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Kyrgyzstan: World Nomad Games
Group Tour
Overview
Dubbed the ‘Olympics of Central Asia’, the World Nomad Games began in 2014 to preserve and celebrate the athletic prowess and cultural legacies of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. In true nomad spirit, the location of the Games has migrated to different countries over the last couple of years but will be hosted back in the location of its founding, Kyrgyzstan, for its sixth edition in 2026.
With nomadic heritage at its heart, the Games provide an ideal opportunity to explore Kyrgyzstan, ...
Dubbed the ‘Olympics of Central Asia’, the World Nomad Games began in 2014 to preserve and celebrate the athletic prowess and cultural legacies of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. In true nomad spirit, the location of the Games has migrated to different countries over the last couple of years but will be hosted back in the location of its founding, Kyrgyzstan, for its sixth edition in 2026.
With nomadic heritage at its heart, the Games provide an ideal opportunity to explore Kyrgyzstan, a country aesthetically blessed and culturally nourished by the migrations and conquests of the ancient Silk Road. In the capital, we’ll enjoy a mix of modern architecture and folkloric music before traversing some of the country’s highlights on this 12-day tour. The magical mountain lakes of Son Kul and Issyk Kul, as well as the remote caravanserai ruins of Tash Rabat, provide opportunities to experience nomadic hospitality and traditional yurt stays; to converse with eagle hunters, yurt producers and felt textile makers; and to roam around the mountain ranges of the Tien Shan on foot or horseback.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses throughout
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
1 night x Standard
5 nights x Simple
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip we will be in hotels and yurt camps. In the yurts it may be necessary to share with up to 4 or 5 people, and be prepared for shared, basic bathroom facilities.
Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Bishkek: City Tour
Day 1 Tour starts in Bishkek: City Tour
The adventure begins in the Kyrgyz capital, after checking in to our rooms, available from 14:00 or possibly earlier, we have the chance to experience our first Kyrgyz lunch before a short introductory afternoon tour of its highlights including a stroll around the central Ala-Too square.
Day 2 Bishkek – Son Kul (3,016m): Burana Tower & Felt-making
Day 2 Bishkek – Son Kul (3,016m): Burana Tower & Felt-making
Our destination today will be the beautiful glacial lake of Son Kul, located some 3,000 metres above sea level. The full day’s drive takes us through the fertile Chuy Valley and up through the mountains, passing the impressively restored 11th century minaret of the Burana Tower and stopping at a small village known for its textiles, for a demonstration in felt-making and shyrdak (traditional Kyrgyz carpets) embroidery at a local women’s cooperative. On arrival at Son Kul, we’ll settle into our yurt camp beside the lake, taking some time to unwind before a traditional nomadic dinner replete with vodka toasts this evening.
Approx. driving distance: 360 km, 6-7 hours
Day 3 Son Kul: Hiking, Riding & Horse Games
Day 3 Son Kul: Hiking, Riding & Horse Games
Today we’ll be free to explore this beautiful region by heading out to the surrounding hills which conceal ancient petroglyphs, either on foot or on horseback (payable locally). Alternatively, there’s the option to hang out around the camp, occasionally visited by some of the lake’s birdlife, or perhaps call into one of the neighbouring shepherds who spend their summers here for chance to chat over some kumis (fermented mare’s milk). We should hopefully be able to catch a local game of kok boru (also known as buzkashi in Central Asia) going on by the lake this afternoon.
Approx. walking distance: 4-5 km, 3-4 hours, altitude 3000-3100 m
Day 4 Son Kul – Naryn – Tash Rabat (2,900m-3,100m)
Day 4 Son Kul – Naryn – Tash Rabat (2,900m-3,100m)
Departing after our lakeside breakfast this morning, we will
spend the day driving towards the famous Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat
through one of the most spectacular regions of the Tien Shan (“Mountains of
Heaven”). The day includes a stop in Naryn for lunch, before continuing on to
our cosy yurt camp near the secluded mountain ruins of Tash Rabat.
