Loading available options...
Overview
- Duration:8 days 7 nights
- Travelers:6 - 12 guests
- Tour Type:Group tour
- Language:English, Polish
Kyrgyzstan is a land of the Tian Shan, nomads and hospitality, and in winter it shows a completely different face than in summer. Few travellers come here at this time of year, so this is a rare chance to experience Central Asia without the tourist crowds: snow-capped peaks, hot springs steaming in the frost, and New Year celebrated the way locals do, as the biggest holiday of the winter.
On this journey we'll travel from Bishkek along Lake Issyk-Kul, whose name means "warm lake", past the medieval Burana Tower and the petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata, all the way to Karakol at the foot of the Tian Shan. Here we'll spend three days on the slopes of the country's largest ski resort*, soak in hot springs, have dinner in the home of a Dungan family and celebrate New Year's Eve at a local restaurant. We'll return to Bishkek along the lake's southern shore, through the red rocks of the Jeti-Oguz valley and the fairy-tale Skazka Canyon. The brave can also take a refreshing dip in the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul.
This trip is for those who would rather combine skiing with adventure than spend another New Year's Eve in the Alps (or in front of the TV!). It's a chance to feel a real Central Asian winter and welcome the New Year where few travellers have been before.
*In December 2026, Kyrgyzstan plans to open a brand-new ski resort in Jyrgalan, near Karakol and larger than Karakol Ski Base, where we'll be skiing. If it opens on time, we'll be among the first to try it out.
Highlights
- Discover Bishkek, where Soviet boulevards meet the bustle of Osh Bazaar.
- Drive Lake Issyk-Kul's north shore, past Burana Tower and ancient petroglyphs
- Soak in hot springs steaming in the winter frost
- Ski three days at Karakol, Kyrgyzstan's largest ski resort
- Join a Dungan family dinner and learn the secrets of ashlan-fu noodles
- See Karakol's wooden cathedral and pagoda-style mosque
- Welcome the New Year at a restaurant in Karakol
- Return via the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz and the Mars-like Skazka Canyon
Price includes / excludes
- Transport within Kyrgyzstan and airport transfer on departure
- Accommodation in hotels and local guesthouses (double rooms)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinner with a Dungan family, including a masterclass in one of their traditional dishes
- New Year's Eve party at a local restaurant in Karakol (food and drinks included)
- Tamam Journeys tour leader
- Local guide from 28.12.2026 to 02.01.2027
- Travel insurance (medical expenses and personal accident cover)
- Mandatory contributions to the Tourist Guarantee Fund and Tourist Assistance Fund
- International flights – we'll suggest the best connections (please book tickets only once the minimum group size is confirmed)
- Personal expenses
- Meals other than breakfasts and those listed as included
- Entrance fees to sights and attractions in the programme
- Ski passes and equipment rental
- Tips
- Optional activities not included in the programme
- Single room supplement, if applicable (subject to availability; on request we can pair you with another participant to share a room)
itinerary
Day 1 - 27.12.2026
Day of departures and arrivals. First night in Bishkek
Day 2 - 28.12.2026
After breakfast we take a relaxed tour of the capital: Ala-Too Square, the State History Museum, Panfilov Park, Erkindik Boulevard and Osh Bazaar, the best place for a first taste of Kyrgyz cuisine. In the evening we have a welcome dinner in the local restaurant.
Day 3 - 29.12.2026
We set off early along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. It's a long drive, broken up by stops along the way. We see the Burana Tower, all that remains of the 11th-century city of Balasagun, and petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata dating back thousands of years, then take a dip in a hot spring. In the evening we arrive in Karakol, our base for the skiing days.
Day 4 - 30.12.2026
Karakol Ski Base lies 20 minutes from town and is the largest ski resort in Kyrgyzstan, with 20 km of runs between 2,300 and 3,040 m above sea level and equipment to rent on site. The first day is for warming up and getting to know the slopes. In the evening we have dinner in the home of a Dungan family. The Dungans, Chinese Muslims, have lived in this region for more than 140 years, and we'll learn about their famous ashlan-fu noodles straight from the kitchen.
Day 5 - 31.12.2026
A second day on the slopes. In the afternoon we head straight from the slopes to the hot springs, the best way to recover after a day of skiing. In the evening we celebrate New Year's Eve with locals at a restaurant in Karakol, with dancing and festivities. In Kyrgyzstan, New Year (Novy God) is the biggest holiday of the winter, complete with a decorated tree, Grandfather Frost (Ayaz Ata) and the Snow Maiden (Ayaz Kyz).
Day 6 - 1.01.2027
After New Year's Eve we start slowly, with a walk to see Karakol's wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral and the unique Dungan Mosque, followed by a third day on the slopes. In the evening we have dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7 - 2.01.2027
We leave early and return to Bishkek along the lake's southern shore, a different route from the way in. On the way we stop in the Jeti-Oguz valley with its red rocks, "Seven Bulls" and "Broken Heart", and in Skazka ("Fairy Tale") Canyon, where the red rock formations look like they belong on another planet. In the evening we have a farewell dinner in Bishkek.
Day 8 - 3.01.2027
Morning transfer to the airport for departure.
Have a question before booking? Message us to learn more.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to ski?
Do I need to bring my own ski equipment?
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
What is New Year's Eve like?
Have a question before booking? Message us to learn more.