The ski industry in Kyrgyzstan is represented by eleven bases, each with its own scale and legal status. Most of them operate as limited liability companies (LLC), while one base operates as a public foundation (Ski-Tatyr). In 2024, tax revenues from this sector amounted to approximately 15.3 million soms, and in 2025, an increase to 21.1 million soms is expected, indicating market growth. However, there is a significant difference among various participants: from large resorts with multimillion taxes to entities with zero indicators.
The main base of the country — "Karakol"
Located at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level, the "Karakol" base is just 7 km from the city of the same name. The local ski slopes attract tourists from Russia, Kazakhstan, Europe, and Japan. Due to its proximity to Lake Issyk-Kul, it has a mild climate, allowing skiing at temperatures up to -5°C while sunbathing.
The "Karakol" base features four chairlifts, three hotel buildings, chalets, a restaurant, and a café on the slope. Since 2018, a ski school for children has been operating here. Prices for ski passes: on weekdays — 1,200 soms for adults and 800 soms for children; on weekends and holidays — 1,500 soms for adults and 800 soms for children.
"Chunkurchak" — the perfect place for family recreation
The "Chunkurchak" complex is the closest to Bishkek. In the 2024–2025 season, it offers five chairlifts with a total length of over 4.5 km, and the length of the slopes exceeds 10 km, with a height difference of about 370 m. The base is focused on family recreation and hosts competitions and festive events.
"Toguz-Bulak" — for freeride enthusiasts
Located on the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Range, the "Toguz-Bulak" base is situated 40 km southeast of Bishkek, at an altitude ranging from 1,900 to 2,298 m. It features 40 hectares of groomed and freeride slopes, 9 trails up to 2,200 m long, as well as a new two-seat chairlift with a height difference of 400 m. The base has a hotel with 40 beds, two bars, a sauna, a café, and equipment rental.
"Orlovka" — speed and magnificent views
The "Orlovka" resort is located 90 km from Bishkek. The slopes are prepared using modern groomers and are equipped with snow cannons. It offers prepared trails for athletes and untouched snow for freeriding. There is also a toboggan run where speeds can reach up to 70 km/h.
The future of the ski industry — "Ala-Tuu Resort"
A key event for the industry is the launch of a large-scale state project. The new year-round mountain cluster "Ala-Tuu Resort" will become the largest ski resort in Central Asia. The total length of the ski trails will be 250 km, and the resort will be able to accommodate up to 2 million tourists annually.
The "Ala-Tuu Resort" project and the Austrian company Doppelmayr have signed an agreement to build four new cable cars at the Jyrgalan resort. By December, the total length of the cable lines will exceed 8 km, and the length of the ski trails will reach 46 km.
The construction of the first cable car in the Jyrgalan area is scheduled for completion in July 2026.
In the closed section of the review, there is an interactive ranking of ski resorts in Kyrgyzstan based on tax revenues, with an analysis of growth and decline, characteristics of trails and lifts, ski passes, and estimated costs for recreation, as well as recommendations for equipment.
