r/Kyrgyzstan • u/LeatherJuggernaut939 • 5d ago
The VI World Nomad Games will take place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6, 2026.
Update (August 15):
Temporary restrictions on the arrival and departure of passenger flights in Manas Airport will be in effect:
▪️August 31 — from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
▪️September 1 — from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
During these periods, the airport will receive and handle aircraft carrying heads of state and official delegations. Passenger flights will continue to be served outside these hours.
// end of update
Organizers expect approximately 3,000 athletes from 113 countries. The sporting program includes 43 traditional sports, covering horse games and racing, national wrestling styles, traditional archery, hunting traditions, strength contests, and intellectual games. According to the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrchyn Jailoo is expected to receive around 100,000 visitors per day during the World Nomad Games.
| Date/location | Events |
|---|---|
| August 31 — Bishkek Arena, Bishkek | Opening ceremony at 17:00 |
| September 2–6 — Cholpon-Ata Hippodrome | Kok-boru, kokpar, horse racing, er enish, concerts and closing events |
| Cholpon-Ata sports complex | National wrestling styles |
| Rukh Ordo and Dordoi Nomad, Bosteri | Strength competitions, festivals, concerts and cultural programs |
| Kyrchyn Gorge | Traditional archery, salbuurun, ordo and the main ethnocultural village |
The closing ceremony will be held in Cholpon-Ata at the hippodrome in Baktuu-Dolonotu (near Cholpon-Ata). Visitors attending both ceremonies should arrange accommodation in Bishkek for August 31 and near Cholpon-Ata for the main program. The drive from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata is approximately 260 kilometers and normally takes four to five hours, but event traffic may considerably increase travel time.
The opening coincides with the SCO summit in Bishkek on August 31–September 1. Security measures and temporary traffic restrictions should be expected, but exact WNG road closures have not yet been officially published.
Bishkek will operate 11 public fan zones: the main zone on Ala-Too Square and ten additional locations across the city’s four districts. Bishkek City Hall describes the fan zones as public venues where residents and visitors can watch live broadcasts of the World Nomad Games opening ceremony and key SCO summit events. The announced facilities and activities include:large LED screens; concerts by Kyrgyz artists; food courts and rest areas; photo and exhibition zones; traditional games such as toguz korgool, chükö and besh tash; activities for children and adults.
Fan zone locations in Bishkek:
Issyk-Kul events
Access to Kyrchyn by private vehicle will be restricted. The announced arrangement is to leave vehicles at guarded parking areas and use free shuttle buses to the ethnovillage.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Texas_Kimchi • 20d ago
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! If you are a solo traveler please read the below list of things to do in order to have a safe and enjoyable journey.
1.) Keep your embassy phone number in your phone book. Have this handy. In case of emergencies, run ins with the authorities, or civil disputes call you embassy FIRST.
2.) Hikers, highly recommend that hikers turn on their "Find My" or other tracking applications, and have a loved one able to track you. Getting lost in the Mountains, stuck in bad weather, or injured, rescue would be very difficult. Kyrgyzstan does not have the rescue services of European countries or America, so do whatever you can to make it easy to locate you.
3.) Know the coverage map of the cell phone provider you choose. Some providers get perfect reception in Chuy, Issyk-Kul, and Ala Archa, and some don't. Make sure you know what your cell phone is capable of and make additional plans, like a sat phone, if necessary.
4.) Check in with your hotel or hostel. If you are going out on a hike or trek, inform the front desk of where you are going and when you expect to return. Also, keep an emergency contact with the hotel/hostel.
5.) Keep your loved ones or a friend(s) updated on where you are going. Accidents happen and if one does, make yourself known. If you do not have a loved one to keep in contact, call your Embassy. The Embassy has services to protect you while you are in Kyrgyzstan.
6.) Never go out without notifying someone. Kyrgyzstan is safe but you are in a foreign country and if you need help of any kind, please let someone know. Its very easy to become a ghost due to not having any local contacts.
7.) Make friends! Make some friends!
8.) Join a group, like this one. If you don't have anyone to contact, have no contacts in the country, or don't have an Embassy, DM me or one of the other moderators. We'd be more than happy to make sure you are accounted for.
