The scale of the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan is truly impressive. I managed to visit the Kyrchyn Gorge near Issyk-Kul, where an entire nomadic ethno-village has been built.

Honestly, I was absolutely blown away by how thoughtfully the organisers designed the concept and look of the village. It is definitely worth visiting, especially since it is completely free. Throughout the Games, there will be concerts, workshops, shows and stunt performances every day. I hope at least part of the ethno-village will remain accessible after the Games.

How to Get to Kyrchyn During the Games (and How to Get Back)

Access to the Grigorievskoe Gorge and Kyrchyn Gorge (Semenovskoe Gorge) will be restricted during the Games to prevent kilometres-long traffic jams. Instead, the organisers are providing free shuttle buses to and from the gorges.

The shuttles will operate from three stops:

• Baet Village, Chaika Resort — but not from the resort itself, rather from the turn-off on the main road. I tested this route on the pre-opening day of the ethno-village and was worried that I would have to travel all the way to Chaika, which is quite far from the main road. But there was a pleasant surprise waiting for me: the shuttle stop was right on the main road.
• Cholpon-Ata Hippodrome — a convenient option for getting around.
• Zharkynbai Village — for those travelling to Kyrchyn from the Karakol side.

Strangely enough, getting to the gorge went perfectly. As promised, all the shuttles were free, there were plenty of them, and there were no crowds — at least on the first day. At the turn-off to Kyrchyn, however, we were met by a huge crowd of people trying to squeeze onto the minibus almost over each other’s heads. Luckily, the drivers had clear instructions and did not allow the buses to become completely packed, reassuring everyone that there would be more shuttles.

Leaving Kyrchyn was a completely different story, and I left with a mild psychological trauma. For some reason, people were convinced that this particular shuttle was the last one, so they pushed, shoved and argued, while aunties were shouting and children were crying. Standing passengers were not allowed — which was actually a good thing, and thankfully the drivers stuck to the rules.

In general, the shuttle idea is a good one, but the organisers should have taken our people’s behaviour into account and put crowd-control staff there. Instead, there were dozens of horse riders simply watching this little Armageddon unfold.

And remember: this was before the official opening of the ethno-village. I have no idea what it will look like once the Games are in full swing.

What Is There to See at the World Nomad Games Ethno-Village?

Start your journey through the ethno-village with the Nomads’ Alley, where all seven regions of Kyrgyzstan are represented. Each region has its own area with yurts, installations, actors and performers.

Every region is eager to show off what it is proud of: shyrdaks, food, traditional costumes, famous people born in the region, distinctive ornaments, music and much more. Each region also has its own programme of shows and performances.

I particularly loved the arches at the entrance to each regional area. They represent what each region is famous for: Burana Tower in Chuy Region, Manas’s helmet in Talas, blooming apricot trees in Batken, and so on.

The Ethno-Bazaar

In Kyrchyn, they literally built a “Nomads’ village” from scratch — a mini-town made of adobe, with little streets, shopping areas, stages, food stalls and dining areas.

Honestly, it looks more like something from an Arabian fairy tale, or even Bukhara (I wrote about it here), than a nomadic village. On the other hand, did nomads even have cities? They were nomads, after all.

Besides, this little town is not standing in the middle of a scorched Arabian desert or somewhere in the Bukhara steppe. It is surrounded by the green, cool mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Still, they have created a really cool little ethno-town. The Kyrgyz souvenirs and traditional clothing on the stalls, together with the tunduk-style canopies decorated with Kyrgyz ornaments, make the whole place incredibly colourful.

The dining area of the fair is also very authentic. Pilaf and beshbarmak are being prepared everywhere in huge traditional kazans, with tandyrs and stalls selling kumys and maksym. But my beloved Arpa beer was nowhere to be found. Not even a bottle of Kyrgyz Kon’yagy, a national treasure in its own right. Just pure halal everywhere.

What Else Is Important?

I really liked the fact that the organisers created these little rest areas, where you can eat, relax and lie down in the shade.

Mobile connection and internet are actually available — and they work really well.

Toilets. A very important part of any event, especially for women, especially when you are in an open space with absolutely no bushes around! 😊There are toilets along Nomads’ Alley and inside the ethno-bazaar. There seem to be enough of them, but there was a huge queue of women at every single one. It feels like someone should have figured out by now that at events like this, women need at least twice as many toilet stalls as men, simply because of biology!

I also felt sorry for the two donkeys who had to pull a carriage full of people purely for their entertainment…

So, should you visit the Nomad Games ethno-village in Kyrchyn? Yes! Bring water, a power bank, hats and umbrellas (for both heat and rain), and be prepared to fight your way onto a shuttle bus.

Done! You look fabulous.

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