★★★★★
Traveling around in the van was a great way to see some of what Kyrgyztan has to offer. It`s a reliable and comfortable van and well set up as a camper. We did a couple of nights in the van and then a night in a guest house (for showers). We didn`t use the 4wd much but the van has a pretty high clearance, so I`m sure it will get you where you want to go within reason.
Alex is very helpful in showing you how the van works and making suggestions for itineraries that might suit what you want to see and do.
One thing to bear in mind when planning your trip is that travel is pretty slow going. The van sits nicely at 80 km/hr (I`m sure it will go faster if you put your foot down), but you need to slow to 40 km/hr to pass through the many villages and there are lots of police with speed cameras. I`m good with not ripping through villages leaving a trail of dust, but it means 50Km/hr is about right for your average speed over long distances.
I thoroughly recommend both Alex and the mighty UAZ Buhanka. Have fun!
R
★★★★★
Alex and his UAZ Buhanka van were amazing! Right from the booking stages Alex helped us get our driver`s license translated in Bishkek. Then when we picked up the van for our 5 day adventure he willingly showed us the ropes of how to drive it, what was inside and where things were. This tutorial was very useful and helped set us up! Driving the van was great, Alex also suggested itinerary routes and we took his advice and seen so much. Kyrgyzstan was beautiful in early February, we seen mountains, lakes, canyons, dry desert like landscape and snow all in the space of 5 days. If you are considering taking a trip off the beaten track you can certainly do that in this UAZ Buhanka. The van comes well equipped for a winter trip - there is a heater in the front and back of the van. In terms of cooking, Alex provided us with a gas hob to cook meals on and the van comes with utensils and crockery.
The 4x4 on the van also helped to get to some places off road, this ability was very useful especially when roads are muddy/snowy. We felt safe in the van the entire time and we were sad to drop off "Bianca The Buhanka" off.
K
★★★★★
We had a short, but truly mind-boggling trip in Kyrgyzstan! In 4 days we got everything from early autumn warmth and sunsine to rainshowers and fog through sub-zero snowstorms and ice-packed roads. But the UAZ Buhanka did amazing in every conditions, comfortable driving on the road and cosy sleeping in it, no matter where you are. Thanks for Alex and Vlad for the easy-going and helpful service, we`re eager to be back for a longer tour one day!
A
★★★★★
Alex is a great and truly helpful guy. He even bring Buchanka to our hotel, show everything which was important, took a practise ride and gave us lot of useful tips. He is extremely caring about his Buchankas which is great. The one we rented was amazing and we had perfect time in Kyrgyzstan. I hope that I will visit Kyrgysztan again next year and I will definitely rent the Buchanka again. Big thanks Alex. See you next year mate.
M
★★★★★
Had a fantastic time with Alex travelling through north Kyrgyzstan on a 45 year old Lada. An unforgetable experience thanks to Alex. Will definitely contact you again on my next trip to Kyrgyzstan. Thanks a lot and see you soon.
Alex
V
★★★★★
Look no further for a breathtaking, rich, and spellbinding experience in Kyrgyzstan. After my tour with Alex, I felt as if he’d truly brought me closer to the heart of the country. He is a talented facilitator and guide who was able to provide an extensive body of knowledge while we witnessed, first hand, the beauty of Kyrgyzstan’s landscape and culture via the Issyk-Ata Gorge and sanatorium, local (and delicious) cuisine, and more. We saw jagged mountains, whose slips were dotted with wild horses drinking from the streams. Alex is also a great communicator and knows this area intimately, so you can trust that you’ll receive the highest quality, most authentic experience possible. I would recommend his services to anyone.
L
★★★★★
We had an AWESOME time in Kirgistan, and mainly thanks to Alex! Not only did he trust us with his beloved vintage Buhanka, but he provided us with excellent advise and great suggestions about guesthouses. Much appreciated. Communication was easy before and during our trip. And the van itself... oh. Marvellous. What an experience. NOT your average rental car :) We mis her a lot. Definitely hope to be back one day and when we do, we will absolutely reach out to Alex again!
K
★★★★★
We rented the van for 2 weeks and the experience was very positive.
The car is super cool and the assistance very effective.
Even if we had some mechanical issue the second day, Alex send a person to our place in mountain to fix the car.
He has always been present when we need advice and assistance, and he also help us to (successfully) face a police officer that wanted to cheat on us.
We strongly suggest to rent Alex’s car to explore the wild and beautiful Kyrgyz’s mountains.
G
★★★★★
Alex is fantastic and a true fountain of knowledge when it comes to Kyrgyzstan. There isn`t much he doesn`t know about the country. He went out of his way to advise us on our planned itinerary, pinning places on the map that we would otherwise never have found, or heard of. We hired one of his bunhanka`s for 2 weeks and, whilst the driving is a lot more slow going than we thought it would be, it was a massive amount of fun and sucha good and easy way to see this incredible country.
