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The World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan 2026 - Closing Ceremony
Kyrgyzstan
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Transfers
Duration:
9 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Be a spectator of 'Kok-Boru' - nomadic horse polo
- Enjoy the grand closing ceremony of the games
- Experince nomadic culture, arts, hospitality & ethnosports
- Take a tour of Kazakhstan's stunning cities and landscapes
Step back in time to witness the World Nomadic Games
In September 2018 we attended the 3rd World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan with a group of 15 clients, and in September 2024 we attended the World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan with 4 groups of clients (!) as the nomadic peoples from all across Central Asia and further afield all convened to take part in their traditional nomadic games:
The closing ceremony is one of the most exciting spectacles of the event as competitors on horseback parade around the area brandishing their country’s flags – Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Turkmen, Tajik, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Mongol, Iranian, Russian, Japanese, Korean - the men dressed in leather armour or traditional garb with the women in flowing medieval gowns - others parade on foot and we remember seeing that somehow a South African tribe had qualified to enter and were doing a war dance in furs whilst also a Scottish contingent clad in kilts had showed up brandishing what looked like very heavy cabers…
The crowd goes wild as political dignitaries look on, music blaring and fireworks were loosed. The horses paw the ground in excitement and rows upon rows of dancers take to the stage amid strobe lights, singing and general anarchy. It is quite simply unmissable.
The closing ceremony is only to be matched in excitement by ‘Kok-Boru’ also known as ‘Buzkashi’ which is the original nomad’s horse polo – the ancient predecessor to modern day polo played with a mallet and ball which developed in Northern India during the British Empire; when British mounted soldiers came into contact with the game in the foothills of the Himalaya.
The original nomadic polo is played with a decapitated goat carcass and is more like rugby on horseback (!) as they desperately fight atop galloping horses to place the goat in the opponents goal to win a point. It is a thrilling battle of wills.
Men and women from all nations are invited to participate in the myriad of other cultural games, including but not limited to:
- Horse racing
- Wrestling
- Archery
- Falconry
But it is not just the tournaments that people come to see – it is to experience the nomadic ethnic cultures in all their glories – with all of the following elements to be found alongside the games:
- Ethnohit (folklore and music);
- Ethnodance (traditional dances);
- Ethnofashion (traditional and modern clothing);
- Ethnobazar (exhibition and fair of traditional handicrafts);
- Recitations of epic poems and legends;
- Ethnohouse (traditional nomadic shelters)
YellowWood will be returning to the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan in 2026 with groups no larger than 12. The games are held every two years in different countries so don’t miss your chance to see this entirely unique and wonderful celebration. The games will be followed by a spectacular tour exploring the cities and dramatic landscapes of Kyrgyzstan (itinerary to follow soon).
To find out more about the region of Central Asia and their cultural heritage you can watch our webinar on the Silk Roads here
Day 1: Arrive in Bishkek
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
Arrive early and transfer 150 km (approximately 2.5 hours) to the enchanting Chon Kemin Valley. Check in at a cosy guest house and take some time to rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a gentle hike to the panoramic viewpoint, soaking in the breathtaking valley scenery.
Overnight stay at the guest house.
Accommodation: Ashuu Guest House or similar
Day 2: Chon Kemin - Son Kul
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
This morning, depart the stunning Chon Kemin Valley and transfer 215 km (approximately 4 hours) to Son Kul, a spectacular 3,016-metre mountain lake that serves as summer pasture for local shepherds. Upon arrival, be welcomed by your hosts and enjoy a traditional dinner, perhaps accompanied by the occasional vodka toast!
Accommodation: Nomads Dream Yurt Camp or similar
Day 3: Day at Son Kul lake
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
Enjoy a full day at the tranquil alpine Son Kul Lake, immersing yourself in its serene beauty.
Possible experiences include:
- Gentle hikes through the surrounding hills
- Visits to local shepherd families
- Learning to make kumis, the traditional fermented mare’s milk
- Capturing the sunset over the lake
All meals and overnight stay in comfortable yurts.
Accommodation: Nomads Dream Yurt Camp or similar
Day 4: Son Kul lake - to Tash Rabat
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
Transfer 246 km (approximately 5.5 hours) this morning on a beautiful drive towards Tash Rabat, where you will spend the night. After settling into your yurt camp later this afternoon, there will be time to wander through the remarkable ancient Silk Road caravanserai and soak up its rich history.
Accommodation: Yurt Camp
Day 5: Tash Rabat - Kochkor
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
Spend the morning exploring the peaceful Tash Rabat Valley before continuing your journey to Kochkor via the town of Naryn. Stop to visit the Central Mosque, a serene and beautifully designed place that reflects the region’s distinctive architecture and spiritual heritage.
On arrival in Kochkor, visit the local handicraft centre and enjoy a demonstration of traditional felt carpet making. Felt carpets hold an important place in Kyrgyz culture, with two main types created by local artisans: Ala kiyiz and Shyrdaks. During the demonstration, you will learn how Ala kiyiz carpets are made and gain insights into the intricate patterns and symbolism of Shyrdaks, both of which are closely connected to the nomadic way of life.
Check in at your hotel or guest house.
Accommodation: Nomads Lodge 3 *htl or similar
Day 6: Kochkor - Cholpon Ata/ Issyk Kul
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
Travel 140 km (approximately 2.5 hours) to the northern shore of Issyk Kul, a vast saline lake stretching over 113 miles. In Kyrgyz, its name means warm lake, as it never freezes despite being encircled by snow capped mountains, thanks to its naturally salty waters. Your homestay is set close to the shimmering shoreline, where the turquoise expanse often feels reminiscent of the Mediterranean.
