- A yurt night with dinner and breakfast costs ≈2,500–4,500 som per person in standard camps; ‘glamping’ yurts with private bathrooms cost $60–150+ (as of 2026).
- Top places: Song-Kul (3,016 m, mid-June – mid-Sept), Issyk-Kul south shore near Bokonbaevo and Tamga, Tash-Rabat, Jyrgalan.
- Standard camps have shared yurts, outdoor toilets and limited electricity; bring a headlamp and warm layers.
- Lake-shore camps on Issyk-Kul are 4–5 h from Bishkek; Song-Kul is ≈6 h.
Sleeping in a felt yurt is the signature Kyrgyz experience: a night in a standard camp with dinner and breakfast costs roughly 2,500–4,500 som per person (≈$30–50), while glamping yurts with private bathrooms run $60–150 or more (as of 2026). The best spots are Song-Kul lake at 3,016 m and the quiet south shore of Issyk-Kul, open roughly June to September.
Best places for a yurt stay
| Location | From Bishkek | Season | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song-Kul lake | ≈300 km / 6 h | mid-June – mid-Sept | Remote, herders, horses, cold nights |
| Issyk-Kul south shore (Bokonbaevo, Tamga, Kaji-Say) | ≈230–330 km / 4–5 h | June – Sept | Beach, eagle shows, warmer |
| Tash-Rabat | ≈480 km / 8 h | June – Sept | Silk Road caravanserai at 3,200 m |
| Jyrgalan / Jeti-Oguz valleys | ≈400–460 km | June – Sept | Hiking base near Karakol |
Song-Kul yurt camps
Song-Kul has dozens of family-run camps along the shore. A typical yurt sleeps 4–6 on floor mattresses with thick blankets and a stove. Dinner is soup, plov or beshbarmak, bread, jam and tea; kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) is offered for tasting. Most camps can arrange horse rides (see horse trekking) and some have a small banya. Electricity is solar — charge devices when you can.
Issyk-Kul south shore
Camps between Bokonbaevo and Tamga sit right on the beach, with warmer nights than Song-Kul. They pair well with an eagle-hunter demonstration and the Skazka canyon (see Jeti-Oguz and Skazka). Several camps now take online bookings and card or QR payment — a sign of the slow digitalisation of rural tourism.
Standard yurt vs glamping: what you get
| Standard camp | Glamping yurt | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ≈2,500–4,500 som pp with 2 meals | ≈$60–150+ per yurt |
| Beds | Floor mattresses, shared | Real beds, private |
| Toilet / shower | Outdoor shared, shower sometimes | Private or en-suite |
| Power | Solar, limited | Usually stable |
Tips for sleeping in a yurt
- Bring warm layers and a headlamp; nights at Song-Kul can drop to 0 °C even in August.
- Remove shoes inside and don’t step on the threshold — a common courtesy.
- Book ahead for July–August and ask what meals are included; vegetarians should say so in advance.
- Carry cash; mobile signal at Song-Kul is patchy.
How to get to a yurt camp
Song-Kul has no public transport. The usual route is Bishkek → Kochkor by marshrutka or car (≈190 km, 3 h), then a shared taxi or camp transfer over the Kalmak-Ashuu pass (≈3,400 m, 2.5–3 h). Many camps will arrange the pick-up from Kochkor for an extra fee — ask when booking. Issyk-Kul south-shore camps are easy: marshrutkas Bishkek – Karakol via the south shore stop in Bokonbaevo and Tamga, and the camp can collect you from the road. For Tash-Rabat you need a car from Naryn or At-Bashy (see Naryn and Tash-Rabat).
A typical day in a yurt camp
You arrive in the afternoon, are offered tea with boorsok (fried dough), bread and butter, then have free time for a walk or a ride. Dinner is served in the dining yurt at about 19:00. After dark the sky is the main show — Song-Kul is one of the best places in Central Asia for stargazing. Breakfast is porridge or eggs, bread, jam and tea. Many families also show how felt is made or how yurts are assembled; in some camps you can watch the evening milking of mares.
Etiquette and responsible travel
You are a guest in a family business. Accept at least a sip of what is offered, ask before photographing people, and take your rubbish back with you — waste collection at Song-Kul is limited. Paying the camp directly or through a transparent online booking keeps income visible and helps hosts formalise their business, something we cover in our research on digital tourism.
A Song-Kul yurt night is built into our 7-day itinerary. For a camp that fits your group, use Plan my trip.
FAQ
How much does a yurt stay cost in Kyrgyzstan?
About 2,500–4,500 som per person per night in a standard camp, including dinner and breakfast (as of 2026). Glamping yurts with private bathrooms cost roughly $60–150 or more per yurt.
When are yurt camps open at Song-Kul?
Roughly mid-June to mid-September, when herders bring livestock to the summer pastures. Outside these months the road can be snowbound and camps are dismantled.
Are yurts warm at night?
Yes, if the stove is lit: felt insulates well and camps provide thick blankets. Still, temperatures at Song-Kul can fall to around 0 °C, so bring warm sleepwear and a hat.
Do yurt camps have showers and toilets?
Standard camps have outdoor shared toilets and sometimes a simple shower or banya. Glamping camps offer private bathrooms. Ask before booking if this matters.