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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Aug 30, 2026
Bishkek
Bishkek
2026-08-30
End
Sep 10, 2026
Bishkek
Bishkek
2026-09-10
Duration
12 days
Price
US$2045.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
Dead goat polo, belt wrestling and eagle hunting – the Nomad Games are exactly what they sound like. Beginning in 2014 with only ten sports, this is the sixth time the event will have been held - the first three times being on the shores of Lake Issyk Kol in Kyrgyzstan, followed by 2022 seeing Turkey have a turn, before its return to Central Asia with Kazakhstan holding the 2024 edition in Astana, and finally back to its original Kyrgyz roots in 2026.
This time there will be over 40 sports, with 3,000 athletes from 100 countries taking part. There are all the countries you'd expect to be involved like Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, but you might be surprised to see teams from the USA, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland, competing in horseback archery, tug of war, falconry, dead goat polo, ordo, and taigan hunting, just to name a few.
Not only can you see some of the most obscure sports you'll ever have come across, but a highlight for most people will be exploring the ethno-village built in the mountains behind Cholpon Ata. With yurts dotted all over the valley, a hive of activity of people in national clothes from not only Kyrgyzstan, but also many other nations, horses, eagles and dogs being part of small competitions and displays, and totally epic events, it feels more like something out of a fantasy novel than an international sporting event.
We have centered our tour around the Opening Ceremony, which is being held in Bishkek. From there we'll head to Cholpon Ata for the games themselves, but on the way and while we're there, we'll take the opportunity to show you some other nearby places too, such as some petroglyphs, Burana Tower, and Karakol. We'll then venture further into rural Kyrgyzstan, changing pace and vibe from the hustle and bustle and excitement of the Games, and will explore small villages, mountain lakes, before making our way all the way to Osh, before returning to Bishkek.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
If you'd like to see the Nomad Games but don't have time to join us for this whole adventure, check out our Nomad Games Tour .
This tour can also be joined up with our 5 Stans Autumn Tour, which leads into Turkmenistan Independence Day, for those who'd like to explore other parts of Central Asia as well.
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation as per itinerary (where yurt camps or guesthouses are mentioned, single supplement may not be available) |
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Transport as per itinerary, beginning and ending in Bishkek |
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Entrance fees to events as per itinerary |
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Tour guiding during the tour |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $550
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fees if necessary |
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Visa support if necessary |
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Meals other than breakfast at hotels |
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Activities outside of those mentioned in the itinerary |
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Transport to and from the start and end of tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
See the Opening Ceremony of the Sixth World Nomad Games
Take in the nomadic culture in the ethno-village, set in the picturesque mountains
Be part of one of the most unique and other-worldly international sporting events
Spectate sports you've never even heard of before!
Itinerary
Day 1Sun Aug 30
Bishkek
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We'll spend today exploring Bishkek, starting with a walking tour of the centre of the city. There is going to be a great buzz in the city, with the Nomad Games just about to start, and all sorts of spectators, competitors, officials, and volunteers from around Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, and indeed, the world.
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A quintessential Soviet city with an amazing mix of Stalinist and Brezhnev era architecture, Bishkek is full of wide boulevards and Brutalist apartment blocks, in stark contrast to the snow-capped mountain backdrop.
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We’ll visit the Frunze Museum, dedicated to Mikhail Frunze, whom the city of Bishkek used to be named after (and why the airport code was still FRU until mid 2025).
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Making our way past Victory Square, the circus and Tsum, we'll visit the Lenin Statue and Ala Too Square, home to the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan and a large Kyrgyz flag. Although this flag isn't quite as famous as their world-record holding neighbours, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan , it is still impressive and every hour, on the hour, there's a changing of the guards.
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If there's time we'll continue on to Osh Bazaar, passing the White House on the way, and we’ll finish off the day learning about some of the weird and wonderful produce and delicacies you’ll find in the market.
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There will no doubt be a great vibe in Bishkek, which we'll make sure to soak in in the evening.
