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For the first time, the international equestrian adventure race known as The Gallops will be held in Central Asia, with the 2025 edition taking place around the scenic mountain lake of Son-Kul in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region. Scheduled for July 19-27, Gallops-2025 will begin in the village of Kyzart. Over five days, participants will cover more than 200 kilometers on horseback, navigating a route encircling Lake Son-Kul. This unique event, inspired by the spirit of the Paris-Dakar rally, combines elements of orienteering and endurance riding. While not a traditional competition, The Gallops tests participants’ stamina, solidarity, and self-discipline, making it a challenge of both physical and mental endurance. Organized in collaboration with local government authorities, Gallops-2025 is expected to attract around 100 riders, including professionals and VIPs from more than 15 countries. Participants will include public figures such as actors, athletes, members of royal families, and media personalities. According to the office of the Kyrgyz president’s plenipotentiary representative in the Naryn region, the event has already garnered significant attention from global media and social platforms, bolstering Kyrgyzstan’s profile as a destination for adventure tourism. Past editions of The Gallops were held in Oman (2014), Morocco (2018), India (2019), and Jordan (2021).
Farmers in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region are receiving specialized training to help them tap into the growing ecotourism market. Organized by the Kyrgyz Department of Tourism, the courses aim to equip rural communities with the skills and tools necessary to turn their agricultural operations into attractive destinations for eco-conscious travelers. During the sessions, local farmers were introduced to tourism opportunities specific to their region. They also learned how to register and promote their services on major digital platforms such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Google Maps, and 2GIS. A key focus of the training was on storytelling and digital marketing. Participants were taught how to showcase the uniqueness of their farms through reviews, videos, and visual content, tools seen as vital for attracting visitors in the digital age. Ecotourism, and agritourism in particular, has seen a notable rise in popularity among international visitors, especially from Europe. Kyrgyzstan’s rural areas attract travelers seeking an authentic glimpse into traditional life and rich local culture. The Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) notes that rural tourism is expanding steadily. In a recent report, the association highlighted the importance of proactive promotion. “The main thing is to position your business as a tourist attraction and actively promote it, attracting potential partners and customers. Income will depend on effort and imagination, because tourism is about selling new experiences and positive emotions,” KATO stated. With tourism continuing to diversify in Kyrgyzstan, initiatives like this are seen as essential to empowering local communities and fostering sustainable economic development in remote regions like Naryn.
