Join our luxury yurt camp in rural Chok Tal, Kyrgyzstan

Details

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  Description

  Hi! We are Bermet and Ian, a Kyrgyz-Canadian couple getting a small yurt camp and cafe/restaurant up and running on Bermet's (my Kyrgyz wife) family land very close to the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. We’ve been putting a lot of work (and savings!) into it over the last few months and now we’re looking for a few enthusiastic volunteers to help us finish setting things up and start welcoming guests.
  
  It’s a real family project nothing fancy, just authentic Kyrgyz hospitality, beautiful lake and mountain views, and the chance to live that classic nomadic vibe for a while.
  
  There are four or five family members living at the yurt camp and working together. We are all very much involved in the building, landscaping, planning and marketing of both the restaurant/cafe and the yurt accommodation.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Culture

  

  Animals

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Camping

  

  Beach

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You’ll basically live and work with our small Canadian-Kyrgyz near the shore of Issyk-Kul It’s an opportunity to dive into everyday family and nomadic life in one of the nicest parts of Central Asia.
  
  Meals around the table or by the fire plov, beshbarmak, fresh bread, lots of hot tea, and whatever else the family cooks. We like to chat and laugh, sometimes until late into the evening!
  
  Evening entertainment:
  Storytelling, Kyrgyz songs, folklore, music, playing games, or just quiet time alone.
  Joining local evening events when they happen (village gatherings, parties, etc.).
  
  Horse riding with the local herders, short hikes in the mountains, beach time on the lake, or stargazing on clear nights.
  
  What you’ll pick up from us:
  How to build and maintain traditional yurts.
  Some useful Kyrgyz/Russian phrases for daily life, plus customs and how hospitality works here.
  Local cooking, gardening, and simple living.
  Real talk about Kyrgyz family life, history, and the mix of old traditions with modern days.
  
  Our plan is start our business operations by first opening the cafe/restaurant in July and early August. We hope to welcome our first overnight guests in time for the World Nomad Games, which begin on August 31.
  
  What we want from you:
  We love hearing your stories and experiences! I’m Canadian and used to run an English language school back in Toronto for over 25 years, so I’m always happy to share travel stories, ideas for the camp, or whatever. Bermet and her family enjoy learning about how people live in Western countries, new recipes, music, games, photos, or anything you want to share. It’s very much a two-way thing.
  
  The whole setup will be pretty relaxed and friendly. We hope you will leave with good memories, new friends, and a much better understanding of real Kyrgyz life. And we hope to learn something new from every volunteer too.

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  Help

  We’re building a small luxury yurt camp on family land near Issyk-Kul Lake. Volunteers will work side-by-side with us (and Bermet’s family) on all the hands-on stuff needed to get it running. We want it to be a a friendly and collaborative vibe. We will figure things out together as we go.
  
  Typical days (about 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week, with some flexibility):
  
  Site work - Landscaping, making paths, some gardening, setting up outdoor seating areas, and getting everything ready for guests.
  
  Camp operations & hospitality - Welcoming guests, occasional light cleaning and preparing yurts, and just making sure things run smoothly.
  
  Other things - Taking photos or short videos for our social media, basic repairs, helping to organize simple activities like horse riding or nature walks, or whatever else needs doing that day.
  
  The work is pretty varied - one day you might be building or gardening, the next helping with guests. No previous experience necessary. A good attitude, reliability, and willingness to help and learn are what matter most. We’ll show you everything.
  In return, you’ll get free accommodation (in a yurt), home-cooked meals, and free time to explore the lake, go hiking, ride horses, swim, or just relax in one of the most beautiful spots in Kyrgyzstan.
  
  This is a genuine chance to live with a Kyrgyz family, experience real nomadic culture.
  
  We’re looking for adaptable, respectful, and positive people who want to contribute and have a meaningful and fun stay.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Kyrgyz: Fluent
  Russian: Fluent
  Korean: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  A traditional Kyrgyz yurt. They’re roomy, insulated, and have a proper mattress, pillows, blankets, some lighting, and basic furniture. Clean sleeping space, with shared toilet and shower.
  Super peaceful spot with views of the lake and mountains - perfect for chilling after work.
  
  We’ll feed you three meals a day - all local foods. Whenever possible we like to eat together as a family, which is always more fun.
  Tea, coffee, and snacks are there whenever you want them. Feel free to cook your own food sometimes too if you’re in the mood. It’s simple, real yurt life - nothing fancy, but comfortable, clean, and safe. You’ll feel part of the family while we work together.

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  What else ...

  Things you can do during your free time:
  Swim, relax on the shore, or rent a paddleboard/kayak right nearby. The water is incredibly clear and beautiful in summer.
  Short hikes with beautiful views, or longer ones if you’re up for it. The area around Issyk-Kul has some stunning spots.
  Horse riding is very easy to arrange with local herders.
  Cholpon-Ata (15–20 minutes away) - You can see petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings), the open-air museum, nice beaches, cafés, and boat trips on the lake (including sunset cruises).
  Grigorievka and Semenovka Gorges - gorgeous mountain valleys with alpine meadows, forests, and small lakes. Perfect for day hikes.
  Day trip to Karakol (about 3 hours) for the wooden mosque, cathedral, markets, hot springs, and Jeti-Oguz Gorge (Seven Bulls rocks).
  Hot springs, local villages, or just relaxing with a book by the water.
  
  Transport:
  We’re in a quiet spot, but getting around is straightforward. Shared taxis (marshrutkas) and private taxis are cheap and frequent. We can help you organize rides, and volunteers can share taxis together for day trips. If you have an international driving license, you could also rent a car.
  There’s good mobile signal and we will be setting up fast and reliable Wi-Fi at the camp. So it will be easy to stay in touch or plan your own adventures.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  There’s good mobile signal and we will be setting up fast and reliable Wi-Fi at the camp. So it will be easy to stay in touch or plan your own adventures.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Liza

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