Kochkor Shyrdak Workshops
Кочкор
The gateway town to Song-Kul, famous for shyrdak, traditional Kyrgyz appliqué felt rugs. Visitors can tour women's cooperative workshops and try their hand at making them.
Kochkor is the main gateway village to Song-Kul. Its community-based tourism (CBT) office can arrange vehicle hire, yurt stays and horse-riding trips. The town is known for shyrdak: dyed wool felt is cut into symmetrical sheep-horn motifs and then stitched together into rugs. Women's cooperatives such as Altyn Kol and family workshops welcome visitors to watch the process, and you can book a half-day handicraft session. Felt rugs, slippers and wall hangings make good souvenirs. The town centre has a small local history museum. It takes about 3–4 hours by minibus from Bishkek.
Opening hours
Workshop about 09:00–17:00 (home workshops by reservation)