Paragliding in Kyrgyzstan
Two completely different things happen under the same word. Pick the one you are.
Kyrgyzstan is 94% mountain, has grass launches, empty landing fields the size of counties, and a cloudbase over the Suusamyr plateau that routinely goes higher than anything in the Alps. It also has almost no flying infrastructure: no lift network, no public airspace app, no avalanche bulletin, and one road into most valleys.
That combination is either the reason to come or the reason not to, depending on which of you is reading. So this site is built as two separate sites that share a domain.
What we are
We run the ground: pilots, vehicles, drivers, guesthouses, permits, radios and retrieval across the Chui valley, Karakol and Suusamyr. Flights are flown by certified tandem pilots and, for the pilot programmes, led by a working cross-country guide. The contracting entity, the local licence number and the pilot's name go on every confirmation before you pay anything.
What we are not
We are not a school — you cannot learn to fly here from zero yet. We do not run SIV yet, because we have no instructor and no rescue boat under contract, and we say so on the page rather than take the deposit. We do not promise flyable days, and the season table shows you what we actually expect month by month, separated from what we have actually logged.
First flight
You have never flown and do not own a wing. A certified pilot flies, you sit in front.
from $170
For pilots
You have a rating, a wing and an instrument. Guided XC, vol-biv, or retrieval bought by the day.
Season
| Month | Expected | Good for | ✈ Expected | ✈ Logged by us |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | Chon-Tash and the south only. Snow still on the high launches. Thermals weak but clean; good for a first flight, not for distance. | first flights | 3–4 of 7 | not logged yet |
| May | Karakol opens. Unstable and showery — the month with the widest spread between a great week and a wasted one. | first flights | 3–5 of 7 | not logged yet |
| June | Suusamyr starts working. Strong air, early overdevelopment, tasks finish before 15:00. Good XC month for pilots who launch early. | pilots and first flights | 4–5 of 7 | not logged yet |
| July | The highest cloudbase of the year and the most violent afternoons. Big distances are flown in July and so is most of the drama. | pilots and first flights | 4–5 of 7 | not logged yet |
| August | Similar to July, slightly calmer. Peak tourist season on Issyk-Kul, so accommodation is the constraint, not the weather. | pilots and first flights | 4–5 of 7 | not logged yet |
| September | The month we would pick. Stable air, high visibility, thermals still strong enough for distance, the lake still warm, and the Alps are finished for the season. | pilots and first flights | 5–6 of 7 | not logged yet |
| October | First half only, and only at Karakol and Chon-Tash. Short working window around midday, cold at altitude, superb light. | first flights | 3–4 of 7 | not logged yet |
| November – March | No thermal flying. The Karakol lift runs for skiing and speedflying happens, which is a different sport with a different risk profile. | closed | — | not logged yet |
Answers
- How much does paragliding in Kyrgyzstan cost?
- Is paragliding in Kyrgyzstan safe?
- When is the best time to paraglide in Kyrgyzstan?
- Do I need any experience to fly?
- What are the weight and age limits?
- What should I wear and bring?
- How long is the flight actually?
- Can I paraglide on a day trip from Bishkek?
Tell us your dates
Send the dates you are in the country and we will come back with the slots that have the best chance of usable air. A person reads it and answers within one working day.
Or just get the season report
One email at the end of each season with the flyable days we actually logged, and one more if the SIV course opens. Nothing else, ever.