One night in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan: No luxury, no noise, and more stars than a five-star hotel
Forget five-star hotels for a moment.
Forget the huge breakfasts, rooftop pool, and 24-hour reception.
Imagine something else.
You open the door of the yurt.
There is no traffic outside.
There is no neighboring hotel.
There are no crowds of tourists.
There are mountains, horses, grass, cold air, and a sky that at night looks as if someone forgot to turn off the stars.
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan.
Here, one of the most interesting nights of your life may not have a single hotel star.
But there are millions above it.
What exactly is a yurt?
The yurt is a traditional portable dwelling used by nomadic peoples in Central Asia.
A circular structure, wooden frame and covering, designed to protect the inhabitants from the harsh conditions of the steppes and mountains.
It looks romantic in the photo.
Live, you begin to understand why this relatively simple construction has survived through the centuries.
It can be disassembled, moved and rebuilt.
And that's the key to the nomadic lifestyle.
When people move with their herds in search of pasture, the home must be able to go with them.
Why is the yurt so important to Kyrgyzstan?
Because it is not just an interesting backdrop for photos.
She is a symbol.
Nomadic history is deeply woven into the culture of Kyrgyzstan, and even today, traces of it are everywhere.
The horses.
Mountain pastures.
Traditional crafts.
The food.
Family customs.
And, of course, the yurts.
In some parts of the country, families continue to move to high mountain pastures with their animals during the warmer months.
So when you sleep in a yurt, you're not just participating in a tourist attraction.
You are touching on a way of life that has shaped this part of the world for generations.
Okay, but what's it like to sleep in a yurt?
The first surprise?
Inside, it's usually much cozier than you expect.
The floor is often covered with traditional carpets and textiles, and the interior may be decorated with bright ornaments.
But don't expect a hotel.
And that's exactly the idea.
Depending on the location, the conditions may be simpler, the amenities limited, and the evenings much cooler than you might expect.
Then comes the silence.
True silence.
Not "the hotel is on a quiet street.".
And the silence where you hear the wind and the animals outside.
And suddenly the phone starts to look a lot less interesting.
And where is the bathroom?
Here's the question everyone is thinking.
And few people ask first.
The conditions depend on the specific camp.
Some yurt camps have built-in sanitary facilities, while in more remote locations the amenities can be significantly more basic.
In other words:
Don't book a wilderness experience and then expect a marble bathroom with two sinks.
That's part of the charm.
In one or a few nights, a person very quickly realizes how little he actually needs.
True luxury begins after sunset
During the day, Kyrgyzstan is impressive.
In the evening it becomes completely different.
Away from big cities, light pollution decreases and the sky can be exceptionally clear.
You leave the yurt.
It's cold.
Someone has already turned on the light in the neighboring yurt.
The mountains have almost disappeared into the darkness.
You look up.
And you understand why we sometimes use the word „luxury“ for completely the wrong things.
The morning you won't get in a standard hotel
There is no alarm from the phone.
Or at least you don't need to.
You wake up and the first thing you see is not the wall of the neighboring building.
There may be a valley ahead of you.
Mountains.
Horses.
Lake.
Endless grass.
Depending on the area, the landscape changes, but the feeling remains the same:
space.
This is one of the things Kyrgyzstan does best.
It reminds you how huge the world can be when you get out of the city.
And where is the bathroom?
Here's the question everyone is thinking.
And few people ask first.
The conditions depend on the specific camp.
Some yurt camps have built-in sanitary facilities, while in more remote locations the amenities can be significantly more basic.
In other words:
Don't book a wilderness experience and then expect a marble bathroom with two sinks.
That's part of the charm.
In one or a few nights, a person very quickly realizes how little he actually needs.
True luxury begins after sunset
During the day, Kyrgyzstan is impressive.
In the evening it becomes completely different.
Away from big cities, light pollution decreases and the sky can be exceptionally clear.
You leave the yurt.
It's cold.
Someone has already turned on the light in the neighboring yurt.
The mountains have almost disappeared into the darkness.
You look up.
And you understand why we sometimes use the word „luxury“ for completely the wrong things.
The morning you won't get in a standard hotel
There is no alarm from the phone.
Or at least you don't need to.
You wake up and the first thing you see is not the wall of the neighboring building.
There may be a valley ahead of you.
Mountains.
Horses.
Lake.
Endless grass.
Depending on the area, the landscape changes, but the feeling remains the same:
space.
This is one of the things Kyrgyzstan does best.
It reminds you how huge the world can be when you get out of the city.
The horse here is not a tourist prop
If there is an animal without which we can hardly tell the history of Kyrgyzstan, it is the horse.
In nomadic culture, horses have been a means of transportation, wealth, and survival for centuries.
And the connection hasn't disappeared.
While traveling around the country, you can see herds grazing freely on the vast mountain slopes.
Sometimes the view is almost absurdly beautiful.
Green Valley.
River.
Dozens of horses.
Snowy peaks in the distance.
And no skyscraper to spoil the shot.
What do you eat during such an experience?
Don't expect a 12-course tasting menu.