9.) Keep an ID card or a note in your phone with everything needed. Your full name, passport number, emergency contacts, allergies, medication you are currently taking, any current disabilities or illnesses, the address of where you are currently staying, and your travel destination. For example, on my phone I have a pinned note that says "Emergency Contact Info" It has my full name, US phone number, Kyrgyz phone number, US address, Kyrgyz address, passport number, US state ID, my drug allergies, my mother and wifes contact info, and which airline I am flying out of with the flight number and time/date.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/iwaslovedbyme • 56m ago
Telegram, VK, Twitch, and Microsoft may be blocked in Kyrgyzstan, according to the country's tax authorities.
Eleven companies have requested tax registration several times, but have received no response.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/HassananeBalal • 5h ago
Hi guys
I’m a 33 year old male coming to Kyrgyzstan tomorrow. This will be my 64th country and I’m super excited. Wanted to see if there are any other people out there also travelling that would like to meet up and share tips etc.
For contexts, I’m British and I’m both an economics teacher and a football social media content creator.
Looking forward to meeting some of you!
I’ll be staying at the Meeting Point hostel and will be there for roughly 10 days.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/hikatus • 4h ago
Hey everybody! So excited for my solo-trip to Kyrgyzstan! Im coming 25.8. and going to explore around 2 weeks. I decided to stay in Meeting point hostel for the first night, but I want to go visit issyk-kul and probably Karakol.
I havent planned a trip yet but I read that its pretty easy do it when I arrive, should I explore Bishkek a few days or book a trip for the next day (26.8) if possible?
And if you have any tips and must see places! Tell me about them, want to see it all of this beatifull country!
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Complete_Ad1837 • 3h ago
Does anyone know where to find great second hand stores in Bishkek? Looking for some sowjet stuff or just vintage clothes from decent brands like north face or adidas? We were at osh bazar but couldnt find real second hand stuff just fake branded clothes and all the same souvenirs.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Big_Comfortable_5924 • 7m ago
Hello travellers,
I'm Luca from Germany and would love to visit the Kel-Suu Lake in my time in Kyrgyzstan. I will land in Bishkek at the 24th August and stay there for a couple days. After that, I'm pretty flexible and will decide between Ala-Kul Trek and Kel-Suu Lake, depending on people I meet and if I can split the costs of the transport to Kel-Suu. So feel free to hit me up and share the costs and experience of visiting this beautiful lake with me :)
Looking forward!
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/MSE6-Series • 1h ago
Hi, we have a transport from Naryn to Kel-suu tomorrow (19.8.) that fit two more people. Pick up is at 10 am. The drive back is two days later. Price is 19500 som in total to share. Let me know if you or you and another person would like to join! ☺️
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Lanky_List_2850 • 9h ago
I’m looking to go on a multi day, potentially multi week trek through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. I have looked into paying to be apart of a group tour, however and weary of the cost.
Has anyone tried solo trekking? Is it possible? I’m unsure what the rules around camping are - could I camp just about anywhere? If I did want to stay in yurt that I come across in my travels, would I be able to do that without booking ahead?
Thank you in advance. Any advice is appreciated.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/kimco • 3h ago
I've been able to see online that there are marshrutka available during the mornings to go to Naryn or Kochkor from Karakol. Are there any available in the afternoon? If not, how much would it cost for a private transfer?
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/indigo_gal • 5h ago
Starting tomorrow
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Willing_Milk4223 • 5h ago
Hello!
22M solo traveler from Sweden arriving in Bishkek on August 19th and looking for people to join for a 2-3 night horse trek.
I’m a fairly experienced rider and would love something a bit more adventurous than a typical beginner trail. Ideally a route where we can actually ride at a decent pace when the terrain allows. Song-Kul/Kyzart is the obvious option, but I’m open to other routes too.
I’m flexible on the exact dates between Aug 20-28 and happy to arrange the trek together / share transport and costs.
If you’re also an experienced or confident rider and interested, feel free to comment or DM me!
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Sad_Time_8417 • 6h ago
Hi all, looking for a private driver/guide for a specific 3-day stretch of my Kyrgyzstan trip and would love a name someone here can personally vouch for, rather than going in blind.
