Chunkurchak, five chairlifts half an hour from Bishkek

If you're in Bishkek and want a single day on skis, Chunkurchak is the obvious first choice: it's about 30 km away and has five chairlifts and more than 10 km of runs. Call ahead or check the website before you go, because early in the winter the opening date depends on snow, and the site never posted any news for the 2025/26 season (the last item is dated 6 March 2025). The base says it will publish 2026/27 prices at the start of the season, so the figures below are the latest we have, from 2024/25.

The slope starts at 2,070 m and tops out at 2,440 m, which gives about 370 m of vertical. The Karakol ski base goes up to 3,040 m, but it's a six-to-seven-hour drive from the capital. Chunkurchak is the place people pick when they live in Bishkek, or when they're visiting the city for a few days and want to fit in a day of skiing without changing their whole route.

How to get to Chunkurchak from Bishkek

We couldn't find a scheduled bus to the base, so people drive themselves, take a taxi or hire a driver for the day.

1. Check that the base is open. The number in the government register is +996 558 586 898 and the website is chunkurchak.kg. Ask which lifts are running and whether the rental shop has your size.
2. Sort out a car. It's about 30 km. A driver for the day is the easiest option, because they wait while you ski and take you back. Our guide to hiring a private driver explains how to find one and what it costs.
3. Plan for a winter road. The last stretch climbs into the mountains, so don't go on summer tyres, and after heavy snow the road may not be cleared straight away.
4. Buy the card and your pass at the base. In 2024/25 the plastic lift card cost an extra 300 som, and the pass is loaded onto it.

Lifts and runs

According to the base's own website for 2024/25, Chunkurchak has five chairlifts, each named after a colour. Beginners will be happy on the short Orange lift and the kids' conveyor, while Blue takes you to the top of the slope.

Altogether there are more than 10 km of runs. That's small by Alpine standards, but it's plenty for a day, especially if you're learning or skiing with children.

How much is a lift pass at Chunkurchak?

The base hasn't published new prices, so these are the latest known ones, for 2024/25 (reported by 24.kg in February 2025). Expect them to have gone up by the 2026/27 season and bring a little extra.

Skiresort.com lists a 1,800 som day pass for Chunkurchak, but with no year attached, so we go by the 24.kg figures. To compare with other bases, see our overview of ski resorts in Kyrgyzstan.

Rental, food and where to stay

Rental is at the base, along with a café, a kids' area, parking and a first-aid post. The website doesn't mention any accommodation at Chunkurchak, so people stay in Bishkek and drive up for the day. If you'd rather sleep next to the slope for a few days, look at Kashka-Suu, which has a hotel, or Orlovka, with a hotel and cottages.

Who Chunkurchak suits

It works well for families and beginners based in Bishkek. The short Orange lift, the conveyor and the kids' area let children learn in peace while everyone else skis higher up. It's also the only base in Chuy region where we could confirm a first-aid post. Strong skiers who want long descents will have seen most of it in a day, and for more variety they should head to Karakol or Too-Ashuu.

Safety

Before every season the Chuy region bases are inspected by the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Development Fund, local authorities and the Emergencies Ministry. In December 2024 Chunkurchak was among the bases declared ready. No base in Kyrgyzstan patrols terrain outside the groomed runs, so don't leave the piste without avalanche gear and experience. The emergency number is 112, and our avalanche safety guide covers the rest.

Need a driver for the day or help with the whole trip? Get in touch through our trip planning form.