Our third experience of a yurt camp was at Karkyra Glamping, and as the name suggests, it was more upmarket than the previous two.
The camp was located in Kyrgyzstan’s Karkyra Valley, and right on the border with Kazakhstan. As its an area offering winter skiing, the camp is open all year round.
It comprised of 10 ordinary and six VIP yurts, which appeared to have French style doors. The regular yurts were on a decked area in two rows, and our front row yurt overlooked a meadow full of long grasses and wild flowers which led down to the river forming the border. The camp also had several bright yellow tents, which looked very flimsy, and a campfire which wasn’t lit during our stay as the weather was bad.
Our yurt had two single beds with plain covers, and bedside lights. A table had a flask for hot water and tea and coffee making facilities, bottled water, and tissues but it’s location made the chest behind it a little inaccessible. We were provided with two director’s style chairs for sitting on the deck and we had an electric heater and a wood burning stove, which is only lit in winter. It was decorative in style with a patterned felt rug covering the Lino, ornamental black, white and gold band around the edge and a colourful patchwork wall hanging. Felt yurt slippers with pointed toes were provided as it was shoes off and there were plenty of plug points and a hanging rail. The lighting was good, and power was provided all the time. Complimentary WiFi was available, but only in the dining area.
Unlike our other yurts, this had the luxury of a large ensuite bathroom yurt. The small shower cubicle had a large rain head shower and lots of hot water. There was also a very good hairdryer, but unfortunately, you had to duck to go through the door.
Meals were served in a permanent, huge, rather soulless dining area with picnic benches and tables and a mezzanine area. The TV was constantly on, and appeared to keep the staff entertained, as along with another couple we were the only guests.
A glass window behind the buffet table allowed us to see into the kitchen. Meals were very good, and dinner comprised of lentil soup, Greek salad, lamb with vegetables, an excellent chicken fricassee, and rice with an assortment of bread and then honey cake, biscuits or fruit to follow. Breakfast was a similarly good affair with muesli, yoghurt, porridge, cheese samsa, pancakes, meat filled rolls, cold meats and cheeses, tomato and cucumber, pink sausages and fried eggs, fresh fruit and biscuits, breads and jams etc.
Because of the camp’s location, sandwiched between the unpaved main road we arrived on and the river, there was little to do, and walking within the camp was not easy due to the wet long grasses.
Whilst in theory, this camp provided a more luxurious experience, we enjoyed the Ak-Sai Travel Yurt Camp at Son Kul much more, despite the lack of an en suite.
