Kyrgyzstan & World Nomad Games tour 2026
Single supplement £740 pp.
Min 10, max 16 people.
Description of Kyrgyzstan & World Nomad Games tour 2026
Timed to align with the spectacular World Nomad Games, this journey through Kyrgyzstan weaves together untamed landscapes, heartfelt hospitality, and deeply rooted tradition.
Begin in Bishkek, where tree-lined avenues and striking Soviet-era mosaics introduce you to Kyrgyz culture before you slip away to the alpine paths of Ala-Archa National Park. Continue across scenic mountain passes, moving from yurt to yurt, waking to the stillness of Son-Kul Lake and sharing dinners beneath vast, starlit skies. In the Issyk-Kul region, try your hand at crafting wool felt or assembling a yurt, watch master eagle hunters demonstrate their skill, and enjoy Dungan home cooking in a welcoming family setting.
Marvel at the otherworldly shapes of Skazka Canyon, unwind in the natural hot springs of the Altyn-Arashan Valley, and roam through Karakol’s vibrant animal market. Finally, settle in for the unforgettable World Nomad Games — a thrilling celebration of traditional sport, horsemanship, and cultural pride set against the dramatic shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a journey into Kyrgyzstan’s mountains, markets, and nomadic spirit — a land defined by its raw beauty and enduring heritage.
**World Nomad Games photos kindly provided by the World Nomad Games Committee, R Iliasov and Artem Kolosov.
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Reviews
1 Reviews of Kyrgyzstan & World Nomad Games tour 2026
Reviewed on 18 Sep 2018 by Liz Booth
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Although the whole trip was memorable the highlight has to be the WNG. I would have liked to have been there for the opening ceremony but I did enjoy Kochkor and the feltmaking demo. Too much to see and do and not enough time!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go with an open mind and go with the flow. Accept the unexpected. Soak up the atmosphere. Take a camera as the views are exceptional. This is a very involved trip giving an insight into the Nomads and Kyrgys peoples
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I think local people especially those concerned with the homestays did benefit. I particularly liked the homestays because it gave a flavour of the local way of life
although it was adapted for our benefit. Not sure about environmental impacts - Sary chelek had several dumps of rubbish which was alien to such a beautiful
landscape. Also dumps of glass at Tocktogul reservoir and rubbish strewn in the water at Son Kul. This was disappointing.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a fantastic trip. It was everything I had hoped for. I could have stayed for longer and done more exploring. I will go back sometime
Responsible Travel
Planet
Kyrgyzstan is a country where 'green' policies and principles are not exactly buzz words so it's all about the little things adding up to slowly start to make a difference. We are always talking to our local ground agents about the importance of stressing to clients the importance of basic responsible principles such as appropriate waste disposal, not to waste water, turning off lights on leaving the room in hotels, not replacing towels and bedding daily etc.Our local agents use paper sparingly and once fully used it is recycled. Wherever possible they use paper bags rather than plastic and use energy saving light bulbs in their offices. They also take part in community rubbish clearing days. They are also keen to stress to visitors the importance of not straying from marked trails at historic sites, an important step towards maintaining the sites for future generations.
As a company we have introduced responsible practices in our UK office including paper, cardboard, aluminium and plastic recycling. We also support local UK charities including the RNIB and various charities around the world. 50% of our office staff use public transport (bus and train) and cycle to work. Management encourages this with their introduction of the cycle to work scheme which offers subsidised cycle ownership.
People
By the very nature of life in Kyrgyzstan all services are provided by local Kazakh people. This includes your local English-speaking group guides and drivers and hotel staff. All staff are paid a fair wage for Kyrgyzstan and all wages are kept within the local communities thereby supporting local people. Furthermore, by visiting these hotels and sites additional income is brought into the region, further helping to develop the local area.Almost all meals are included on the itinerary and food is sourced locally whether it is served in hotels or a local restaurant.
Each year before the start of the peak tourist season our local agents run training seminars for the local community programmes to check the quality of their services based on previous years client feedback. This allows the local community operators to ensure their service standard is suitable for international travellers.
The World Nomad Games themselves provides an important outlet for expressing the central Asian traditional way of life. Without the Games many of these traditions could die out - the Games provides the opportunity for the international community to learn and understand more about these unique sports and events. The entrance fee payable for each client to attend the Games is an important source of revenue for the festival allowing the festival committee to run the Games as a biennial event.
Possibly one of the key positive benefits of visiting Kyrgyzstan is the albeit sometimes small influence outside attitudes and cultures can make on the people of the country. Kyrgyz people are always welcoming and friendly and keen to learn a little about Western ways, and vice versa. This holiday helps to allow each culture to learn a little about the other which should hopefully encourage tolerance between Kyrgyzstan and the outside world.
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