- Overnight in Bishkek.
Day 2Mon Aug 31
Opening Ceremony of World Nomad Games
- Today marks the first day of the World Nomad Games, which is exactly what it sounds like - a colourful, vibrant and incredibly unique event, showcasing some of the coolest, weirdest and most amazing sports you'll ever come across.
- First held in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, it was then held twice more in Kyrgyzstan before being handed over to Turkey for the 2022 games ( much to the outrage of most Kyrgyz and Kazakh ). Much to all of our relief, Kazakhstan hosted the 2024 edition, and now we're super excited to have it back in its original homeland of Kyrgyzstan!
- We will be attending the Opening Ceremony, which will be a concert and show-case of local and international musicians, sportspeople and entertainers.
- Overnight in Bishkek.
Day 3Tue Sep 1
Bishkek, Tokmok, Burana Tower, Cholpon Ata
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This morning we'll start our journey towards Issik Kol, and the venue for the World Nomad Games.
- On the way though, we'll make a couple of stops. We'll start with the town of Tokmok, a stereotypical Soviet town and home of the former air force training base. To honour the town’s past, there’s a MiG-23 mounted as a memorial, which we'll have a quick photo stop at.
- Continuing on, our next stop will be at Burana Tower, one of Kyrgyzstan's most famous sites. A 25 metre brick tower, this was once a 45 metre tall minaret, which was once the minaret of a mosque in Balassagyn city. Now you can climb to the top of it for some great views over the nearby landscape.
- We'll arrive in Cholpon Ata in the afternoon and check into our hotel for the next few days.
- Overnight in Cholpon Ata.
Day 4Wed Sep 2
World Nomad Games
- Today we'll start exploring the various venues and exciting events, from the massive hippodrome, to the purpose-built arenas and stadiums, and most notably, the vast yurt village, dotted all over the valley behind Cholpon Ata. We will be seeing as much as we can of all the variety of sports.
- Salbuurun is a sport based on the nomadic hunting routines. They would go on several day long group hunts, for which the best eagles, horses, riders, hunters and dogs would be selected. While returning home, the most nimble horseman would put the body of a wolf that they'd caught across the saddle and would gallop ahead of the group. The others would try to catch up with him and grab the wolf, attempting to display their own strength and agility. In the end the best rider would return home to the village and to show everyone his victory, would throw the wolf’s carcass at the elder’s yurt. And thus, Kok Boru was born.
- The most famous and possibly most novel sport is Kok Boru, known in Afghanistan and Tajikistan as Buzkashi, and sometimes referred to in English as “Dead Goat Polo”. “Kok Boru” literally means “Grey Wolf” and originates from when Kyrgyz nomads would hunt wolves and play games with them. Nowadays the game involves two teams of men on horseback, each trying to get the decapitated goat or sheep which is the centre of the game, into the other team's goal, which is actually a large pit at the end of the pitch. It's absurdly fast-paced, very rough, and extremely exciting, but the decapitation of the animal at the beginning of the game is definitely not a site for the squeamish. (Don't worry, if you don't want to see the animal actually losing its head and limbs, you can easily not watch this part!)
- There will be eagle hunting, equestrian displays, and demonstrations of arts and crafts and other ancient domestic traditions, just to name a few.
- Of course there are many more sports and events you'll be able to witness, these are just a few of our favourites.
- Overnight in Cholpon Ata.
Day 5Thu Sep 3
Cholpon Ata, Petroglyphs, Karakol, Cholpon Ata
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Today we're going to step away from the Games themselves and show you some of the interesting things in the surrounding area.
- We'll visit the famous 4,000 year old petroglyphs. It’s a very strange and unique view, huge boulders dotted over the side of the otherwise baron and sparse hillside, and the lake visible in the distance.
- On the way back to the main road, we’ll drive down the old runway which was part of the Cholpon Ata airport that no longer exists. Back in the heyday, all sorts of dignitaries and celebrities flew into the resort town (including Yuri Gagarin who was a regular here), but it went out of use in 2003.
