The quintessential symbol of Kyrgyzstan and its nomadic culture, yurts remain deeply embedded throughout the country. Used for family celebrations, they also serve as homes for shepherds, particularly in summer when they leave their villages for mountain pastures.

During your journey through Kyrgyzstan, you won't just have the chance to sleep in an authentic yurt on multiple occasions: you'll also have the opportunity to learn how to assemble a yurt! In the village of Kyzyl-Tuu, south of Lake Issyk Kul, each family crafts yurts from start to finish. This expertise, passed down through generations, keeps this unique craft alive. In fact, locals don't just sell their yurts within Kyrgyzstan—they receive numerous orders from abroad.

Visit one of these families to discover all the secrets behind yurt craftsmanship: which wood is used and how to season it, how to cut and paint the wood, how to craft the yurt's walls, what materials go into construction... You'll see that the Kyrgyz yurt is made entirely of natural elements—leather, felt, and wood—without a single nail.

You'll then have the chance to help your hosts assemble the yurt. These families even participate in the World Nomadic Games, competing in yurt assembly speed contests. You'll quickly understand that a yurt brings people together, because it truly takes a village to raise one!

After all that effort, time to relax: slip off your shoes to enter the yurt and enjoy a warming cup of tea!