Approx. driving distance: 230-250 km, 5-6 hours
Day 5 Tash Rabat: Ancient Silk Road Caravanersai & Hiking
Day 5 Tash Rabat: Ancient Silk Road Caravanersai & Hiking
After breakfast at the camp, we’ll walk over to the 15th century caravanserai to learn a little about the ancient Silk Road trading route that passed through here. With a packed lunch in tow, the rest of the day will then be free to explore these peaceful landscapes dotted with nomadic peoples and their herds of horses, yaks and sheep, just 35km from the Chinese border. Again, for anyone wishing to, there is the option to rent a horse from a local nomad (payable locally) and explore via horseback. We’ll enjoy a traditional dinner back at the yurt camp this evening.
Approx. walking distance: 3-4 km, 3-4 hours, 3100-3300 m
Day 6 Tash Rabat – Bokonbayevo: Yurt Making & Eagle Hunting
Day 6 Tash Rabat – Bokonbayevo: Yurt Making & Eagle Hunting
Early this morning we’ll begin the drive to one of the country’s most famed natural features, Issyk Kul Lake. Reaching its lesser developed southern shore, we will stop off at one of the villages in the area to find out more about yurt production from the experts, before making our way to another village, Bokonbayevo, for our next yurt camp stay. This afternoon we’ll visit a local eagle hunter to learn more about this cherished tradition.
Approx. driving distance: 350 km, 5-6 hours
Day 7 Bokonbayevo – Karakol: Fairytale & Jeti-Oguz Canyons Hiking
Day 7 Bokonbayevo – Karakol: Fairytale & Jeti-Oguz Canyons Hiking
Beginning our loop around the country’s largest lake – and the world’s second largest mountain lake – we’ll use the opportunity to explore some of the surrounding natural beauty on foot. First up will be a stop at Fairytale Canyon where unique, multi-coloured magma formations provide a wonderful backdrop for a wander through the canyon. Continuing east, our next stop will be Jeti-Oguz to enjoy a view of the fiery-red rock formations known as the Broken Heart and Seven Bulls, as well as some hiking into the canyon and a scenic picnic lunch amongst the fresh mountain air. The day of magical settings concludes at the pleasant town of Karakol.
Approx. driving distance 185 km, 4-5 hours
Approx. Fairytale Canyon walking distance: 1-2 km, 1 hour, 1600-1700 m
Approx. Jeti-Oguz Canyon walking distance: 2 km, 2-3 hours, 2200-2400 m
Day 8 Karakol – Cholpon Ata: History & Architecture Walking Tour
Day 8 Karakol – Cholpon Ata: History & Architecture Walking Tour
An interesting history and demographic make-up has produced an eclectic mix of architecture in Karakol, some of which we’ll explore this morning. A walk through the town sees us passing the historic Dungan Mosque, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and rows of Russian-style houses arranged between lines of poplar trees. Later, we’ll continue on to the lake’s more developed northern shore and settle into our hotel at the popular Kyrgyz holiday destination of Cholpon Ata. Further back from this lakeside town, set against the snow-capped peaks along the border with Kazakhstan, will be the location playing host to the 2026 World Nomad Games.
Approx. driving distance: 150 km, 3 hours
Day 9 Cholpon Ata: World Nomad Games
Day 9 Cholpon Ata: World Nomad Games
Begun in 2014 and held every two years, the Nomad Games provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the rich traditions and cultures of the Central Asian nomads. A colourful gathering of Tajiks, Tatars, Uzbeks and Uyghurs, this spectacular festival brings together an array of food, entertainment and sporting prowess that epitomises the tribal peoples of Central Asia, Persia and the Siberian steppes. We’ll enjoy a full day at the games today.
