Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, wedged between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. Almost 90% of the country lies above 1,500 metres, and most of its mountains belong to the Tian Shan, which rises above 7,000 metres on the Chinese border. The capital, Bishkek, is in the north. East of the capital lies Lake Issyk-Kul, at 1,607 metres: the second-largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca, and its water is slightly salty, which is why it rarely freezes even though it is ringed by snowy peaks.
In summer, Kyrgyzstan is a trekking destination. In winter the country slows down: the herds come down from the high pastures, the valleys go quiet and life moves indoors. There are very few tourists, and it is a good time to see the nomadic culture that is still alive in these mountains.
The mountains start on day one. The Chon-Kemin valley, east of Bishkek, has a protected area on one side of the river and small villages on the other. You ride through it for two or three hours at an easy pace, the way people here have always got around. No experience is needed: Kyrgyz horses are used to the cold and the snow, and they set their own rhythm.
Karakol sits at the eastern tip of Issyk-Kul, at the foot of the Terskey Ala-Too range. Its ski resort, among fir forests above the town, is the best known in the country. It doesn’t matter if you have never skied: the day starts with a beginner lesson, and there is a snowmobile too. In the afternoon you head down to the hot springs, which feel very good in the middle of winter.
The Chon-Ashuu pass is climbed by 4×4, between white slopes, up to 3,850 metres, with the peaks of the Tian Shan all around. On the other side you drop down to Ichke-Jergez, a small village where you spend the night with a family and cook dinner together in their kitchen. It is the day that best shows what winter is like in rural Kyrgyzstan.
The south shore of Issyk-Kul is red sandstone country. Jeti-Oguz, the Seven Bulls, is a line of red rocks that gives the place its name, and close by is the Broken Heart, a rock split in two with a legend of its own. Further west is Skazka, the “fairy tale” canyon, with sandstone shapes carved by the wind. In Bokonbaevo you learn how to put up a yurt in a workshop and sleep in a yurt camp or a guesthouse. The next morning, a hunter shows how he works with his golden eagle, a tradition passed down from one generation to the next in Kyrgyzstan for centuries.
The season runs from November to March. It is cold, especially at night and on the mountain passes, so bring layers, a good winter jacket, a hat, gloves and waterproof boots. You don’t need mountain experience or any special fitness: the walks are short and the rest is done by 4×4.
Our next departure is 28 January to 3 February 2027: seven days from Bishkek, with 4×4 transport, accommodation, meals, a guide and all activities included. If you want to learn mountaineering skills, we also run a mountaineering course in Kyrgyzstan.
See Kyrgyzstan Winter Tour: Under the Skies of the Tian Shan
Is Kyrgyzstan worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you like snow and quiet. The Tian Shan is at its most dramatic under snow, Karakol has skiing and hot springs, horse riding still runs in valleys like Chon-Kemin, and you share it all with very few other travellers.
How cold is Kyrgyzstan in winter?
In Bishkek, winter days usually hover just above freezing and nights drop to around -7°C. In the mountains around Karakol and on the high passes it gets considerably colder, so warm layers matter more than anything else in your bag.
When is the ski season in Karakol?
It usually runs from December to March, depending on the snow.
Can I join a winter tour?
Our 7-day Kyrgyzstan winter tour combines horse riding, skiing in Karakol, hot springs, eagle hunters and yurt nights. The next departure is 30 November to 6 December 2026.