Ahal Teke horse riding tour

$2500.00

9 day(s)

from January to December

Tour countries:: Turkmenistan
Type of tour:: Adventure, General

The Akhal-Teke horse, a desert purebred for hundreds of years, is quite unlike an Arabian, an English thoroughbred or any other equus: it has enormous stamina (it can cover 125 miles a day for weeks on end) and beauty (a much longer neck than other horses and an iridescent coat). This breed is a Turkmen's most precious possession, but it was almost wiped out under Soviet rule, and only recently has it begun to make a comeback. Few Westerners have ever laid eyes on these marvelous creatures...

Day 0 Home - Ashgabat

Arrival to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Overnight

Day 1 Ashgabat

Breakfast. Visit a horse race at the National Hippodrome, or the Annual Best Horse Selection event. Lunch. We'll take you on a City Tour in the afternoon. Second half of the day will be spent sightseeing the major landmarks of Ashgabat - the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat is a relatively young city, growing out of a village of the same name established by Russian officers in 1881 after the Battle of Geok Tepe. It is not far from the site of Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire.

Dinner. Overnight in a hotel of choice in Ashgabat.

Day 2 Ashgabat - Horse Farm - Yurts at farm

Breakfast. Drive to the horse farm to familiarize with the horses and the team. Lunch at the farm. Short tour in desert terrain in the vicinity of the farm. Selection of horses for the further duration of the tour. Dinner and overnight at the horse farm.

Day 3 Trek in Kopetdag - Tents

Breakfast. While the horses that you selected on your first day will be transported to the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains, you will be transferred there by vehicle. This allows us maximum time to enjoy riding in the valleys and across the mountains of this beautiful region. Picnic lunch. Towards the evening set up camp and making preparations for barbeque dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 4 Trek in Kopetdag - Tents

Another day for a gorgeous trek through the Kopetdag Mountains. Picnic lunch. Return to the horse farm for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 Trek to Geokdepe Lake - Yurts at farm

Breakfast. A relaxing day trek to the Geokdepe Water Reservoir with lunch at the lake and of course an opportunity to swim. Return towards the evening to the horse farm for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Trek into the Karakum - Yurts

Breakfast. Trek into the Karakum desert. Picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight in yurts in a nomadic village.

Day 7 Trek in the Karakum - Hotel

Breakfast. Further trek through the Karakum Desert back to the horse farm. Picnic lunch on the way. Farewell dinner at the farm, and return to Ashgabat. Overnight at a hotel of choice in Ashgabat.

Day 8 Ashgabat - Hotel

Breakfast. Visit to Tolkuchka Bazaar in the morning. Lunch. Free time in the afternoon. Traditional dinner (and folklore show if 10+ participants).

Day 9 Ashgabat - Home

Departure early morning from Ashgabat; transfer to the airport; flight to home country

Included into the price program:

- Visa support letter, entry travel pass, registration
- Overland transport as per program, including vehicle for your personal belongings during days on horse back
- Horses - Ahal Teke breed
- Local horse-riding escort from stables
- Guide-translator from travel company
- Entrance fee to the program
- Accommodation in dbl/twin shared room, in yurts at the horse stables, and camping in tents during days on horseback
- Drinking water and water to wash up during camping days
- Porterage

Not included into the program price:

- Turkmenistan visa 55 usd per person
- Immigration card paid upon arrival to the Immigration office on the border ($10 usd +2 usd bank fee) per person
- photo/video fee, tipping, personal items, excess luggage

Separately from indicated prices:
- HB - $120 USD per person
- FB - $230 USD per person
- Folk show - $15 USD per person (for groups from 10 pax)

This horseback tour is meant for people who have solid experience in horseback riding in an outdoor environment. Although the route is not technically complicated and will take you through mostly flat desert terrain, the tour requires solid endurance levels. If you are interested in a similar tour but of shorter duration, please contact us directly.

On the first day at the stables a local member of staff will ensure that you will get acquainted with the specific character of the Ahalteke horses and assist in selecting a horse that fits your actual skills and wishes, This day is not meant you provide you with sufficient horse riding skills required to make your tour a pleasant experience.

During the tour you will be accompanied by a member of the local stable personnel on horseback, who is a skilled and experienced Ahalteke horse rider. A guide (proficient in foreign language) will accompany the tour at short distance by vehicle.

The vehicle(s) will also provide transport for your personal belongings, overnight gear, water, and food items. You will need to bring your own horse riding gear, such as cap, boots, gloves, and a sleeping bag. It is important that you arrange at home the relevant insurance policy that covers this type of extreme sports vacation.

We will need at least 6 weeks advance notice in order for the stables to confirm the availability of sufficient number of horses for the period you request the tour. A prepayment of 100% of the tour price at this time is therefore required.

Always wanted to ride an Ahalteke horse? We can arrange one-hour, half-day, one-day and multiple-day horseback riding trips for you. The below sample tour is for riders with a fair amount of riding experience: during this tour you will be accompanied by experienced stable staff and guides (proficient in foreign languages) and stay overnight in tents or yurts. You can adapt this tour to your own wishes and possibilities: while the base camp remains the horse farm in Geok Depe, you can extend or shorten the program.

The last week of April is dedicated to the Turkmen Race Horse. During this week several horse competitions take place that culminate in the selection of the Horse of the Year, on the last Sunday of the month of April. Next to this annual event, there are horse races in the National Hippodrome, every Sunday in spring and autumn. Please contact us for more exact information about events.