10-day Horse riding tour in the land of the nomads

Arrival at Manas Airport in Bishkek where our team will pick you up and will drive you to the capital. Standard check-in at hotel after 14:00. 

A sightseeing tour of Bishkek is planned. We will visit sights such as the central square Ala Too with its monuments and the Oak park.

After lunch at the local restaurant, we visit the famous market, Osh bazar (closed on Mondays). Just as you step the market, you plunge into the real oriental atmosphere: an interminable stream of people, a big variety of goods and colors.

Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.

Meals included: not included

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel)

Note: it is highly recommended to book an extra night at the hotel, as most flights to Bishkek arrive late at night or early in the morning.

After breakfast in Bishkek, we go towards Burana Tower.

Burana Tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. It is close to the city of Tokmok. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle and three mausoleums – that’s all what last out of the ancient Balasagyn town that was founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.

Then we head to the Tar Suu village located in Chon Kemin Valley, known for its beauty and the rich diversity of animals and plants. You can go for a walk in the village to explore the lifestyle of the local people.

Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner 

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kemin Guesthouse)

After breakfast in the guest house, we start 2-day horse trek to the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul.

We head towards the pastures of Akkytay, around noon we will climb to the point where we will have a panoramic view of the entire valley. We have a picnic there. Horses can rest too.

After lunch we continue our trek. We go towards the Kalmak Ashu pass (3530m).

We install the tents on the foot of the pass. Dinner around the fire and rest in the tents.

Horse riding: 6 hours 

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Tent

Breakfast in the camp. Then we take our horses and we go down towards Issyk Kul Lake. Picnic on the road. At around 15 hours we reach the point where our trek ends.

We are already in the region of Issyk Kul in Balykchy. Your driver picks you up. Your horse guide returns with his horses to Chon Kemin.

You go to the guesthouse where you rest and take a shower. You can swim in the lake later and relax a bit on the beach.

Horse riding: 6 hours

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Ethno Guesthouse) 

After breakfast in the guesthouse we go towards Kochkor village.

On the way we will see the Orto tokoy reservoir, the first reservoir built in Kyrgyzstan in 1956. It is used for irrigation of agricultural lands in the Chui region and southern Kazakhstan.

Upon reaching Kochkor, we will take part in a master class on crafting traditional felt products.

After lunch, we will continue our journey to Kyzart, which serves as a starting point for trekking and horse-riding routes toward Son Kul.

In Kyzart you can take leisurely walk, relax and enjoy the serene mountain environment.

Dinner and overnight in the guest house.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kyzart Guesthouse) 

Breakfast at the guest house. Transfer to the starting point.

Today 2-day horse trek to Son Kul Lake begins. We will ride down through the Kilemche valley. The valley’s name means in Kyrgyz language “like a carpet”, and this carpet is presented by the variety of mountain herbs and alpine flowers covering all the nearby slopes.

Picnic on the way is planned.

We arrive at the shepherds’ yurt camp where we spend the night. Dinner in the yurt.

Horse riding: 17 km, + – 200m, 4h

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Yurt camp

Note: yurt capacity 4-6 people. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp. 

After breakfast we continue our trek.

Horseback ride provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of these places and feel a part of the nature. Today we cross Tuz Ashu pass (3 400m). From the pass Son Kul Lake seems very small, but as we go down and approach the lake, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake.

When we arrive in the yurts camp, you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle and their customs.

Diner and overnight in the yurt camp.

Horse riding: 14 km, +800m, -400m, 5h

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Note: 4-6 people per yurt. Toilets and shower are outside.

Accommodation: Yurt camp

Breakfast in the yurt.

Today you will have time to learn a lot about the way of life of the Kyrgyz shepherds, the seminomads, go horseback riding on the large meadows with an unforgettable view of the lake and take pictures of this magical place.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Note: 4-6 people per yurt. Toilets and shower are outside.

Accommodation: Yurt camp

Breakfast in the yurt camp. Transfer to Bishkek.

We will return to the civilization by descending from Kalmak Ashu pass (3400m) and through Boom gorge. You can take pictures of this beauty and breathtaking sceneries.

Lunch on the road in the café in Kochkor.

Upon arrival in Bishkek we will have time to visit the local market and buy some presents.

Dinner in local restaurant.

Meals included: breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel) 

Transfer to the airport. Departure.