C
Cassiepric
September 2018
★★★★★
We came to Kyrgyzstan three months ago for our tour to the South Inylchek Glacier and back, organized and planned by Alex. Sadly, it didn`t all go as planned and we had a terrible accident along the way which left me, my travelling companion and several others injured. Alex took full responsibility and did everything in his power to help us in the days after the accident. He personally drove us to hospital, made sure to get us a full refund and let us stay at the Blue Camel guesthouse for our recovery. After all that, we still managed to have a good time in Kyrgyzstan thanks to the great help and support from Alex and the guesthouse staff and we were still able to take some good memories home aswell. Alex, I`ll never forget how you helped us back there. Without you we wouldn`t have known what to do and who to turn to. Thanks for everything.
David and Robin
D
★★★★★
Thanks to Alex` help everything was perfect.
I can highly recommend his service.
G
★★★★★
10 out 10 to Alex for organising the trip and selecting a great guide in Murat who was super helpful. If you want to escape city life and immerse yourself in the outdoors/culture of Kyrgyzstan, give Alex a shout.Great memories of an epic trip,thanks so much Alex. Alan from Ireland.
D
Desertiris
September 2018
★★★★★
Had a lot of fun with the UAZ Hunter!
We’ll come back as soon as possible.
T
★★★★★
Alex is a very easy going person. We rented our Buhanka for 3 weeks and he helped us with fixing the papers to cross the border, helped us to plan our trip through the countries,...
Even when we had a little accident he was very helpfull!
F
★★★★★
Alex is extremely well informed on Stans, speaks the languages and is a mine of information. We rented one of his Buhankas and had an incredible roadtrip. He is definetely your man on the spot. Well done man and thanks once more!
T
★★★★★
Alex obtained us the border zone permits, helped us with planing our trip and gave us useful advice and tips. We really appreciate it! Thanks a lot :)
P
★★★★★
Alex did an absolutely fantastic job organizing our visit to Kyrgyzstan. In our travels throughout Central Asia Alex is, without a doubt, the most thorough and organized tour-guide we have come across. He spent a great amount of time and tailor-made us a tour specific to our needs (family traveling with small children) and throughout the trip ensured that we were comfortable and taken care of. We are definitely going to book again with Alex when we return to Kyrgyzstan.
J
★★★★★
Everything went smoothly... thank you Alex for giving the opportunity of an incredible experience in Kg !
N
★★★★★
I shall start by describing the interactions I had with Alex, details of the trip will follow.
Alex`s messages on indyguide were swift and precise. His expertise guided me towards choosing the appropriate trip. A rare delay in his replies means he is likely out in the wilderness. On arrival in Bishkek, I was picked up by a friendly driver and ushered to Alex`s hub, offering super comfortable accommodation above his travel planning centre. He is ever present and ready to help during the day. A minute into talking with Alex in person, his genuine delight and eagerness at showcasing Kyrgyzstan to his guests was apparent. I had a few days to spare for weather delays and pestered him with grandiose trip proposals. At short notice, Alex carved out side trips to fit my wanderlust. Permits, transportation, horsemen, food, yurt etc. everything was seamless and I managed to see some elusive wildlife. He was meticulous and transparent: for every trip proposal I make, his excel sheet comes out and every detail is mapped out hahahaa. Above all, I felt like I was being helped by a friend that truly wants me to see Kyrgyzstan.
The two way Heli trip to Khan Tengri base camp was spectacular. Incredible views of Khan Tengri and Jengush Chokusu (Pobeda/ Pobedy). Amongst the best high alpine scenery one can see without climbing high. The Heli has windows that can be opened to take pics. Don`t stick your phone out, it will fly :) The seats on the left (on the way in) have better views of Khan Tengri, but the seats on the right have better views of the glaciers. I recommend the later, you get great views of Khan Tengri once on the base camp anyway. The base camp was on a medial moraine and the immediate vicinity is safe enough to not rope up. Don`t go far without consulting the camp manager. The camp was managed by a super friendly guy Dima and catered towards climbers attempting Khan Tengri or Pobeda. It was on the luxurious side, with tents coming with mattresses. Food was plentiful and delicious. Sofia, the translator, was super helpful to those who don`t speak Russian or Kyrgyz. It is important to understand that the trip is at the mercy of weather and the whims of the helicopter operators. Make certain to have a few spare days.
A
★★★★★
Awesome trip, thanks for all the help and advice you provided. Above and beyond for sure... You`ll see me in Bishkek again one day!
G
★★★★★
Excelent comunication with Alex from first day to end day. Contract easy and smoth.The car itsefl well prepared. Helping with itenerary and planning our trip perfect. Overall it was some kind of different experience to drive retro van. It mix ofroad capability roomy interior and driving pleasure in one.
