Royal Gate Yurt

Wood floors, smoothed and pale, run underfoot in each yurt at Royal Gate, meant for bare feet or the felt slippers left by the bed. The camp sits on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Tosor, its water turning turquoise under the Tien Shan peaks. Nine or so felt tents, each 20 square metres, are dressed in national patterns and fitted with electricity, a private shower and toilet. Beds run from one double to arrangements of two or three singles, so a yurt can sleep up to four. It is a compact stay, but a considered one. In the restaurant, national dishes sit alongside broader international cooking, served in a room that mixes modern lines with Turkic detail. Evenings often turn to folklore, with musicians on traditional instruments, or to falconry demonstrations on the grounds. An open-air amphitheatre hosts film screenings after dark, and a viewing deck looks out over the lake and the mountains beyond. The beach lies a short walk away, some 100 to 150 metres from camp. Guests based here are close to some of the region's sharper landscapes: Fairy Tale Canyon is 15 minutes off, Barskoon Waterfall about 45, and Jeti Oguz roughly an hour to ninety minutes by road. Airport transfers can be arranged directly through the camp.