This list of the best winter activities in Kyrgyzstan will have you packing your snow gear and booking your trip today!
Known for having some of the most stunning mountains in the world, Kyrgyzstan is a true paradise for those who want to get out and go on long-distance hiking or horseback riding trips.
With its fascinating nomadic culture, hospitable people and Silk Road history, Kyrgyzstan keeps appearing on travel lists as one of the best places to visit in the world.
Kyrgyzstan has traditionally been a summer destination for adventure-seeking travelers.
However, this is starting to change, and word has it that Kyrgyzstan’s winter is one of the most incredible seasons to travel here.
After visiting this country 7 times and loving it more and more each time, I finally had the chance to come back in the winter.
I had high expectations based on photos from friends who lived there, but other than that Skiing in KyrgyzstanAfter it snowed, I really didn’t know what else to see or do.
It turns out there are still many adventures waiting for us to experience!
Winter in Kyrgyzstan – how to have an epic vacation!
If you're looking for things to do in Kyrgyzstan in winter, or just wondering if you should come during the colder months, this list will answer all your questions!
Read more: View our complete Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide!
Go skiing at Karakol Ski Resort
As a mountainous country with long winters and heavy snowfall, skiing in Kyrgyzstan has become a favorite pastime for locals as well as tourists from neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan and Russia.
But it remains relatively unknown within the wider travel community.
What surprises many people who choose hotspots like the Alps and North America for their winter vacation is that Kyrgyzstan actually has a number of incredible ski resorts with terrain to suit any skill level.
You heard it here first – one of the top winter activities in Kyrgyzstan for your next trip is definitely skiing!
So where should you do it?
The best ski resort in Kyrgyzstan without a doubt Karakol ski resortlocated on the east side of the lake Lake Issyk-Kul.
With an impressive 740m of lift vertical drop and a variety of terrain suitable for anyone from beginners to hardcore shredders, Karakol is a must-see on any Kyrgyzstan winter trip.
Lift tickets are an absolute bargain at $17 per day, and you can rent gear on the mountain or in the town of Caracol.
Slackcountry with top chair access is great if you have avalanche rescue experience and know how to read and monitor snow conditions.
While you can also go skiing near Bishkek or at some of the remote campsites in Jyrgalan and Jalpak Tash, we recommend setting aside at least a few days for skiing in Karakol.
Hang out with real falconers
The scene of Kyrgyzstan’s stately falconers on horseback, dressed in traditional garb and with a golden eagle proudly perched on their arm, has become synonymous with the country’s image.
Seeing a falconer show is definitely on the Kyrgyz bucket list, and while you can organize a show at any time of the year, winter is the normal time for these hunters to go out with the birds of prey.
The best place to get up close and personal with falconers is on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Here you'll find some professional (and sometimes world champion) falconers who give demonstrations to visitors when they're not on the mountain.
most noteworthy is Saarbrunn Federationbased in Bokonbayevo, these are the people we meet every year. NOMA Daron Kyrgyzstan Tour.
On my recent winter trip we met Ruslan, a falconer from the small village of Jaichy near the south coast.
Against an incredible backdrop of snowy mountains, Ruslan and his magnificent eagle Karakuz put on a stunning show with horses and live rabbits (Yes, it's bloody, but remember this is an ancient cultural tradition) For our group.
Later Ruslan was kind enough to pose for photos and even allowed us to hold Karakuz for our own falconer photos.
You can contact Ruslan in the following ways CBT Bokonbayevo office, or Jaichy yurt camp.
Explore Kyrgyzstan’s incredible snowy landscapes
Kyrgyzstan is an incredibly diverse country with plenty of stunning landscapes to explore.
From picture-postcard mountain lakes like Kel Suu and Song Kul to the red rock rainbow of Skazka Canyon, you can literally take in some of the most stunning scenery on Earth on a month-long trip.
There's no doubt that these places are beautiful any time of year, but they become especially magical when they're covered in a fresh layer of snow.
One of the most unique sights is the sandstone formation of Jeti Oguz, just a short drive from Caracol.
If you can, get up early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is golden.
My advice is to rent a car and drive around so you have enough time to stop in all the stunning places Kyrgyzstan has to offer during the winter.
Living in a yurt
There, falconry is one of Kyrgyzstan’s quintessential activities, and staying in a yurt is a truly unique local experience.
Sleeping in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan in the winter definitely adds to the bad factor, and luckily there are a few places across the country where you can do just that.
Yurts are traditional shelters used by nomadic families for centuries, and they are very easy to pack and transport.
