Cholpon-Ata Airport

Cholpon-Ata Airport (UAFG) is currently abandoned and no longer operational for regular passenger flights, having ceased operations in 2003. It has been replaced by Tamchy Airport, also known as Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU/UCFL), which serves the region. Therefore, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences in the traditional sense regarding flight operations, facilities, or services for UAFG.

What Urban Explorers and Visitors Note About the Abandoned Site:

• Urban Exploration Opportunity: The abandoned Cholpon-Ata Airport offers a unique site for urban exploration, with remnants of its Soviet-era terminal building and runway visible.
• Historical Relic: Visitors find it fascinating as a relic of Soviet-era aviation infrastructure, providing a glimpse into the past.
• Proximity to Petroglyphs: The former landing strip is notably located near an open-air petroglyph museum, a significant historical attraction in Cholpon-Ata.

Common Observations and Challenges (due to abandonment):

• No Operational Facilities: There are no modern terminal facilities, amenities, or services available, as the airport is in ruins and slowly crumbling.
• Decay and Vandalism: The site exhibits signs of decay, shattered glass, and vandalism, with parts of the terminal showing fresh damage on top of old ruins.
• Lack of Official Services: As an abandoned airport, there are no security checkpoints, customs, or immigration services. The former runway is now reportedly used as a road by cars.
• No Transportation Connections or Parking: There are no designated airport transportation connections or formal parking facilities for an active airport, though faded markings of the old car park can still be seen.

For any current air travel to the Cholpon-Ata region, travelers utilize the operational Tamchy Airport (Issyk-Kul International Airport, IKU/UCFL), located nearby.