In August this year, a time capsule ceremony was held in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region to mark the start of construction of the ‘Ala-Too Resort’ ski cluster. It will be located across three mountains and feature around 250 kilometers of ski slopes, hotels with 3-, 4-, and 5-star accommodations, modern cable cars, and 4,000 parking spaces.

Plans also include an ethnovillage and wellness centers, and other tourist infrastructure. The resort will be situated at an altitude of 2,250 meters. The ski slopes will stretch from 2,250 up to 3,000 meters. Thanks to a combination of natural and artificial snow, the destination will be able to operate for up to seven months in the year.

It is expected to welcome up to two million visitors annually and create around 4,600 permanent jobs. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov emphasized that “Ala-Too Resort“ is more than just a tourist complex.

It is a large-scale project expected to make a significant contribution to the national economy, showcase the beauty of Kyrgyz nature, and elevate the country’s cultural heritage on the international stage. Once completed, it will be the largest year-round ski resort in Central Asia.

Cable cars will connect three mountains

At the moment, construction of the first phase of the cable car is underway. The project includes two lines with a total length of four kilometers. The first line, stretching 1.75 km, will include twelve towers, two stations, and a garage for storing cabins during adverse weather.

The second line, 2.25 km long, will have 14 towers, two stations, and an additional garage. In the future, the peaks of Jyrgalan, Ak-Bulak, and Boz-Uchuk will be connected by a cable car network. Construction of the first line is scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.

The cable car will be built by the Austrian company DOPPELMAYR. In August, an official meeting took place between the President of Kyrgyzstan and Michael Doppelmayr, chairman of the board of DOPPELMAYR/GARAVENTA Group.

The parties discussed the progress of joint projects, emphasizing the importance of adhering to construction schedules and maintaining quality standards.

Operational plans

Next year, the first phase of the project is scheduled to open, with the ski area in Jyrgalan set to start operating in November. The resort will be ready to welcome both international visitors and domestic tourists.

Kyrgyzstan – the mountain country

94.2 percent of the country lies above 1,000 meters above sea level, and 40.8 percent is above 3,000 meters. The country has three peaks over 7,000 meters and more than 30 mountains over 6,000 meters.

The highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan – Victory Peak – reaches 7,439 meters. It is known for its challenging routes, making it one of the most demanding seven-thousanders in the world.

In Interview: Jarkynbek Maksutov, CEO of “Ala-Too Resort“

SI: Mr. Maksutov, how did the idea of building the resort come about?

Jarkynbek Maksutov: As Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, our president, Sadyr Japarov, proposed creating a world-class ski resort. To bring this idea to life, he invited European experts to select the right location. A team led by Pascal de Thiersant, CEO of Société des Trois Vallées (the company that manages several famous resorts, including Courchevel in France – ed.), spent a year studying our mountains.

In the end, they concluded that the most suitable place would be in the Issyk-Kul region. Following assessments and recommendations from DOPPELMAYR and the European consulting firm “Input Team“, the master plan was refined to align the mountain and urban sections with building codes and local traditions.

What does the name “Ala-Too Resort“ mean?

At first, the project was called “Kyrgyz Courchevel.“ But we decided to change it, because we wanted a name that would be uniquely Kyrgyz. “Ala-Too“ is the name of a mountain range in Kyrgyzstan where snow remains all year round. Literally, it translates as “Colorful Mountains“ (“ala“ means colorful or diverse, and “too“ means mountain).

Who will be the target audience for the resort?

We want the resort to be accessible to all kinds of tourists. The project spans three mountain peaks in the Issyk-Kul region: Jyrgalan, Ak-Bulak, and Boz-Uchuk.

In essence, these will become three distinct resorts. Construction has already started in Jyrgalan – the largest of the three, designed to welcome everyone.

Ak-Bulak will be more for young people and extreme sports enthusiasts: it will also feature a special area town for rock climbing enthusiasts. Boz-Uchuk will be focused on peaceful family vacations. Our global vision is to make Kyrgyzstan the tourism hub of Central Asia.

What advantages will you have compared to European resorts?

The location of our resort is truly unique. First of all, snow lasts here for almost seven months – from late October until the end of May. Second, the resort is only about 60 kilometers from Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most remarkable natural attractions. The swimming season there begins quite early: for example, this year people were already swimming in May.

Imagine: in a single day, a visitor can take a swim in the lake, then drive just an hour and be skiing in the mountains. Of course, the lake is also stunning year-round and worth visiting in any season.

So, this is not just about skiing – it’s about experiencing nature. And beyond that, we will bring in elements of Kyrgyz identity, so our guests can also discover more about the culture of our country and Central Asia as a whole.

Do you plan to use artificial snow?

Yes, we are currently in talks with companies that specialize in artificial snowmaking. We plan to extend the ski season with artificial snow, so it could start about two weeks earlier and end about two weeks later.

What other services might be of interest to the resort from international companies?

We need consultation in constructing ski slopes that meet international standards. Assistance in organizing avalanche safety will also be essential. In addition, we are negotiating with companies that provide ski pass systems.

When do you plan to complete the entire resort?

In Summer we announced an auction for land plots at the Jyrgalan resort for the construction of hotels, restaurants cafes, and other commercial facilities. Out of 49 projects, 14 have already been sold, and construction has already begun.

According to the agreements, the winners are required to complete construction and hand over the facilities within two years. The cable car, built by DOPPELMAYR, is scheduled to be completed in May. It will operate in test mode for two months, and if everything goes according to plan, we will be ready to welcome the first tourists in November 2026.

The Jyrgalan resort is planned to be fully completed by 2028, and the entire Ala-Too Resort project is expected to be finished by 2032.

© Pixabay

Which companies participated in the auction? Will companies from other countries be invited?

Most of the winners of the auction are citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. But in the near future, at the end of September, we plan to announce the second phase of the auction, inviting participants from other countries.

Foreign citizens will be offered land plots on a 49-year lease with the option to extend. All buildings must be constructed according to our project plans, following a unified construction code and style.

The republican budget is currently funding roads, electricity, sewage, and drinking water systems, paving the way for further development.

Interview: Ekaterina Zakharova