• How to get from Bishkek to Karakol:
• Once you exit “Manas” airport you can get a taxi to Western Bus Station (Западный вокзал RUS). For one taxi you should pay 500 KGS (no more). Once you are at the bus station, ask the driver to show you where you can get a taxi or marshrutka (маршрутка RUS) (minibus) to Karakol, they go regularly throughout the day, and leave when they are full. If it is past 7:30 AM it is cheaper to take marshrutka (usually white minibus). They cost a standard 350 KGS / per person.
• The marshrutka brings you right to Karakol bus station. The journey from Bishkek to Karakol is about 6 hrs. The marshrutka will stop midway for a coffee break. From the Karakol bus station to the hostel you can walk (3km) or take a taxi (70KGS - no more). There is also a domestic marshrutka #111 & #110 (10KGS) . If you choose to take marshrutka get off at Karasaev street and walk to the hostel (about 10 mins walk).
• If you arrive before 7:30 AM you will have to take a taxi to Karakol. If you taking a shared taxi then you share a taxi with other 2 people and pay around 700 KGS/per person. Or if you taking a whole taxi then you will end up paying about 2800 KGS/per person for a car. Either way a taxi should bring you right to the hostel, and like the marshrutka it will stop half way for a break.
• *Another thing to note that from “Manas” airport you also can take marshrutka to Western Bus station but again it starts running only from 7AM. It is way cheaper then a taxi but less convenient.