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Continuing around the lake, today we’ll visit Karakol, at the very eastern point of Issyk Kol, stopping on the way into town at the museum of N.M.Prjevalskii, a renowned Russian explorer of the 1800s.
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A small town with a big reputation, Karakol has a couple of pretty cool things to see, including the Dungan Mosque, unexpectedly shaped like a Chinese pagoda, and the Russian Orthodox Church.
- We’ll stop for lunch and have traditional Dungan food before and then if we've got time, we'll continue a bit further to one of our SAIGA favourite – the Jeti Ögüz Health Spa, a Soviet sanitorium which is very tired and dated (as you’d expect a Soviet health spa to be!) but still functioning. You’ll have a chance to explore the grounds and buildings, get a massage, see all the weird treatments available and generally take a step back in time. Depending on who we find, we might be able to get radon baths, electric shock therapy, pulsating circulation treatment as well as mud baths, acupuncture and who knows what else! For anyone who loves the weird and wonderful, this creepy stop will be right up your alley!
- We'll return to Cholpon Ata, ready to get back to the Nomad Games events tomorrow!
- Overnight in Cholpon Ata.
Day 6Fri Sep 4
World Nomad Games
- Today we'll be exploring the ethno-village and seeing more cool events.
- Ordo, which means “Khan's headquarters” or “Khan's Palace” is a game played by kicking knuckle bones out of a circle drawn on the ground. It represents a military map, and originally the game was used as a training scheme to teach soldiers various strategies to use to defeat their enemies.
- Another sport most likely based on military training, though the origins of this one aren't as clear, Er Enish is the wrestling of horsemen. The rules permit a lot of violence, and it's thought that it was used to train horsemen in cruel methods of melee combat to take down their enemies. For example, grabbing your opponent's ribs or the muscles in their hands, or turning out their joints, are perfectly acceptable tactics to use.
- Cholpon Ata will be absolutely buzzing with contestants, spectators, volunteers, staff, media and officials, and we'll also be making sure to take in as much of the atmosphere as possible.
- Overnight in Cholpon Ata.
Day 7Sat Sep 5
Cholpon Ata, Kochkor, Song Kol
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Today we'll leave the excitement of the Nomad Games behind us and will venture away from the crowds into rural Kyrgyzstan, heading first of all to Song Kol.
- On the way we'll stop in Kochkor. Although most of the time this would be considered a small, rural town, compared to where you're about to spend the next few days, this will feel like the big smoke!
- We'll stop at the Soviet WWII memorial and the Lenin statue, both in the centre of town. We'll also take you to our favourite souvenir shop in Kyrgyzstan - run by local women, it's a great spot to find most things you might be looking for, from handicrafts, to antiques, and everything in between.
- We'll take a short walk through the market, and have lunch.
- Getting back in our transport, next on the agenda is the main event of the day. Leaving the main road and heading up into the mountains, we'll make the epic drive to Song Kol. Set high in the mountains, the lake itself is in the middle of a fertile plateau, dotted with horses, sheep and yurts.
- This is where we'll really start our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan. The next few days, until arriving in Osh, will be full of naturally beautiful waterfalls, lakes, mountains, yurts, horses, small villages, plains covered in flowers, and roadside fruit and honey stalls.
- As we gain altitude, the temperature will suddenly drop, and even though we’ll have been hot down in Bishkek and Cholpon Ata, we’ll now be very glad to have stoves on in each yurt for warmth.
- Depending on how early we arrive, you'll have the opportunity to go horse riding, or just take a walk around the area or if you’re really brave, a dip in the lake. Either way it’ll be a relaxing and peaceful evening under the stars.
- Dinner will be in the main yurt at our camp, cooked by the family we’re staying with.
Day 8Sun Sep 6
Song Kol, Kyzyl Oi
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Before leaving Song Kol in the morning, you'll have a chance to do any more horse riding, walking, swimming, or simple view-watching, that you might want.
