Where to stay in a yurt
Other types of stay
l. Son Kol 
Booking yurt camps in Kyrgyzstan with Meiman
The yurt is the traditional dwelling of the Central Asian nomads and one of the main reasons travellers come to Kyrgyzstan. Meiman lists 171 of them across the country: at high-altitude Song-Kul, along the shores of Issyk-Kul, in the mountain valleys around Karakol and in Naryn Province. The season usually runs from late May to September; in the high mountains it is shorter, June to August.
Where to stay
Song-Kul is the main yurt destination in the country and one of the most authentic experiences in Central Asia. The lake sits at 3,000 metres, reached by unpaved roads over passes that open only in summer; the camps stand right by the water and off-grid β that is the format. Issyk-Kul is the accessible option: 96 yurts, mostly on the southern shore β Kadzhi-Say, Tong, Bokonbaevo β easy to combine with beach time. The mountains around Karakol, Altyn-Arashan and Jeti-Oguz, work for trekkers spending a night in a yurt between stages.
What you can book
A yurt camp β several yurts on a shared site with showers, toilets and a kitchen, usually with three meals a day; it suits families, groups and first-time visitors. A single yurt β a private option for a family or a small group, usually hosted by local owners on their own land. A yurt with a horse tour β the stay plus a one to three day riding programme, especially popular at Song-Kul.
What is included
Typically a bed in a yurt, linen, shared shower and toilet, breakfast. Lunch and dinner with home-cooked food, a banya, horse riding and a transfer from the main road are usually extra. Electricity is limited at some camps and Wi-Fi is rare outside Issyk-Kul. That is part of the format: a yurt stay is not glamping, it is the real nomadic dwelling.
How and when to book
Camps are put up by late May and taken down at the end of September; at Song-Kul the season is shorter, mid-June to early September depending on snow at the passes. For July and August, book two to four weeks ahead. Some camps confirm a booking right away, others are confirmed by the host after checking the dates. Once it is confirmed, you pay a deposit via QR or by card: Meiman holds it until you check in and only then passes it to the host; the rest is paid on arrival.