At the foot of the mountains on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Koul, the village of Kyzyl-Tuu is known throughout Kyrgyzstan for its yurt-making craftsmanship. It is here, with Rustam and his family, that you stay: a simple guesthouse where you learn firsthand, through demonstration, how a yurt comes to life from wood and felt.

Why stay with Rustam

• A family-run guesthouse managed by a yurt artisan in a village considered a cradle of yurt-making in Kyrgyzstan.
• A practical demonstration, the "Yurta-show": assembly of the wooden skeleton, shaping of the felt, and construction of the structure before your eyes.
• An intimate setting, away from standardised hotels, that fosters direct exchange with a Kyrgyz family.
• A useful stop on the route between Bishkek, Lake Son-Koul, and the southern shores of Lake Issyk-Koul.

Ambiance: a craft passed down through generations

In Kyzyl-Tuu, almost every house courtyard shelters a workshop. Here, willow is worked to create the roof arches (the tunduk) and latticed walls (the kerege), and wool is beaten to produce the felt that covers the yurt. This craft has been passed from father to son for several generations, and Rustam's family stands within this tradition.

The demonstration offered to travellers is no reconstructed spectacle: it is the real work of your hosts. You see the pieces fit together, understand the logic of a dwelling designed to be dismantled, transported by pack horse, and reassembled in hours on the high pastures (the jailoo). The vocabulary, the tools, and the time each gesture takes all become clear.

The welcome remains that of a family home: shared meals around Kyrgyz dishes, conversations in Russian or with interpreter support, the unhurried rhythm of village life.

Where Kyzyl-Tuu is located

Kyzyl-Tuu is a village in the Issyk-Koul region, situated on the southern shore of the lake at the foot of mountain foothills. It is reached by the road skirting the lake from Balykchy, then by a turn inland. Expect several hours of driving from Bishkek depending on your route, usually combined with other stops (Son-Koul, Kochkor, Bokonbaevo).

The village is small, without heavy tourism infrastructure. This is precisely what makes it special: you come here for the encounter, not for hotel amenities.

What to see and do in the region

• Lake Issyk-Koul: the world's second-highest alpine lake, with beaches to the south and fishing villages.
• Bokonbaevo: eagle hunting demonstrations (berkutchi) and livestock markets.
• Skazka Canyon ("Tale Canyon"): red rock formations sculpted by erosion, to the east of the village.
• Lake Son-Koul: a high-altitude plateau and traditional yurt camps, ideal to combine with a stay here.

To extend your nomadic experience, you can move on to a homestay in another region, or transition to another guesthouse such as Chez Uzur guesthouse in Chon-Kemin. For your return or onward journey, the capital offers practical options such as My Hotel in Bishkek.

Include Kyzyl-Tuu in your journey

A night with Rustam fits naturally into a circuit around Lake Issyk-Koul or as a transition to Son-Koul. To place the village on your map and plan your itinerary, visit our Kyzyl-Tuu page, and explore our journeys in Kyrgyzstan to design a custom route.