Day 10 Cholpon Ata: World Nomad Games
Day 10 Cholpon Ata: World Nomad Games
Today we have another chance to experience a full day of entertainment and culture at the games. Some of the games that might be on offer are traditional wrestling, eagle hunting and the unique sport of kok boru (headless goat polo!). Kok boru, which originated from the nomadic Turkic people who spread west from China and Mongolia, is one of the most chaotic and celebrated of all the sports on offer and involves two teams of riders wrestling for possession of the headless carcass of a goat, which they attempt to deliver across the opposition’s goal line.
Day 11 Cholpon Ata – Bishkek: Farewell Dinner & Folkloric Music
Day 11 Cholpon Ata – Bishkek: Farewell Dinner & Folkloric Music
After breakfast we’ll visit some of the renowned petroglyph sites that dot the northern shores of the lake. Amongst the rock art of this “Stone Garden” we can also find an open-air temple that can trace its ancestry back to the 9th century BC. Driving away from Issyk Kul’s shoreline, we’ll then head back up to the capital for our final night where we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by folkloric music this evening.
Approx. driving distance: 260 km, 4-5 hours
Day 12 Tour ends in Bishkek
Day 12 Tour ends in Bishkek
The tour ends at our hotel after breakfast today. Those on the suggested group flights will depart early in the morning, before breakfast.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Ramada By Wyndham Bishkek Centre, Bishkek
The Ramada Bishkek Hotel offers quality mid-range accommodation in the centre of Bishkek, close to the city's museums, theatres and main square. The hotel’s 64 rooms span various categories including Standard, Superior, Suite, Deluxe and Presidential Suite, each well-appointed and fully equipped with international standard amenities, Through the lobby you can reach the sports club and Sapphire Restaurant, serving an à la carte menu of French, Italian and Lebanese cuisine. In the evenings, the summer terrace makes a great spot to grab a drink from the Forbes Bar and Restaurant. A recommended choice for its facilities, location and friendly, multilingual staff on hand to answer any questions about your stay.
Son Kul Yurt Camp (Baish), Son Kul Lake
While other camp sites have popped up around the lake over the years, this friendly yurt camp, owned and run by Baish and his family, has been around for a good while. Staying true to his founding, his camp has retained its simpler style and offering, setting it apart from the bigger camps found around other areas of the lake’s shore. The traditional yurts stretch down near the water’s edge, each furnished with carpets, beds, warm bedding and stoves which are lit morning and evening in true nomadic custom. Homecooked Kyrgyz meals are served in the dining yurt and shared bathroom facilities are found nearby the guest yurts.
*Please note that although there are Western-style toilets and showers, hot water is limited.
Tash Rabat Yurt Camp, Tash Rabat
Tash Rabat Yurt Camp is in the perfect location for learning more about the historic caravanserai while exploring the surrounding valley. The 15 yurts are set up in the summer months to welcome visitors to the valley. The yurts are decorated in a traditional style and are comfortable and cosy, each containing simple wooden beds, basic electricity and an oven that heats the yurt twice a day. There are shared toilet facilities and a sauna.
Almaluu Yurt Camp, Bokonbayevo
Only five kilometres from Bokonbayevo, the Almaluu Yurt Camp is within the ethno-village of craft and culture called "Almaluu". The village is a melting pot of different Kyrgyz traditions, ways of life and culture and therefore there are plenty of handicrafts around which make for excellent souvenirs. Like most yurt camps, the camp has a large family yurt, a dining yurt and then smaller yurts for guests to stay in. Currently, there are 15 guest yurts which can be used for single, double, triple and quadruple sleeping arrangements. There are six toilets (two Western-style and two long drops) and six outdoor showers with hot water. This camp is equipped with basic electricity for lighting and heating. From here, the views of Laky Issyk-Kul (a 1.5km or 15 to 20-minute walk away) are great, and guests can spend their leisure time fishing, horse riding, cycling around the lake or relaxing in the on-site sauna (all to be arranged in advance at an additional cost).
