What could be more authentic than sleeping in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan? The Kyrgyz have always been nomads, and only began settling in towns and villages with the arrival of the Soviet Union. Yet this has not erased their traditions, and Kyrgyz herders continue to sleep under yurts.

During the summer season, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to spend a night in a yurt in the mountain pastures. There are both large tourist camps and small herding families who set up one or two additional yurts to welcome a few tourists and supplement their income. In any case, try to choose a camp with authentic Kyrgyz yurts: made solely of wood and felt.

Inside the yurt, people traditionally sleep on the ground, on small mats called "toshoks". However, camps increasingly offer beds for added comfort. Yurts are heated as night falls, since it gets cold quickly in the mountains. Remember to bring a sleeping bag, just in case.

Far from civilization, you won't have access to the Internet or electricity. The herders do have a small generator that they turn on at night for lighting. Sinks are outdoors and filled by hand. Some more modern camps offer a shower or a banya.

If you choose to stay with a herding family, which we recommend, you can take the opportunity to discover the life of nomads: milking cows, herding livestock, cooking in a yurt, and more.

Sleeping in a yurt is the ideal occasion to enjoy a starlit sky free from light pollution and admire the Milky Way. In absolute silence, you rest while living an unforgettable experience!