Discover the enchanting landscapes of Kyrgyzstan through our unforgettable Horse Riding Adventure Tour, available in July and August. This stunning destination, hailed by The Telegraph’s expert Chris Moss as a premier spot for horseback riding, invites you to traverse its rugged terrain and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Kyrgyz culture, deeply rooted in nomadic traditions.
On this extraordinary journey, you’ll ride through breathtaking valleys and navigate majestic mountain passes, uncovering the essence of the Kyrgyz lifestyle while enjoying the warm hospitality of local families. Spend your nights in traditional yurts, taste authentic nomadic cuisine, and experience the stunning beauty surrounding Son Kul Lake.
Designed for riders with some experience, you’ll spend 4 to 6 hours daily in the saddle, traversing altitudes from 800 to 2,500 meters above sea level. Your adventure kicks off in Bishkek, where you’ll enjoy a city tour before heading to Kochkor village. From there, you’ll ride across picturesque landscapes, including the expansive Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo and the serene shores of Son-Kul Lake.
Each day of riding culminates in delightful dinners and cozy accommodations, ensuring you feel rejuvenated for the adventures ahead. Whether you’re sipping kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) with locals or exploring ancient stone circles, this tour promises an immersive experience filled with breathtaking sights and cultural encounters. Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Kyrgyzstan—where adventure and tradition await at every turn!
Upon your arrival in Bishkek, we will welcome you and assist with your transfer to the hotel. After resting until noon, you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Bishkek, visiting notable landmarks such as the central square and Osh Bazaar, an iconic oriental market. In the afternoon, we will drive to Kochkor village (approximately 260 km) with a lunch stop along the way. Optionally, you can visit a felt carpet workshop, where you can purchase handcrafted souvenirs or even create your own. End the day with a delightful dinner at a local family’s home, experiencing the warmth of Kyrgyz hospitality. Overnight accommodation will be in a family-run guesthouse.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After an early breakfast, we will transfer you to the Jumgal Valley, the starting point of your horse riding adventure, located below the scenic Kyzart Pass. You will meet your guide and the horsemen who will accompany you on this journey. Today’s ride will take you across the Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, a vast and relatively flat expanse of grassland, before continuing over the Chaar-Archa Pass, which rises to 3,061 meters. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at Kilemche jailoo, where you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the towering Baba-Ata Mountain, reaching heights of 4,400 meters. After lunch, you will ride through the picturesque Jalgyz Karagai Pass, located at 3,400 meters, as you traverse the Song-Kol Mountains. You can expect to ride for around 5 to 6 hours today, culminating in dinner and an overnight stay at a yurt camp.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Start your day with breakfast before embarking on another captivating horse ride along the shores of Son-Kul Lake. During this 4 to 6-hour trek, you’ll encounter local herders who live and graze their livestock in the meadows surrounding the lake from June to September. This is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the wilderness and freedom of traditional nomadic life. Along the way, you may even have the chance to sample kymyz, a traditional Kyrgyz drink made from fermented mare’s milk. After a day of riding, enjoy dinner and spend the night in yurts.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunchbox/Dinner
Following breakfast, you’ll ride for approximately 4 to 6 hours, exploring the southern shore of Son-Kul Lake. Here, you’ll discover ancient stone circles known as «Tash-Tulga» or «Tulga-Tash,» which means «heart of stone.» These structures date back to the 1st century BC and are known in archaeological literature as «eight-stone memorial fences.» After a fascinating day of exploration, you will dine and spend the night at the Ak Sai yurt camp.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunchbox/Dinner
Enjoy breakfast before embarking on the journey back to Bishkek, which covers about 350 km. During the drive, you will stop to visit the Burana Tower, an 11th-century remnant of the ancient city of Balasagun, an important location along the Great Silk Road. Upon arrival in Bishkek, you will be accommodated in a charming private hotel for a restful evening.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
On your final day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your transfer to the airport. This marks the end of your unforgettable Horse Riding Adventure Tour in Kyrgyzstan, filled with rich experiences and cherished memories of this beautiful country.
Meals: Breakfast
All transportation throughout the tour English speaking guide Horses for the client Double room accommodation in Bishkek and Kochkor Four-people accommodation in the yurt Meal based on full board from breakfast in Day 1 to lunch in Day 5 Meal based on full board from breakfast in Day 1 to lunch in Day 5 Boiled water during horse riding days
Any Private Expenses Tips are not included, but would be appreciated Travel insurance Consular fees for tourist visa Dinner on Day 5 Horses for luggage
Conditions:
1) Yurt accommodation facilities:
Yurts included in the itinerary will accommodate 4-5 pax.
• Jaman-Echki yurt camp offers shower and normal toilet facilities outside.
• CBT Yurts in Tulpar-Tash are simple yurts of the shepherds. Simple food. The toilet facilities are very simple, no shower.
• Tash-Dobo Yurt camp offers shower and normal toilet facilities outside.
2) Horse and luggage:
You will ride the shepherds Kyrgyz horses. They are not big but very strong and able to make long distances on the high mountain trails.
Horse will be equipped with traditional Kyrgyz saddles, similar to American Cowboys saddles. It also includes bags where you can store your personal belongings.
You might like taking part of your luggage with yourself. Saddle bags provide enough space for it. The rest of your luggage will be delivered to the last yurt camp.
Also, there are luggage horses available at additional cost to carry your bags only.
Supplement for luggage horse is 30 USD per day
What will you need?
Down jacket, warm sweater, silk sleeping bag liner, rain gear (waterproof trousers should have an opening on the outside at the bottom of the leg in order to put on and take off without removing your trekking boots), 2-3 pairs of warm socks, waterproof trekking boots, gloves, sunglasses, sun cream with high UV-protection, lip balm with UV-protection, horse chaps and safety horse riding helmets.
For additional price you can rent the horse chaps and safety horse riding helmets. The cost of the renting is 1 USD per day for the horse chaps and 1 USD per day for the helmet
Health
If you have some specific sicknesses you need to bring own first aid kit with necessary medicaments.
Note: Please be aware of the possibilities that circumstances may arise which would cause some activities to be shortened or eliminated altogether without reimbursement or refund. Such circumstances include weather conditions, earthquakes and other acts of nature, injuries or other medical problems. None of the eventualities described above will give you a right to a refund or other forms of reimbursement.
Some more notes:
My experience on the Horse Riding Adventure Tour in Kyrgyzstan was nothing short of incredible! From the moment we arrived in Bishkek, the warm hospitality of the Kyrgyz people was evident. The landscapes we rode through were breathtaking, especially the views around Son-Kul Lake, where we stayed in traditional yurts. The horses were well cared for, and our guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Riding for 4-6 hours each day gave us a true taste of nomadic life, and I loved trying kymyz for the first time! The visit to the felt carpet workshop was a delightful bonus. This tour is perfect for anyone seeking adventure and a deep connection with nature. Highly recommended!
I had the most amazing time on the Horse Riding Adventure Tour in Kyrgyzstan! As a first-time rider, I was a bit nervous, but the guides were incredibly supportive and helped me feel comfortable. The scenery was absolutely stunning, especially the wide-open grasslands and majestic mountains. Each day’s ride was filled with picturesque views and rich cultural experiences, like staying in yurts and dining with a local family. I also appreciated the chance to learn about Kyrgyz traditions, including the fascinating history behind Burana Tower. Riding alongside the serene Son-Kul Lake was a highlight of the trip for me. This tour perfectly blends adventure, culture, and natural beauty. I can’t recommend it enough!