Ecotourism in Kyrgyzstan is gaining popularity

Bishkek, 09.10.25. /Kabar/. In Kyrgyzstan, in addition to mainstream tourism, ecotourism is actively developing recently, aimed at preserving the natural environment and including visits to high-mountain lakes, mountain valleys, and waterfalls, attracting tourists interested in close contact with nature. In Kyrgyzstan, ecotourism often intertwines with mountaineering, trekking, ecological routes, and ethno-tourism.

As the head of the Tourism Department, Erdenet Kasymov, informed the ‘Kabar’ agency, the Sustainable Tourism Development Program until 2030 is currently being implemented in the republic, aimed at creating favorable conditions for the development of a competitive, sustainable, and popular tourism sector.

One of the nine priority directions of the Program is the formation of the consumer market, in simple terms, this is the creation and development of infrastructure, promotion of unique tourist products and directions, introduction of technologies for tourist convenience and safety, which together increases the region’s attractiveness for consumers and contributes to economic growth.

In recent years, foreign tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan prefer ecological tourism.

Events:

From July 19 to 27, 2025, Kyrgyzstan hosted the International Gallops project.

Gallops is an international equestrian expedition. This is a team competition in orienteering and endurance, in which participants will cover a distance of about 200 kilometers on horseback over five days. The project involves 60 riders from more than 15 countries. Gallops was held for the first time in Central Asia and is considered an important tourist event.

This event allowed positioning Kyrgyzstan as an attractive destination for adventure and ecological tourism, and strengthened the country’s positions on the international tourism arena. Within the framework of the project, team races in the style of ‘Paris-Dakar’, a cultural program were held, and the event itself was widely covered in international media. This event contributed to attracting the attention of tourists from all over the world to the nature and cultural heritage of our country.

In August, one of the most unique and challenging cycling events in the world took place in Kyrgyzstan — Silk Road Mountain Race 2025.

Silk Road Mountain Race 2025 is an annual event of international cycling, ecotourism, and cultural exchange. More than 250 participants from 41 countries gathered in Kyrgyzstan to cover a path of almost 2000 kilometers, overcome 28,000 meters of elevation, test themselves and reveal to the world the splendor of Kyrgyz nature.

The Silk Road Mountain Race bike race connected cities, passes, plateaus, lakes, and villages, revived the participants’ interest in local communities, inspired youth, supported domestic tourism, and showed that Kyrgyzstan is a country of opportunities and adventures.

In the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, you can easily meet hikers. Most gorges have clear trails along which you can easily go deeper, so they are very suitable for hiking. Almost every gorge has shepherd camps, so even in the most remote corners of the country, in the mountains, you can find people who can suggest a route or help in case of need. These places are also suitable for trekking — moving along a tourist route with luggage.

All regions of Kyrgyzstan have potential for ecotourism, which is not surprising at all, since the country is covered with mountains by more than 80 percent, and each Tian Shan gorge is remarkable and beautiful in its own way. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan can open up a whole new world of amazing impressions for tourists.

The following types of activities are becoming increasingly popular in Kyrgyzstan’s ecotourism:

* Hiking (hiking, trekking) along ecological trails;

* Cycling tours through natural landscapes;

* Horseback rides through natural areas;

* Participation in volunteer programs in reserves;

* Studying traditional farming methods, for example, participation in farming practices.

Popular routes among local and foreign tourists include the following directions:

* Ala-Archa National Park (Chui)

* Kegeti Gorge lakes Kol-Tor, Kol-Kogur (Chui)

* Son-Kul Lake (Naryn)

* Kel-Suu Lake (Naryn)

* Skazka Canyon, Ak-Sai (Issyk-Kul southern shore)

* Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Kok-Zhayyk (Issyk-Kul)

* Karakol city, Ala-Kul Lake, Altyn-Arashan Gorge (Issyk-Kul)

* Sary-Chelek Lake, Arslanbab (Jalal-Abad)

* Tulpar-Kol, Murdash, Kejiye, Lenin Peak base camp (Osh)

* Karavshin, Madygen (Batken)

* Besh-Tash Lake, Urmaral Gorge (Talas)

Statistics

The tourist flow is growing every year; if in 2024 Kyrgyzstan was visited by about 8.6 million people, then in the first half of 2025 almost 5 million tourists. More than 95% of tourists are from neighboring countries — Central Asia and Russia, as well as from China, India, Turkey, and Europe.

The share of tourism in GDP for the specified period reached 4.3%. By 2030, the Tourism Department intends to increase this indicator to 7%, and increase the tourist flow by 10% every year.

Work is underway to make tourism year-round (not only summer), improve infrastructure, service, develop ecological, cultural, and mountain tourism.