Site just visited, July, 2017. As Paul carefully described Aksu-Zabagly National Park I will focus on Sary Chelek Nature Reserve in Kyrgyzstan, which comparing both sites I found much more interesting.

Sary Chelek is accessible by public transport. From Osh Bus Station (new one, north of the town centre) there is an everyday bus (marszrutka) to Sary Chelek (Arkit village) - 400 Kyrgyz som per seat, in theory it goes around 7.40 in the morning, when full goes earlier so it is advisable to be there around 7.20. You arrive in Arkit around 4 p.m.

Arkit seems to be well prepared for extensive tourism, many of village buildings are homestays, campsites, there are shops with basic food in the village. According to WHS website, being in Arkit, you are already within the borders of National Park, but the most interesting and scenic part of it lies a little bit more further, around the lakes.

To get there you should pass a toll both (price for foreigners to enter the reserve is 400 Kyrgyz som, no discounts for students or children), there is also a 400 Kyrgyz som fee for a car but locals seem to avoid that. There are around 8 km (road is not paved) from Arkit village to Sary Chelek lake, although local people tend to double that distance. Official price for the car to get to the lake is around 1000-1500 som (both ways, including waiting time), if walking it should be around 2 hours, one way.

Sary Chelek lake looks to be very popular destination among Kyrgyz as the provisional car park was almost full - certainly more than 100 cars were there.

At the lake there are no official trails around, but you ca use some basic paths, but remember, they are not marked at all. It seems like it is impossible to walk round the lake (huge rocks).

To get out of Arkit it is possible to arrange a taxi - local way is to go to Tashkömür, for Bishkek - Jalal Abad - Osh highway, where you can take local transport to Osh or Bishkek. Official bus to Osh goes around 6 a.m. but this have to be checked on the spot