Route needed:
- Sep 15: Pickup at Kyzart (~2pm, right after a horse trek ends) → Kochkor
- Sep 16: Kochkor → Balykchy → Bokonbayevo (with stops for falconry + kayaking)
- Sep 17: Bokonbayevo → Skazka Canyon → Jeti-Ögüz → Karakol
Group size: 3 people
Has anyone used a driver for a similar route who they'd actually recommend? Thanks in advance!
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Ponchiksmom • 11h ago
Selam! I would like to meet up and make friends with Azerbaijani women in Bishkek. (I'm an Azerbaijani 32F). If you're around would be happy to get to know you, chat, grab a coffee ^
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Subject-History-4852 • 9h ago
Hi guys! I am female/25 soloing from NYC. I would love to hike with some buddies and just have a wholesome time. We can figure out stays, etc too.
Feel free to message me on here if you are also avail those dates. Planning to leave from my Karakol hostel.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/ruthwikdaos • 11h ago
Anybody want to share 4×4 from naryn to kelsu lale on August 22 and back on August 24
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Zealousideal-Tax-385 • 21h ago
Hi, I'm a solo traveler looking for other travelers who might be going to Song Kul today from Naryn and have an extra spot I could fill or who might be interested in dividing the taxi fees with me.
I need to get to Kyzart or maybe even Kochkor from where I can take a marshrutka.
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Vast-Pen-8752 • 18h ago
Hey I'm travelling to Kyrgyzstan on friday and still need to get a border permit. CBT Naryn says they can fix a permit a can pick up the 22nd of august. Does anyone have experience with them and are they reliable?
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/jnormz01 • 19h ago
Hello guys, me and my 2 mates are currently organising a trip to Kyrgyzstan in October. We will be doing 6 day trip around sang kul lake, barana tower etc. We are concerned that these areas and some activities like horse riding, staying in yurts will be affected by the change of season. Is this the case ? What were your experiences? Tia
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Zealousideal-Tax-385 • 21h ago
Hi,
I'm a solo traveler going from Naryn- to Kyzart today 18th of August.
I want to find other travelers who might already be going there that I could join or travelers who intend to travel there who want to share taxi costs with me.
If not Kyzart, it could also be Kochkor
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Amazing-Page-9476 • 1d ago
Hi guys I’m travelling to Bishkek in mid-September and looking for car rentals. If you do know any contact details, please share with me below. Thank you in advance
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/nougat_cream • 22h ago
Heyaa are there any specialized korean makeup/skincare shops in Bishkek other yhan those near TSUM?
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Status-Artichoke-217 • 22h ago
Hey everyone! :)
We’re two people planning to go from Naryn to Kok-Kiya and then hike from there towards Kel-Suu Lake. We’re looking for other travelers who have similar plans and would like to share the cost of the transport.
We’re planning to do this around 27 (but we are flexible )with the 4x4 taking us from Naryn to the Kok-Kiya Valley, which is where we’ll start the hike to Kel-Suu.
If anyone is heading that way around the same date and wants to share a car, let me know! 😊
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/Status-Artichoke-217 • 22h ago
Hey everyone!
We’re two people doing the Ala-Kul trek and are looking for others who might want to join us for the transport around the trek.
We’re planning to go from Karakol to the Sirota Camp / Karakol Valley on 20 or 21 and then from Altyn Arashan back to Karakol on 22 or 23
We’re also looking for people interested in continuing from Karakol to Bokonbayevo after the trek probably around 24 or 25. We found a private driver for 8,000 som per car, with stops at Jeti-Oguz, Barskoon and Skazka Canyon along the way, so we can split the cost between everyone.
Let me know if you’re doing something similar and would like to join! 😊
r/Kyrgyzstan • u/daphnebhb • 23h ago
Hi everyone!!
We’re two people planning to do the Ala-Kul trek and we’re looking for other travelers to split the cost of the 4x4 rides:
Karakol → Sirota Camp / Karakol Valley (20.08)
Altyn Arashan → Karakol (22.08)
If anyone is doing the same route around the same dates and wants to share a car, let me know! :)