The food in traditional Kyrgyz cuisine is designed for a completely different lifestyle.
It must be nutritious.
Therefore, meat, dough, dairy products and rice are often present.
Beshbarmak
One of the most recognizable traditional dishes – meat with dough strips, associated with the culture of the nomadic peoples of the region.
Manti
Large steamed pastry pockets with filling.
Sorry.
Satisfying.
And dangerously easy to overeat.
Pilaf
Rice, meat, carrots and spices.
Pilaf is widespread throughout Central Asia, and almost everywhere you will hear a different opinion about where it is best prepared.
Don't get involved in the argument.
Just eat.
And what is koumiss?
This is where it gets interesting.
The koumiss is a traditional fermented mare's milk beverage associated with the nomadic cultures of Central Asia.
The taste?
Let's say it like this:
there's no great chance you'd confuse it with a cappuccino.
Slightly sour, specific and very different from the drinks most Europeans are used to.
Should you try it?
At least once.
Otherwise, how will you tell the story later?
Lake Issyk Kul – a sea that someone placed among the mountains
One of the most impressive places in Kyrgyzstan is Issyk Kul.
Its dimensions are such that when you stand on the shore, the feeling is much more reminiscent of a sea than a lake.
But behind the water rise mountains.
And it is this combination that makes the landscape so unusual.
In the area around the lake, you can find yurt camps and places where traditional lifestyles intertwine with travel.
Awakening near Issyk Kul?
This is the photo your phone will save.
But the view is the one you will remember.
Son Kul – when the asphalt is left far behind
If Issyk Kul impresses with its size, the high-altitude Lake Son Kul impresses with its insulation.
It is located at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters and is surrounded by vast summer pastures.
Here, the yurts look completely natural.
It's as if they've always been part of the landscape.
There is no need for many sights.
The place itself is the attraction.
A day without internet can be the best day of your trip
Let's admit something.
We travel to the other side of the world and sometimes spend half the time looking at the same phone we look at at home.
Kyrgyzstan has a cure for this.
It is called:
there is no scope.
Of course, connectivity depends on the area and there is internet in many settlements.
But when you enter more remote mountainous areas, the situation can be different.
And that's not necessarily a problem.
You spend the first hour checking your phone.
You put the second one away.
On the third one you are already looking at the mountains.
What to wear for a night in a yurt?
The biggest mistake is to say to yourself:
„"It's August. It's going to be warm."“
Yes.
Until you're high up in the mountains at night.
Therefore, bring warm clothing, a wind and rain jacket, comfortable shoes, a flashlight or headlamp, an external battery, sunscreen, and a small backpack.
And socks.
Good socks.
Some life lessons need to be learned in time.
Advice from Journey Group
When traveling in the mountains, think in layers.
A t-shirt + warmer clothing + jacket is a much more practical combination than one huge winter sweater that takes up half the suitcase.
Who is this experience for?
Spending the night in a yurt won't be everyone's dream.
And it shouldn't be.
It is for people who can trade a little comfort for a lot more experience.
For people who prefer a real conversation around the table instead of a TV in the hotel room.
For people who want to wake up in a place that doesn't resemble their everyday life.
And most of all:
for people who don't want their every trip to look like the last.
Is this "glamping"?
Sometimes tourist yurts can offer quite comfortable conditions.
But the traditional idea has nothing to do with the modern concept of luxury camping.
The yurt has been around long before anyone coined the word "glamping.".
Therefore, it is better to enter without the expectation of luxury.
This way, you're likely to come out much more impressed.
Why is Kyrgyzstan so different from mainstream destinations?
Because the main landmark here was not built by man.
It is all around you.
Nature.
You don't wait 40 minutes in line to see it.
You do not buy a ticket with a specific time slot.
You don't have to find the right angle to shoot from so that the other 600 tourists don't get in the frame.
You're just there.
And that's a surprisingly rare feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cold at night in a yurt?
In high mountain regions, temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, so warm clothes are a must-have.
Is there electricity?
It depends on the specific camp. Some places have electricity or limited power, while others have simpler conditions. An external battery is a good idea.
Is there internet?
In remote areas, connectivity may be limited or non-existent.
Is it comfortable to sleep?
It depends on the specific yurt and the organization of the camp. Tourist yurt camps are usually adapted for guests, but one should not expect the standard of a classic hotel.
Do we need to be very physically prepared?
Not necessarily. Spending the night in a yurt in itself does not imply a serious transition. The physical exertion depends on the overall program and the specific activities.
Is it suitable for people who have never been to Central Asia?
That's when it can be most impressive.
Because almost everything will be new.
Five-star hotel or five billion stars?
After a nice hotel, you'll probably remember the bed.
After a night in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan, you will remember much more.
What the mountain looks like after sunset.
What is the air like in the morning?.
How the horses move in the distance.
What does a place without cars sound like?.
What was the first taste of koumiss?.
And perhaps the strangest thing:
How little you missed everything you thought was necessary.
That's exactly why we don't go to the other side of the world just to change hotels.
We're going to change the perspective.
And Kyrgyzstan definitely knows how to do it.
Discover Central Asia with Journey Group.