Kyrgyzstan Travel Information: Where to Find Ski Equipment

A lot of people ask me when the best time to travel in Kyrgyzstan is. That’s a tough question to answer. Every season has its advantages for travelers. Extreme sports tend to draw people to Kyrgyzstan either in summer or winter even though extreme sports are available during every season.   If you’re a fan of cold weather sports, then wintertime is the best time to travel in Kyrgyzstan because the country gets excellent snowfall. Ski resorts usually boast a snow depth of 1.5 – 2.5 meters, providing a picturesque setting for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

KYRGYZSTAN: TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS

Ski tours in Kyrgyzstan ranging from heli-skiing and freeriding to slope skiing and cross country skiing are all excellent wintertime options in Kyrgyzstan. (All of these tour options are also available for snowboarders except cross country.) Travel costs in Kyrgyzstan are relatively low compared to most European countries, making tours and independent travel very affordable for international travelers.

If you’re planning to go on either ski or snowboarding tours in Kyrgyzstan and want to get a better idea of what your travel costs in Kyrgyzstan will be, know that the price of your tour will probably not include the rental of ski equipment/snowboard equipment. However, as far as acquisition, your local Kyrgyzstan travel agents will be able to help you acquire all the equipment you’ll need (assuming you’re not bringing your own). Kyrgyzstan’s larger ski bases will have snowboarding and ski equipment available for rent on site and if you’re visiting areas other than ski bases, your local travel agents will be familiar with where you can rent ski equipment should you need it. Prices vary for equipment, so make sure to ask your local travel agent in Kyrgyzstan what to expect depending on your needs.

WHERE TO RENT SNOWBOARD & SKI EQUIPMENT IN KYRGYZSTAN

Sadly, a lot of the online travel information for Kyrgyzstan related to ski/snowboard rentals in English is rather outdated. If you’re an independent traveler in Kyrgyzstan and are in need of snowboard or ski equipment, I’ve recently compiled a list of businesses that are currently open (Dec 2014) and rent out skis and snowboards either in Bishkek or Karakol. The list is not exhaustive, but should at least give you a several good options to check out. I did not include all the on-site stores at major ski bases since those will be easy for you to access. Enjoy! (The following stores are listed in no particular order.)