On arrival, spend the day at the World Nomad Games, an unforgettable celebration of Central Asian culture and sport.
Events include:
- Horse racing
- Kok Boru, a traditional form of polo
- Wrestling
- Archery
- Falconry
Alongside the competitions, enjoy a rich array of musical and cultural performances.
Accommodation: Ak Maral Resort or similar
Day 7: World Nomad Games
Breakfast
4 star hotel
A Day at the World Nomad Games
Today is dedicated to the World Nomad Games, an extraordinary celebration of nomadic culture and tradition. Guests will have the chance to witness thrilling competitions such as:
- Horse racing
- Kok Boru, a dramatic horseback game often compared to polo
- Wrestling
- Archery
- Falconry
Alongside the sporting events, the atmosphere will be enriched with music, dance and cultural exhibitions, offering a wonderful insight into the heritage of the nomadic peoples.
Please note that the final programme of events you will see will be confirmed closer to the time.
Accommodation: Ak Maral Resort or similar
Day 8: World Nomad Games Closing Ceremony
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting out to visit some of the area’s cultural sights. Later in the day, transfer to Cholpon Ata for the evening closing ceremony of the World Nomad Games, a vibrant celebration that brings the spirit of the event to a memorable finale.
Accommodation: Ak Maral Resort or similar
Day 9: Cholpon Ata – Bishkek
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
4 star hotel
n the morning, complete your remaining visits around Issyk Kul Lake before transferring to Bishkek. On the way, stop in Tokmok to explore the beautifully restored eleventh century Burana Tower, a striking reminder of the region’s Silk Road past.
On arrival in Bishkek, enjoy a guided walking tour of the city, taking in:
- The National Philharmonic building, framed by statues of Manaschy
- Ala Too Square and the statue of Manas
- The State Historical Museum
- Oak Park
- The Museum of Fine Arts
- The Frunze Museum
- ZUM
- Victory Square
Check in at your hotel, followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Plaza Hotel or similar
Day 10: Departure
Transfer
Breakfast
After an unforgettable journey and the extraordinary experience of the World Nomad Games, you will fly out from Bishkek, taking with you lasting memories of Kyrgyzstan’s culture, landscapes and traditions.
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single room supplement. Please note single accommodation is not available in yurts or at guesthouses.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights & National Flight & airport taxes
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. You will also be staying in yurts - the traditional nomadic felt tents - and sharing with other members of the group.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.
This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel, guesthouse or yurt camp (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote places. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender). You will need to share with up to 5 people in the yurts.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be an experienced, approachable and knowledgeable English speaking local Kyrgyz guide, who will be with you for the duration of the adventure.
This ensures you the perfect balance of information and support on your trip, offering insight into local life and customs.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures an optimal level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a larger group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it out for you. Our links with in-country travel experts often mean that we can assist you in developing a personalised itinerary.
Am I fit enough?
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
Clients are advised to get into a regular walking pattern before the trip as convenient.
NB: If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip! itself.
Travel & Arrival
Please note international flights are not included in this adventure, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, the responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Airport & Arrival Info
You will be met at the airport by a local driver holding a sign for transport to your hotel.
It is not necessary to fill out any visa forms on the plane, but on disembarking, you have a couple of jobs to do.
- Purchase your Visa on arrival, from the Immigration desk
- Collect your baggage
- Meet your driver (they will have your name on a board, along with the YellowWood logo)
- Exchange Currency: The easiest is probably to use the ATM in the airport, however, there is also the option of exchanging currency in Bishkek in the afternoon, during the city tour.
Toilets can be found in the arrivals lounge.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking (and horse riding if you are likely to do this) with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
Reviews
The Wanderer
Well planned trip with good support both locally and in the UK. A good itinerary and an excellent local guide meant that the whole arrangement went smoothly with enough fluidity to allow some adjustments on the day. And if you haven't been to the World Nomad Games, you should - look out for 2026!
The World Nomad Games Kazakhstan 2024
Caroline
Everything about this trip (Kazakhstan and the World Nomad Games) was 5☆: all the staff were excellent,
but special call out for the guide, Ansar. I will use YellowWood again.
The World Nomad Games Kazakhstan 2024
Linda Chapple
An informal and fun attitude to travelling whilst keeping very professional. The entire itinerary was superbly crafted with much attention to detail. I can't wait to travel with YellowWood Adventures again. Highly recommended.
The World Nomad Games Kazakhstan 2018
Lucy
This trip was one of the best I've ever done. Seeing the World Nomad Games was a completely unique and wonderful experience - especially the buzkashi which was thrilling! Getting into the Tian Shan mountains afterwards was really quite magical; experiencing the scenery and feeling isolated from the rest of the world, thanks to the personalised feel of the trek, was unrivalled. The quality of the food was also a highlight, and I was catered for as a vegetarian (in a very non-vegetarian place!). Kyrgyzstan is a relatively undiscovered gem, and it was lovely to do a road-less-travelled style trip. Thanks to Sam and YellowWood for taking us on a genuine adventure with a fantastic itinerary. I look forward to joining some more non-traditional trips when possible!
The World Nomad Games Kazakhstan 2018
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- Passport & insurance documents
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Credit / Debit card for ATMs in town
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Washbag & usual contents
- Day pack for sightseeing
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Adaptors
- Camera & charging cables
- Phone & charging cables
- Money belt or grab bag for essentials
- Sun protection
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
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Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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