Kyrgyzstan’s Hills Come Alive With The Sound Of Nomads

The yurt city nestled in the bowl-shaped valley of Kyrchyn Gorge, the second, and most spectacular, venue of the 2018 Nomad Games.

Young locals take the low road as their horse clatters through a mountain stream on the way to the opening ceremony at Kyrchyn Gorge.

Horsemen fight through clouds of dust during a simulated battle as part of the kickoff.

A traditional game that earned hollers from the crowd saw a male rider gallop after a young woman, stretching for a kiss. Only a handful of the men managed the risky peck before the young women turned the tables and thundered after the men with whips in hand.

Riders stand atop their horses as they speed past the crowds.

Spectators gather to watch the action. According to AFP, around 1,000 foreign visitors attended these games. Along with the apparent increase in tourists from the 2016 event, there was a noticeable increase in peddling, with men attempting to sell horseback rides and selfies with eagles. RFE/RL was approached by one young local trying to sell a map that had come free as part of the press goodie bag.

Another traditional Turkic challenge played out as jousters engaged in high-speed passes. Amid the dust-clouded chaos of the ceremony, it was sometimes hard to tell if tumbles were choreographed or painfully accidental.

As the opening ceremony drew to a loudly applauded close, VIPs choppered out of the gorge and locals tried out other entertainment, including this man-made lakelet.

Nazira Ivanova rehearses with her bandmates before taking the stage at an event for traditional music. The song, which stopped several passersby in their tracks, was "about love," she told RFE/RL. 

Elderly friends bask in evening light as the crowds of Kyrchyn begin to thin.

A boy runs a fast-paced high-wire act. The young man ascended the single rope on the left backward without a safety cord, though he harnessed himself in for his trick runs.

Kyrgyz in traditional clothing.

Two archers head for the carpark.

A woman leaves her yurt with a pile of dishes as the games' attendees settle in for the night in the chilly mountain venue.

This year marks the last time Kyrgyzstan will host the biannual event, at least for a while. Turkey's decision to host the 2020 Nomad Games was confirmed on September 1, after talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sooronbai Jeenbekov.