In period of January – December, 2007 there were 668 visitors. Male: 336 persons (50, 3 %), female: 332 persons (49, 7%).

The total number of KCBTA TIO orders during January-December 2007 is 684 (tour – operators and organizations: 385 (56 %) and individual tourists: 299 (44 %). Number of tourists served: 3 523. Number of person/days: 5 284. Average stay of one tourist:  1, 5 days

By March 2008, KCBTA consists of 17 CBT groups including the ones with their first year of operation – CBT Chong-Kemin (Chui region), CBT Alay, CBT Sary-Mogol (Osh region), CBT Batken (Batken region), CBT Kerben (Jalalabat region).

Altyn Kol, the producers of the felt rugs is a NGO of craftswomen with over 200 members in remote areas of Naryn region in Kyrgyzstan on the border to China. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union, they took the initiative to escape widespread poverty to nourish their families. On the roots of century old traditions and on their own creativity they developed unique artist products, the Shyrdak and the Ala-Kiyiz.

The Unique and Creative Designs of Our Shyrdaks and Ala Kiyiz at Our Store in Kochkor;

Our Handicrafts Production Seminars;
Our Ancient Handicrafts Techniques Tours;
Our New Line of Handmade Yurts;
Our Bi-Annual Exhibition in Bishkek at the Historical Museum, May 24th to 27th;
Our Annual Sheep to Shyrdak Festival (Felt Festival) in Partnership with CBT Kochkor in Kochkor region, July 7th;
Our New Summer Shop at Son-Kol Lake in partnership with Shepherd's Life;
Our Annual Kyrgyz Heritage Festival in Chui Oblast near Bishkek,  June 30th. 

A Brief History of Altyn Kol

For many years in Kyrgyzstan, shyrdak production was traditionally for household use. A large, ornate shyrdak was the pride of a household, but in modern times, the tradition began to be forgotten.

That was until the winter of 1996, when a group of women in the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan realized that making traditional carpets was a resource for assisting them in difficult economic times. These women had the needed skills and they had the will to work hard, but they lacked business and marketing experience. So that spring, the group began receiving assistance from the Helvetas Agro-project, the predecessor of the Rural Advisory Services in Naryn. 

Soon they had their first sales exhibition and they had a terrific response from clients in Bishkek. Their feedback encouraged the group to introduce new colors and patterns into their repertoire, as well as emphasizing the need for quality management in production. These adjustments led to increased sales in the bi-annual exhibitions, and in the summer of 1997, the group produced 100 small shyrdaks for export, confirming that a market for their goods existed outside of Kyrgyzstan.

Encouraged by their success, the women set about improving their skills. In the autumn of 1997, more than 100 of them attended sewing training in Kochkor. As the group grew, and the members increased their skill, it became clear that a formal organization was necessary. In the spring of 1998, more than 200 women formed Altyn Kol, an NGO with the aim of generating income by producing and selling felt carpets and defending the interests of private felt carpet producers. Soon, other producers became interested. The women of At-Bashy, Ak-Talaa and other Naryn regions participated in Altyn Kol's seventh exhibition.

Despite the success, each shyrdak produced by Altyn Kol remains a unique thing. It is designed and prepared individually, using the indigenous knowledge Kyrgyz of patterns, symbols, coloring and sewing techniques. When making a shyrdak, the women act together, keeping carpet production as a social and economic role in their lives.

The women Altyn Kol invite you to visit their places of production throughout the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. Each summer they provide many opportunities to those traveling in our country to learn how they might also create their own unique memory of Kyrgyzstan in the form of a shyrdak.

Also, please visit our

Shyrdak Symbols Page

to learn more about our designs.

This Summer, Come Visit Kyrgyzstan & Experience:www.altyn-kol.com

Our Sale Exhibition in Switzerland in Andeer village, Graubuenden, August 10th to 21st.

For further information on dates and times, please feel free to contact us by email.

Kyrgyzstan (official name: The Kyrgyz Republic) is located in Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan's borders are with the former Soviet Union republics of: Kazakhstan, to the north (1,113km long), Uzbekistan, to the west (1,374km long), Tajikistan, to the south (972km long), and China to the south and east (1,049km long).

Area: Stretching 900km from east to west and 425km from north to south, Kyrgyzstan's total landmass is 198,5 thousand square kilometers.

Mountains: The Kyrgyz Republic is a mountainous country. Ninety-four percent of the country is over 1,000m above sea level and about forty-one percent is over 3,000m. The average elevation is 2,750m; the highest elevation is 7,439m; and the lowest is 401m. The highest points of the Tien-Shan mountain range are the Pamir (7,439m) and Khan-Tengri (6,995m) summits.

Water Resources: 1,923 mountain lakes and about 40,000 rivers and streams (the Naryn River crosses most of the country before flowing into the Syr Darya on its way to the Aral Sea). The biggest lakes are Yssyk-Kol (6,236 sq. km), Son-Kol (278 sq. km), and Chatyr-Kol (171 sq. km).

Climate: The climate of Kyrgyzstan is continental, with a relevantly small amount of atmospheric precipitation. On average there are 247 sunny days annually. In the lowlands, the temperatures vary from -4° / -6°C (21 / 24°F) in January to 16/24°C (61 / 75°F) in July. In the highlands, the temperatures vary from -14° / -20°C (7 / -4°F) in January, to 8 / 12°C (46 / 54°F) in July.

Tourism Seasons:
Jailoo (high altitude summer pastures): Mid-May - early October
Trekking / climbing: Year-round
Hiking at 4,000m ASL: Late June - late October
Horseback riding: March to November (South), April to October (North)

Time: GMT+5

Capital: Bishkek

Population: More then 5 million

Ethnic Groups: Kyrgyz 66,9%, Uzbek 14,1%, Russian 10,7%, Dungan 1,1%, Uighur 1,0%, other 6,2%

Religions: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%  

National Currency: 1som = 100 tyiyn. 
The Kyrgyz economy is basically cash based.

Electricity Supply: 220 Volt, 50 Hz

Water: In cities it is usually safe to drink tap water but bottled spring and mineral water is available throughout the country

Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian (official). Many people in the capital speak English.

Airlines serving Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan Airlines, Aeroflot, Pulkovo Airlines, S7, UK based BMI, Turkish Airlines, Uzbek Airlines, China Xinjiang Airlines.  

Airlines serving Almaty (250km north, Kazakhstan): Lufthansa, KLM

Visa: 30-day tourist visas available to most nationalities upon arrival at Manas International Airport, Bishkek

Consular Point at the International Airport "Manas"

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