Winter Tourism in Kyrgyzstan: Season Start, New Flights, and International Promotion

# Winter Tourism in Kyrgyzstan: Season Start, New Flights, and International Promotion

**November 30** in Karakol, at one of the country’s largest ski resorts, the winter tourist season officially started. Complex representatives confirmed the infrastructure’s readiness to receive visitors and opened the slopes for skiing.

Erdinet Kasymov, head of the Tourism Department, emphasised that there is a misconception that only summer tourism is developed in Kyrgyzstan, focused around Issyk-Kul. In fact, the republic is actively developing winter tourism. Projects such as ‘Baitik Mountain Resort’, ‘Ala-Too Resort’, and ‘Chatkal Resort’ are being implemented in various parts of the country, which in the future could become popular year-round resorts.

Winter tourism in Kyrgyzstan: season start, new flights, and international promotion

‘Kyrgyzstan’s nature is unique, and there are places where human foot has not yet stepped, which attracts tourists. We are developing both international and domestic tourism, creating excellent conditions for recreation,’ he noted.

**Development of Winter Sports**

According to information from the Tourism Department, winter tourism is actively being developed at the state level. The 2025-2030 winter sports development program includes the creation of specialised infrastructure for year-round training, including modern roller ski tracks and necessary technical facilities.

**Jaryk Fest 2025 – New Winter Festival**

On December 6, the Jaryk Fest 2025 festival will take place at the Karakol ski base, marking the opening of the winter tourist season.

‘By launching Jaryk Fest, the department aims to create an annual tradition for the solemn opening of the winter season in Kyrgyzstan, which will become a bright and atmospheric event representing the country’s winter tourism,’ the organizers noted.

The Jaryk Fest festival aims to popularise winter recreation in Karakol and enhance Kyrgyzstan’s image as a year-round tourist destination, combining culture, active recreation, and unique natural attractions.

**Kyrgyzstan on the Cover of Travel + Leisure Central Asia**

On December 3, in Bishkek, the presentation of the new international edition Travel + Leisure Central Asia took place, the first regional edition of the famous global travel media.

Erdenet Kasymov noted that cooperation with the magazine opens new horizons for promoting the country.

‘In the new issue, our country is featured on the cover with an image of ‘Ala-Too Resort’, as well as in key materials about the mountains, routes, and people of Kyrgyzstan, including an article about the president as an ambassador of active recreation. This forms a modern tourist image of Kyrgyzstan, and support from a global brand with a wide audience enhances this process,’ he added.

**New Flights to Improve Winter Tourism**

To make it convenient for tourists, transportation links are expanding. The press service of ‘Kyrgyzstan Airports’ reported the launch on December 5 of the first direct flight from Almaty to Karakol. Ticket prices start from 6500 som, flights will operate on Fridays and Sundays, which will significantly simplify travel for guests from Kazakhstan and create an additional flow of tourists in the winter season.

It should also be noted:

* Bishkek – Karakol flights operate 4 times a week, ticket price from 3600 som;
* Osh – Karakol flights, price from 5600 som.

Kyrgyzstan remains one of the most promising destinations for eco and active tourism in Central Asia. Its rich nature, high-altitude landscapes, cultural heritage, and affordable prices make the country increasingly attractive to foreign travelers at any time of the year.

During the winter period, at the Karakol ski base, the following prices for ‘ski passes’ apply:

**Weekdays:**

* Day skiing (09:00–16:00) — 1400 som, children’s — 1000 som.
* Excursion lifts — 700 som.
* Night skiing (13:30–22:30) — 1000 som.

**Weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday):**

* Day skiing (09:00–16:00) — 1700 som, children’s — 1000 som.
* Until lunch (09:00–12:00) — 1400 som.
* After lunch (12:00–16:00) — 1500 som.

Accommodation prices until December 15 range from 4200 to 8500 som per night.

The cost of two-story cottages starts from 17,500 som per night.

Three-story cottages can be rented for 22,000 som per night.

Thus, Kyrgyzstan offers some of the most affordable prices among regional ski resorts. The Karakol ski resort confidently takes first place in value: a daily ‘ski pass’ here costs only 13.71 euros, making it the cheapest option not only in the CIS but in the world.

For comparison, prices at other CIS resorts are significantly higher. In Uzbekistan at Amirsoy, the cost is 28.8 euros, in Russia’s Sheregesh 28.1 euros, and in Georgia’s Gudauri 23.8 euros.

Kazakhstan’s ski resorts are in the mid-price segment: Shymbulak and Oi-Qaragai take 8th and 9th places with a price of 31.8 euros for a daily pass.

Against the background of international resorts, the price difference becomes even more obvious. In the US, Aspen Snowmass, a daily ‘ski pass’ costs 234.2 euros, which is significantly more expensive than even Switzerland’s Zermatt (124 euros) and France’s Courchevel (79 euros).

Karakol stands out as the most affordable and cost-effective resort in the region with an excellent price-quality ratio.