WORLD NOMAD GAMES 2026: 3 BIKEPACKING ROUTES AROUND ISSYK-KUL. FROM HORSE SADDLE TO BIKE SADDLE.

World Nomad Games WNG-2026 at Issyk-Kul and bikepacking: 3 routes to see the highlights by bicycle.

Kyrgyzstan in late summer 2026 will offer a rare combination that is hard to repeat anywhere else. It’s real bikepacking in the mountains and a world-scale nomadic culture festival. If you are planning a cycling trip to Kyrgyzstan, it’s worth adding the Nomad Games dates to your route in advance.

KEY FACTS A BIKEPACKER SHOULD KNOW

When: 31 August – 6 September 2026
Opening: 31 August in Bishkek (Azattyk Arena)
Where the main events are: Issyk-Kul Region
Main hubs:

• Cholpon-Ata (lakeshore, hippodrome and competitions)
• Kyrchyn (high-mountain pasture, yurt ethno-town and cultural program)

Scale: participants and guests are expected from more than 89 countries

In practical terms for a traveler, it looks like this: you can start in Bishkek, then head to Issyk-Kul, catch the sports finals during the day and go to Kyrchyn for the evening ethno program. All in one trip, without unnecessary transfers.

WHAT TO SEE AT THE GAMES: MUST-SEE LIST

Sport

• Horse games and races, including kok-boru
• National wrestling styles (kurash, alysh, er enish), strength disciplines
• Traditional archery
• Berkutchi show (falconry hunting)
• Taygan races

Culture

• The yurt ethno-town “Universe of the Nomad” in Kyrchyn
• Concerts, ethno dances and ethno music
• Craft fair and workshops
• Ethno-gastronomy (beshbarmak, kurut, kumis, plov and more)
• Evening ethno shows, including the “ethnomoto” format

For a bikepacker, it’s not just about watching. It’s also strong, meaningful travel content. The road becomes part of the story.

3 BIKEPACKING ROUTES AROUND ISSYK-KUL

Below are 3 options. Choose based on your time and adventure level. FreeBike helps with a bike and long-distance gear, especially if you fly in without your own bike.

ROUTE 1. CHOLPON-ATA – KYRCHYN (LOOP THROUGH GORGES)

Distance: about 80 km (loop)
Format: 1–2 days
Why ride it: see competitions in Cholpon-Ata and reach the yurt ethno-town in Kyrchyn

This route is ideal if you want maximum impressions in a short time. Arena and races by day, mountains, yurts and music by evening. On the way: beautiful gorges, jailoo pastures and photo points.

ROUTE 2. NORTH SHORE: BALYKCHY – CHOLPON-ATA – KYRCHYN

Distance: about 180 km (can be split into parts)
Format: 3–4 days
Why ride it: follow the shore, collect the “showcase” of Issyk-Kul, and add a mountain ride to Kyrchyn

This option gives a calm pace and a logical structure. The road along the north shore is easier, and Kyrchyn adds mountain character and culture.

ROUTE 3. GRAND ISSYK-KUL LOOP, PLUS THE GAMES

Distance: about 440 km
Format: 6–8 days
Why ride it: a Kyrgyzstan classic for bikepackers — a full loop around the lake, plus the best days of the Games

Inside a trip like this you can combine:

• Cholpon-Ata and Kyrchyn (Games events)
• Karakol (town, services, gorge access)
• South shore (less traffic, more wild camping)
• Skazka Canyon (bright landscapes)
• Bokonbaevo (local culture and yurt camps)

PRACTICAL PREP: HOW TO MAKE THE TRIP COMFORTABLE

Surface: asphalt plus dirt, and sections of “vibration”. Reliable luggage and fasteners matter.
Season: late August and early September often bring comfortable temperatures, but mountain evenings are cool.
Mini checklist: windbreaker, warm layer, sun protection, water filter, headlamp, basic repair kit.

If you want to fly light, FreeBike (Bishkek) helps you build a ready setup for the route: bike, luggage solutions, and the necessary touring equipment.

WHY IT’S CONVENIENT TO RIDE WITH FREEBIKE

• Bike rental in Bishkek for long-distance trips across Kyrgyzstan
• Sizing and fitting, bike prep for your route
• Ability to plan days and the booking “chessboard” schedule in advance during peak season
• Fast support on basic route and gear questions
• Transfers with bikes to the start point

Tip: for the Nomad Games dates, demand for bikes and gear will be higher than usual. If you plan Issyk-Kul during this period, book in advance.

ROUTE SUMMARY (TEXT TABLE)

1. Cholpon-Ata – Kyrchyn Gorge (ethno-town) – loop via Semyonovskoye and Grigoryevskoye gorges
   Distance: ≈ 80 km (about ~40 km uphill to Kyrchyn and back)
   Key points: Cholpon-Ata (hippodrome and main Games arena); Kyrchyn (the yurt town “Universe of the Nomad”, ethno festivals); Semyonovskoye and Grigoryevskoye gorges (scenic canyons, spruce forests, mountain lakes and rivers; jailoo pastures with yurts and kumis).
   Why it works: in 1–2 days you can combine sports competitions by the lake with cultural events in the mountains.
2. North shore of Issyk-Kul (Balykchy – Cholpon-Ata – Kyrchyn)
   Distance: ≈ 180 km (from Balykchy town to the yurt camp and back)
   Key points: Balykchy (western “gates” of Issyk-Kul); north shore road (lake and mountain views, beaches, resort villages); Cholpon-Ata (competitions and cultural venues; local history museum; open-air petroglyph field); Kyrchyn (mountain detour via Grigoryevka to the ethno-town).
   Why it works: calm pace, easy structure; you can split into days with overnights in resorts or a tent on the shore.
3. Grand Issyk-Kul loop (full circle around the lake) Distance: ≈ 440 km (6–8 days) Key points: Cholpon-Ata and Kyrchyn (World Nomad Games highlights); Karakol (wooden Dungan mosque, Russian church); south shore (less populated, good for wild camping); Karkyra Valley (Kazakh border, alpine meadows, if time and visa allow); Skazka / Fairy Tale Canyon (near Kadji-Sai); Bokonbaevo (golden eagle shows, museum of nomadic culture or a yurt camp); Santash Pass or Balykchy (return).