Green Yard, Karakol
In the centre of Karakol, this small family-owned hotel offers nicely decorated rooms with modern facilities including flat screen televisions and en suite bathrooms. The warm and welcoming atmosphere is felt throughout the property, including its 28 rooms which are spread across the pretty gardens. There are communal sitting rooms and a nice outside terrace in which to relax, as well as a dining room where a good home cooked breakfast is served each morning. We recommend the Luxe rooms for their views over the garden.
Karven Four Seasons, Cholpon Ata Region
This beachside resort sat on the shoreline of Lake Issyk Kul offers an array of facilities including rentals and activities that can be enjoyed on the lake. Worth the views alone, the hotel also offers more comfortable rooms than found elsewhere along the lake, including family cottages. A mixture of European and national cuisine can be enjoyed on the summer, accompanied by an international wine list. Alternatively, for Slavic fare, guests can head to the 'hutorok’ (a Russian-style summer restaurant) complete with stylish décor and fireside comfort.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Events
World Nomad Games
Held every two years (although postponed in 2020 due to Coronavirus) the World Nomad Games provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the rich traditions and cultures of the Central Asian nomads. A colourful gathering of Tajiks, Tatars, Uzbeks and Uyghurs, this spectacular festival brings together an array of food, entertainment and sporting prowess that epitomises the tribal peoples of Central Asia, Persia and the Siberian steppes. The next games will be held in 2026.Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Travel, Discover, Help
For every passenger that our local agent in Kyrgyzstan hosts, $1 per day is donated to their charitable project during your stay.
Travel, Discover, Help enables children from orphanages to learn more about Kyrgyzstan, by offering excursions to the countryside and events throughout the year.
Additionally, they provide 40,498 days of work for locals annually and support ecological campaigns - transporting waste from glaciers and mountain gorges across this beautiful country.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Women’s Felt-Making Co-operative
Travelling between the south and north of the country provides the perfect opportunity to stop off at women’s co-operative located in an otherwise quiet village. The women will give us a demonstration of how they make textiles here, often from felt, and provide some insight into techniques used in shyrdak (traditional Kyrgyz carpets) embroidery, providing them an additional income from the tour and our group some behind the scenes information into this cultural aspect.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TK 1986 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:40 | Istanbul (IST) 22:40 |
| TK 344 | Istanbul (IST) 00:45 | Manas International Airport (BSZ) 08:55 |
| TK 345 | Manas International Airport (BSZ) 10:15 | Istanbul (IST) 13:15 |
| TK 1971 | Istanbul (IST) 14:45 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:40 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Kyrgyzstan.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Kyrgyzstan.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Uzbekistan: Land of Silk Road Treasures
Why not cross over into neighbouring Uzbekistan and join our Uzbekistan: Land of Silk Road Treasures to visit the architectural wonders of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva – a good contrast to the dramatic scenery of Kyrgyzstan. Allow 11 days.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The weather conditions can be extremely varied during this tour. In the mountains you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 3,000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling, although on average at this time of year we would expect temperatures in the early 20s (C). At the same time mercury in the thermometers of Bishkek can be nudging 40C.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious, but not all Wild Frontiers tours are the same, and it is important that you choose a tour which is suitable for you. To help you decide and ensure you choose a suitable tour, please refer to our helpful guide here. As a minimum, you should make sure that you read the day-by-day itinerary and the Key Aspects to Consider sections carefully. Should you still have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour, then please contact us.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
Please note that in the yurts it may be necessary to share a room/yurt with up to 4 or 5 people and you should be prepared for shared, basic bathroom facilities. But don’t panic too much… this is genuine adventure travel and your overall experience will easily make up for the lack of mod cons!
There are also some long drives involved in this tour due to the distances we need to cover, but the changing scenery throughout make these an interesting aspect of the trip.
Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for, but the selection and variety is likely to be limited.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for your stays in Bishkek, Karakol and Cholpon Ata only.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 6826 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.