Watch the video below to get a better idea of how a yurt is built.
Knowing that tourists are generally interested in yurts, you can find many excellent ger camps throughout Kyrgyzstan.
Most of them are only open during the summer, but some are open year-round.
We visited the Boz Uchuk yurt camp, run by CBT Karakollocated deep in the Bozwuchuk Valley.
You can only get here by snowshoeing or skiing 8 kilometers into the mountain, but once you arrive you'll be blown away by its stunning location.
Surrounded by towering peaks and dense pine forests, Bozwuchuk Yurt Camp has two guest yurts and a dining yurt, keeping everything comfortable and private.
The yurt is cozy at night and has a wood burning stove that you can light up all night long to stay warm.
It lays a good foundation for exploring the world bozwuchuk valley In the winter, if you're a skier or snowboarder, you're bound to find endless lines of powder all around you.
In my humble opinion, if you’re not staying in a ger camp during your trip, you’re missing out on one of the best things to do in the winter in Kyrgyzstan!
Venture into the wild backcountry of Jyrgalan
I hold nothing back on this site Jyrgalan is our favorite place in Kyrgyzstannow that winter is here, it’s firmly at the top of my list.
It’s not just the idyllic country life that we love. Jyrgalan is an adventure mecca located in the heart of the Tien Shan Mountains.
We're lucky to be able to continue some Legendary hikes around Jyrgalanand had always wondered what the winter sports potential was in the valley.
On our recent trip we had the opportunity to spend two days exploring the backcountry skiing here and it was truly incredible.
Jyrgalan doesn't have any ski lifts, which means if you want to access the mountains in winter, you'll have to snowshoe, ski touring, or rent a snowcat or snowmobile.
The effort is worth it, though, because once you reach the summit of these mountains, you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding landscape (even Kazakhstan from certain angles), as well as raw snow waiting to be carved.
Jyrgalan has become a top spot for backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the country, so be sure to add it to your Kyrgyzstan winter itinerary.
To arrange your trip here we recommend you contact Emil and Gulmira: Destination Jurgaland.
Soak in hot springs
After a day of skiing, snowshoeing or snowshoeing, there's nothing better than a soak in a hot spring.
The mountains on the east side of Lake Issyk-Kul have many natural hot springs, the most famous of which is located in Altyn Alashan.
However, there are many conveniently located swimming pools, and the Ak-Suu Kench hot springs just 30 minutes' drive from Karakol is a good place to visit.
There are 3 large outdoor swimming pools with water temperatures ranging from pleasant to “Oh my God, my skin is melting.”it is one of the best hot springs in Kyrgyzstan where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful surrounding mountain scenery.
Admission is only 200KGS per person and lockers and towels can be rented if required.
If you get hungry, there's an on-site restaurant.
Watch Kok Boru match
Central Asia has many unique sports that have become ingrained in their culture over centuries.
Falcon is certainly one of them. Wrestling is another story. But if there's one sport that really piques the curiosity and interest of international visitors, it's Kok Boru.
Kok Boru, known to the Western world as “Headless Goat Polo” due to the actual participation of headless goats, is one of the craziest sports on earth.
In short, there are two teams, each consisting of 12 people. On a large open field, two round goals made of tires and dirt were placed at each end.
Each player is on horseback and the goal is to pick up a decapitated goat that was killed before the game began (the winner then eats the goat) and carry it to the other end of the field to throw it into the goal.
If that doesn't sound difficult enough, remember that the goat can weigh up to 80 pounds, and as the player with the goat tries to reach the end of the field, players from the other team will constantly rush and wrestle with the person holding the goat in an attempt to wrest it away from them.
It's an incredible spectator sport that really makes headlines around the world world nomadic games.
Although you can watch the Kok Boru race at any time of the year, it is mainly played during the winter.
Stumbling upon a Kok Boru race while traveling in Kyrgyzstan in the winter is a very lucky experience, but definitely not uncommon compared to the summer.
If you want to know when the race will be held, ask the small villages around Lake Issyk-Kul to see if there are any races scheduled.
Locals are usually happy to let foreign tourists watch their games. Make sure you stay alert as there are no fences and it can be very dangerous if you get too close to the action.
Disclaimer: This publication was made possible with the support of the Swiss Government through the Sustainable Winter Tourism Development Project funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by Helvetas Kyrgyzstan, and the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Central Asia Competitiveness, Trade and Employment activities. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Jarryd Salem of NOMADasaurus Adventure Travel Blog and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Swiss Government and the Swiss Helveticus Mutual Cooperation or the US Agency for International Development and the United States Government.
