Small ski bases near Bishkek, what's known and what isn't

Before driving to any of these bases, phone the number in the government register: many have only one or two lifts, and if that lift isn't running there's simply nothing to ski. The Department of Tourism's register of ski bases (tourism.gov.kg, which we read on 3 November 2026) is partly out of date. Some bases are missing, two entries share the same phone number, and several have no location at all. Below is everything we were able to check, with the gaps clearly marked.

If all you want is a good day on skis near Bishkek, the bigger bases are the easier choice: Chunkurchak with five chairlifts, ZiL or Kashka-Suu. The small bases make sense for people who live nearby, parents looking for the cheapest slope for a child, or anyone who likes having a hill almost to themselves.

How many ski bases does Kyrgyzstan have?

In February 2026 the director of the Department of Tourism, E. Kasymov, spoke of "about 20 ski bases", mostly in Chuy, Issyk-Kul and Osh regions. He said 10–12 of them were actively operating in 2025/26 and that around 4,000 people a day were on the slopes in early January. In March 2026 Tazabek counted 11 bases paying taxes: the industry paid 15.3 million som in 2024 and 21.1 million in 2025. The independent catalogue skiresort.com lists 28 sites in the country. The gap between these numbers is largely made up of small bases that hardly anyone writes about.

Small bases in the official register

Altitudes and lift counts come from skiresort.com unless stated otherwise. Prices are the latest we could find, with the year.

Kyrgyz numbers are dialled from abroad with +996 and without the leading zero.

What we know about each base

Ak-Tash and Oruu-Sai

The register has two entries: "Aktash (Oruu-Sai)" with the website aktash.kg, and a separate "Oruu-Sai" with an address in Chunkurchak village. Most likely these are two operators in the same gorge, but we couldn't confirm it. In 2025, 24.kg described Ak-Tash as "not for beginners", with a 1,000 som day pass, 600 som rental and a 500 som weekend transfer. The details on Oruu-Sai (a hotel, restaurant, sauna and a 500 som pass) date from 2021 and may be stale.

Politeh

A small base in the Kashka-Suu valley, next to ZiL and Kashka-Suu. In 2024/25 it had the cheapest pass in the valley, 800 som on weekdays and 1,000 at weekends, with rental at 600. 24.kg itself noted that these prices came "from the internet", so check them on the base's Instagram, @polyteh_kg.

Ski-Tatyr and Chon-Tash

The two lowest bases on the list, both close to the city. Ski-Tatyr, in Tatyr village, is the only base in the register run as a public foundation rather than a limited company. Chon-Tash is 20 km from Bishkek near the Ata-Beyit memorial, and its slope is very short. The latest prices we found for both were 500 som, from 2018.

Norus (Mounty)

Norus village has a ski and snowboard school for children aged 3 to 17. In 2024/25 a four-day course including transfer and rental cost 20,000 som. If you want a child to learn with instructors and a clear package, it's one of the few options that offers one.

Ak-Tyuz, Kyzyl-Beles, Toguz-Beles, Uzun-Bulak, Kalgakar, Sosnovka

For these we have only a line in the register and altitudes from skiresort.com. Ak-Tyuz is probably in Kemin district and is the highest of the small bases, with a slope up to 2,798 m. Kyzyl-Beles and Toguz-Beles share a phone number in the register, so they may be one base under two names. Judging by its Instagram, Sosnovka is more of a ski-touring spot than a lift-served base. We couldn't find where Kyzyl-Beles, Uzun-Bulak and Kalgakar are.

How to visit a small base

1. Phone the number in the register. Ask whether the lift is running, whether there's rental and how to get there. Some numbers are outdated, so if nobody answers, look the base up on Instagram.
2. Hire a car for the whole day. We found no buses to the small bases, and you may not find a taxi back down. A driver for the day is the easiest option.
3. Bring your own gear if you have it. Rental at the small bases is confirmed only at Ak-Tash and Politeh.
4. Have a plan B. If there's no snow or the lift is down, switch to a bigger base: Kashka-Suu, ZiL and Chunkurchak are all 30–35 km from Bishkek.

Who the small bases suit

Bishkek families whose child is just starting out and doesn't need a long slope, people who live close to a particular base, and anyone who values an empty hill over a choice of runs. If you're a visitor with only a few days in Kyrgyzstan, we'd point you to the bigger bases or a trip to Issyk-Kul instead, and our overview of ski resorts in Kyrgyzstan will help you compare them.

Safety

The pre-season inspection by the Department of Tourism and the Emergencies Ministry in December 2024 covered the larger Chuy region bases (Too-Ashuu, Orlovka, ZiL, Chunkurchak and Kashka-Suu). We don't know whether the small bases were inspected, and none has a confirmed first-aid post. Ski carefully, keep your phone on you, and remember the emergency number is 112. If the piste ends in untracked snow and you're tempted to go further, read our avalanche safety guide first.