V
★★★★★
We had an amazing time driving around with a brand new Buhanka in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Alex and Vlad provided us with lots of information and great tips for our trip. The van was super comfortable, easy to drive, great to sleep in and it took us to the most beautiful and desolated places. Would loooooove to come back and can recommend this to everyone - great way to experience absolute freedom.
D
★★★★★
Everything was great!! Alex is the best! He helped us a lot with planing, gear and advice making the trip an unforgettable experience.
F
★★★★★
Fantastic guide! Could not have chosen a better person to show me the surroundings of Bishkek/Kyrgizstan! All the best to you & Dina, Alex!
F
★★★★★
Renting the UAZ Bukhanka from Alex and Vlad was a great experience. The Van has taken us everywhere possibly imaginable, it is a machine, comfortable and very robust. Adding a great sense of adventure to your trip. You can only reach some places with such type of transport.
But it`s not only the transport you are paying for, it`s a whole package, with the van it comes the experience of Alex and Vlad, who will recommend you nice spots to visit, nice treks to do.
I would highly recommend renting a Bukhanka on your trip to Kyrgyztan. Just remember it is important that you have basic knowledge of mechanics and if travelling by yourself maybe consider taking a satelite phone with you, as Kyrgyztan is a remote country, where you might not see people for days. For us this was a big plus as it just made the trip 100% adventure.
J
★★★★★
I had an enjoyable trip with Alex during my visit to Kyrgyzstan.
his indepth knowledge of the region, his fluency in the local language and his care of me during the travel really enhances the whole travel experience.
We had a wonderful time roaming the country, visit the local homes and witnessing beautiful scenery.
I would strongly recommend him to anyone would wants to have a unique experience in KYrgyzstan.
M
★★★★★
My entire experience in Kyrgyzstan was enhanced by meeting Alex and the guys at Indy Guide. Alex goes out of his way to be helpful and informative at every available opportunity. Will have fond memories for life. The 8 day tour was such an amazing positive and importantly immersive experience.
D
★★★★★
We are building connections with communities in the Tian Shan mountains, one of the amazing connections we`ve made with with Alex. He`s been incredibly helpful with connecting us to local guides, organising border zone permits and guesthouse accommodation. If you`re looking at heading to Kyrgyzstan contacting him should be your first step.
T
★★★★★
Goodbye Kyrgyzstan! I really liked it here.
Goodbye Alex! You put together a fantastic program for us, and impressed me day after day with your extremely positive mood and knowledge about both country and people. I hope we may share some more Kyrgyz adventures!
T
★★★★★
Everything was great! Do not go to Kyrgyzstan without talking to Alex. He knows all the good places and is super helpful at all times, he speaks the local languages and seems to know everything and every part of Kyrgystan. We rented a Buhanka from him and this is a great car (if not the best) to explore Kyrgyzstan with. So make sure to contact Alex if you plan on going to Kyrgyzstan.
J
★★★★★
We have rent the new Buhanka from Alex for 9 days.
We went from Bishkek to Tajikistan and the trip has been absolutely great! The 2017 Buhanka is a strong russian car, perfect for the bad roads of Tajikistan. Sleeping inside the Buhanka on the Pamir Highway has been an especial experience!
Alex has been very kind with us and provides us everything we needed (blankets, dishes and other stuff, tools for the car security...), we certainly contact him again in our next trip in Central Asia!
Thank you Alex, it was a pleasure to meet you!
L
★★★★★
We had a great time renting Alex`s 1990 buhanka, although not for the faint hearted- it was definitely one of the best experiences we`ve had whilst travelling Central Asia. It allowed us to fall in love with Kyrgyzstan, and alex was such a helpful contact to have throughout our week driving. He gave us all the equipment we need (camping stuff), so our lives were made very easy before leaving. Also he helped us with a route so we got the most out of our trip. Would highly reccomend it for anyone!
Emma and rob
E
Emmagilber
September 2017
★★★★★
I took Alex`s tour `Day Tour to Burana Tower`.
I`m sorry that he couldn`t come, but he arranged a guide and a driver for me immediately.
They were very nice too.
I could spend an interesting time with wonderful natures.
He also allowed my will of arrangement.
And he is kind, he worried about me and he contacted me during the tour.
I`m satisfied very much.
I want to recommend his tour to everyone.
T
★★★★★
Very good and easy communication. Helped us out a lot during our trip. Recommend!
T
★★★★★
Alex is very helpful. We stayed in touch even when he was guiding others, so our contact was excellent.
He gave us a lot of tips and recomandations for our trip what was super nice and really accurate.
Don`t hestitate to ask him for help!
M
★★★★★
Super guy...
Everythink seams to be very good...
If you re looking for someone who make things happen..
Alex is your man..
U
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