- Then we’ll continue on our way through rural Kyrgyzstan, driving through the Jumgal Valley and crossing the Kara-Keche Pass.
- We'll arrive in Kyzyl Oi in the late afternoon, an old village located in the Suusamyr Valley in a narrow gorge of the powerful Kokomeren River.
- At 1800 metres above sea level, and characterised by scattered reddish clay houses, it gets its name which means “Red Bowl” from the formation caused by the high red mountains surrounding it.
- We'll arrive in the late afternoon at our destination for the day, and meet our favourite local family in Kyzyl-Oi.
- A n old village located in the Suusamyr Valley in a narrow gorge of the powerful Kokomeren River, this is a place to get a real insight into rural living in Kyrgyzstan. At 1800 metres above sea level, and characterised by scattered reddish clay houses, it gets its name which means “Red Bowl” from the formation caused by the high red mountains surrounding it.
- You should have some time to explore the town a bit if you like, or you can watch/help the ladies of the house prepare dinner.
- If the grandfather of the house is around, he'll show you ordo (a tradtional game involving throwing animal knuckles at other animal knuckles), and his chicken rearing techniques, and tell you all sorts of stories about life in rural Kyrgyzstan during and after the Soviet Union.
Day 9Mon Sep 7
Kyzyl Oi, Toktogul
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Leaving Kyzyl Oi, we’ll drive through the Suusamyr Valley towards Toktogul, with a few stops and detours on the way.
- Our first small detour will be to the tiny village of Kojomkul, where you'll never guess what there is - a monument to Kojomkul! Kyrgyzstan's most famous strong man, who you'll a lot about during our trip.
- Continuing on our way we'll stop in the very small village of Manas, where there's a wonderful, you guessed it - statue of Manas.
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And our next slight detour will follow the Agar River and make a stop at Ozero Sazka - Reflection Lake. Named for good reason!
- After a short walk past a yurt camp, a bunch of horses, and across a small stream, we'll come out at the edge of the picturesque lake.
- Continuing on our way, we'll arrive at our destination for the day in the late afternoon. The town of Toktogul, 1000 metres above sea level, was originally named after Toktogul Satylganov, a well-known Kyrygz poet and musician. His contributions and talent were so extensive that he is featured on the 100 Som note.
- You can go for a wander around the town if you want to, before we have dinner at our homestay for the night.
Day 10Tue Sep 8
Toktogul, Osh
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Leaving Toktogul this morning, we'll continue our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan.
- We'll be driving along the extremely picturesque Naryn River for most of the day, as we wind our way through western Kyrgyzstan.
- We might stop and buy a watermelon or a box of strawberries, so we can kick it local style and have a lake-side picnic at Toktogul Reservoir. A very popular place for locals to set up for an entire day, with makeshift tents, camp seats and tressle tables everywhere, we'll stop here for a refreshing swim and just to relax and hang out for a while.
- If we've got time, we'll stop will be at the Uzgen Minaret just before arriving in Osh, an 11th Century, 27.5m tall tower, alongside three mausoleums.
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Although in some ways it’ll feel like we’ve re-entered civilisation after a few days in the Kyrgyz countryside, Osh feels a lot different to Bishkek.
There’s a bit of a rugged, wild west sort of feel, that’s quite charming.
- We’ll visit the sacred Sulaiman Too Mountain, the main attraction in Osh.
- We’ll walk to the top of the rocky outcrop, no doubt meeting lots of local pilgrims happy to have a chat on the way.
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Not only is the scraggy hill a site in itself, with amazing views out over the whole city, and also peppered with ancient petroglyphs, but it’s also home to Sulaiman
Too Museum, one of those famous crazy Soviet buildings that appear on all the lists of weird Soviet structures.
- If there's time we’ll go to the Osh bazaar, one of Central Asia’s largest open-air markets. This is a great opportunity to find some cool souvenirs – hats, coats, rugs, fabrics, ornaments, loads of the cool stuff you’ve been admiring on locals and in their houses since being in Central Asia.
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