Winter 2026/27 · December to March
Kyrgyzstan in winter 2026/27: ski transfers, Issyk-Kul and New Year
Quick answer: Winter prices per car: Manas airport → Karakol ski base $270 sedan, $360 minivan or $410 4x4; Karakol ski week (airports + 5 ski days) from $680; New Year round trip Almaty ⇄ Issyk-Kul from $780 per minivan. Ask for the car’s winter equipment (tyres, chains) when you book — we confirm it in writing. Pay 50% online to confirm, the rest in cash to the driver — or pay 100% online. Trips under $100 are paid in full online. Prices checked 20 October 2026.
Everything we drive from December to March, with the price per car: Manas airport to Karakol and the ski base, ski days near Bishkek, Jyrgalan and the new Ala-Too Resort, Cholpon-Ata on Issyk-Kul and the New Year trip from Almaty.
Winter prices per car
| Route | Sedan | Minivan | 4x4 | Sprinter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manas airport → Karakol Ski Base 427 km · 7 h · winter 7 h 30 min · one way | $270 | $360 | $410 | $540 |
| Manas airport → Karakol 420 km · 6 h 30 min · winter 7 h 30 min · one way | $250 | $330 | $380 | $500 |
| Karakol airport → Karakol 12 km · 18 min · one way | $30 | $35 | $45 | — |
| Karakol → Jyrgalan 60 km · 1 h 15 min · winter 1 h 30 min · one way | $80 | $95 | $115 | — |
| Bishkek → Karakol 400 km · 6 h · winter 7 h · one way | $230 | $300 | $350 | $460 |
| Manas airport → Cholpon-Ata 275 km · 4 h · one way | $180 | $240 | $270 | $360 |
| Bishkek → Cholpon-Ata 255 km · 3 h 45 min · one way | $170 | $220 | $260 | $340 |
| Bishkek → Chunkurchak 35 km · 54 min · return trip, driver waits | $80 | $110 | $120 | $160 |
| Bishkek → Orlovka 100 km · 1 h 30 min · return trip, driver waits | $110 | $140 | $160 | $210 |
| Bishkek → Too-Ashuu 120 km · 2 h 30 min · return trip, driver waits | $140 | $190 | $210 | $280 |
| Karakol ski week 7 days · airports both ways + 5 ski days with shuttle | $680 | $885 | $1,020 | — |
| New Year: Almaty ⇄ Issyk-Kul out 28–31 December, back 1–10 January | — | $780 | — | $1,200 |
Price for the whole car, one way unless stated; night pickup 23:00–06:00 adds the route's night supplement. Prices checked 20 October 2026.
How we drive in winter
- Winter equipment (tyres, chains): ask when you book — we confirm in writing which car comes.
- Lake-level roads rarely have snow, but the Boom gorge can be icy at dawn and the days are short, so we do not drive it at night in snow: if you land at 3 am, our driver takes you to a Bishkek hotel and you leave at 9:00 for the same price.
- Sedan: 2 ski bags inside. Minivan with roof box: 5–6 pairs of skis or 4 boards.
- If MChS or the Ministry of Transport closes your road, you get a free new date or a full refund.
- Asman Airlines flies to Karakol airport (Bishkek about four times a week in season, Almaty twice a week). Flights get cancelled in bad weather; a pre-booked car is the backup.
Where to ski
Karakol ski base is 7 km up from town: 4 chairlifts, top station 3,040 m. Ala-Too Resort in Jyrgalan, 60 km east of Karakol, has its first phase announced for December 2026. Near Bishkek: Chunkurchak, Orlovka and Too-Ashuu. More: skiing in Kyrgyzstan, Ala-Too Resort status, cat-skiing.
Issyk-Kul in winter
Cholpon-Ata and the north shore are about 4 hours from Manas airport. For New Year we drive from Almaty across Korday: round trip, two dates of your choice.
Questions
How much is a ski transfer from Bishkek airport to Karakol?
Manas airport → Karakol ski base: $270 sedan, $360 minivan or $410 4x4 per car, 427 km, about 7.5 hours. Manas airport → Karakol town: $250 sedan, $330 minivan or $380 4x4.
Do you drive to Karakol at night in winter?
We do not drive the Boom gorge at night in snow: if you land at night, our driver takes you to a Bishkek hotel and you leave at 9:00 for the same price.
What if the road is closed?
If MChS or the Ministry of Transport closes your road, you get a free new date or a full refund.
When does Ala-Too Resort open?
The first phase in Jyrgalan is announced for December 2026. We confirm the date on the status page as soon as it is official.
How do I pay and cancel?
Pay 50% online to confirm, the rest in cash to the driver — or pay 100% online. Trips under $100 are paid in full online. Transfers can be cancelled free of charge up to one day before pickup; trips of 2+ days (ski week, New Year) up to 7 days before the start.