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Day 1 - Arrival in Bishkek, Bazaars and Shooting
We will meet you at Manas International Airport on arrival and drive you to a spacious private villa in Bishkek. We help you buy local SIM cards so that you stay connected throughout the trip. In the villa you will have time to rest after your flight.
In the afternoon we visit the vibrant Osh Bazaar to experience local life and food in a non-supermarket-dominated city. Afterwards, we go to an indoor shooting range where, under instructor supervision, you can try modern pistol and rifle shooting if you wish.
In the evening we have dinner in Bishkek and walk through the main square to see the statue of Lenin. The first day is kept relatively relaxed to allow you to recover from the flight and jet lag. The villa has a pool and BBQ area and is a comfortable place to unwind.
Accommodation: Villa in Bishkek
Day 2 - Ala-Archa and Galloping
We start the day by driving from the villa to Ala-Archa National Park. Once we arrive, we meet our horses and spend 2–3 hours riding. More experienced riders can spend this time galloping, while beginners will be introduced to the basics of riding in a safe environment.
Afterwards, we hike further into the reserve to the Broken Heart Rock and a nearby waterfall. We finish the day at a private spa, where we will have a chef’s dinner prepared for us. The spa has a sauna, swimming pool, hammam and a billiard table.
Accommodation: Villa in Bishkek
Day 3 - Horse Riding in Chon-Kemin and Kok-Boru Game
We set off early (around 8:00) and drive to the Chon-Kemin valley. There we leave our belongings at a guesthouse and meet our horses and guides.
We take a gentle ride on horseback into the mountains and nature reserve, enjoying wide views over the valley. Back in the village, local horsemen give a demonstration of Kok-Boru – a traditional Kyrgyz horseback game where two teams compete to carry a goat carcass into the opposing team’s goal. It is fast, intense and very impressive to watch.
The game is unique to Central Asian nomads. You will see what both horses and riders are truly capable of in such hectic conditions, and the great conquests of the nomadic empires become easier to imagine after watching it.
Accommodation: Chon-Kemin Guesthouse
Day 4 - Drive to Kyzart Village and Ride to Kilemche Valley
We set off early and drive to Kyzart village. After lunch at a local family home, we meet our horses and start riding towards Kilemche Valley.
It is a beautiful 4-hour journey, with a break halfway by the Bazar-Turuk River. We arrive at our first overnight stop, a yurt camp in the valley at around 2,500 m altitude. This route is remote and there is no mobile phone or internet connection. Parts of the trail can be covered in snow depending on the weather. At this altitude in spring you can easily experience all four seasons in one day.
Accommodation: Yurt Camp Kilemche Valley
Day 5 - Horse Ride from Kilemche valley to Son-Kul Lake
After breakfast in the yurt we continue our journey to Son-Kul Lake via the Tuz-Ashuu Pass (3,500 m), with a break at the top for photos and tea.
Along the shoreline of Son-Kul, more experienced riders have the option to gallop on flatter sections. We arrive at a family yurt by the lake and have lunch together. After the long ride you will have free time to explore the lake, walk along the shore and enjoy the peace and silence of the high plateau.
This is our second day in the high mountains. In the evening we sit around a campfire and look up at the night sky with no light pollution. If the skies are clear you can see the Milky Way in incredible detail. My undergraduate degree was in Astrophysics and Cosmology, so I am happy to tell you more about our galaxy and our place in the universe. Once again, there is no mobile or internet connection on this route.
Accommodation: Yurts near Son-Kul Lake
Day 6 - Son-Kul to South Shore of Issyk-Kul
After breakfast we ride back to Kyzart village. The return ride takes around 4 hours. We finish our Son-Kul trip with lunch and say goodbye to our hosts.
From Kyzart we continue by car to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, where we arrive at Beltam yurt camp. This is a chance to take a hot shower, do some laundry and recuperate after several days in the mountains.
Accommodation: Beltam Camp
Day 7 - Eagle Hunting, Skazka Canyon and Hike to Barskoon Waterfalls
After breakfast at Beltam we drive to a masterclass in golden eagle hunting and Taigan (Kyrgyz hunting dog) demonstrations. A local hunter from Bokonbaevo demonstrates these ancient Kyrgyz traditions, and you also have the opportunity to try shooting a traditional bow.
We then visit Skazka (“Fairytale”) Canyon – a magical, surreal landscape often compared to the surface of Mars. Continuing along the south shore of Issyk-Kul, we drive up into Barskoon Gorge and hike to three beautiful waterfalls. In Barskoon you can see a Soviet-era statue of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. The surrounding forest was once a Soviet wellness resort where cosmonauts came to rest and recover.
Accommodation: Barskoon Guesthouse
Day 8 - Hike to Altyn-Arashan Hot Springs
We drive to Karakol, a city at the easternmost end of Issyk-Kul. From there we leave the car, pack our belongings and hike up into the Altyn-Arashan valley.
The hike is beautiful, with many animals along the path, dense forests and pristine rivers. In Altyn-Arashan we stay at a small guesthouse and visit secret wild hot springs – naturally formed pools in a cave right next to a fast-flowing river, created long ago by hunters stacking rocks to make a shallow basin. This may be my favourite spot on Earth.
Accommodation: Altyn-Arashan Guesthouse
Day 9 - Cholpon Ata Beach Resort
We leave Altyn-Arashan early, hike back down to Karakol and then drive along the north shore of Issyk-Kul to the town of Cholpon-Ata. On the way we visit scenic spots such as Grigorievka Valley.
It is a gentle travel day, and we finish by staying in a villa near the beach, enjoying our last evening together by the lake.
Accommodation: Issyk-Kul Villa
Day 10 - Return to Bishkek
After breakfast at the guesthouse we drive back to Bishkek and drop you off at the airport or at your hotel.
We hope you have had a wonderful holiday and would be happy to welcome you back if you decide to join us again!
Weather
March and April Son-Kul and Altyn Arashan will be covered in snow. It could as low as -10 Celsius during the day
Price list
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights (Accommodation Included)
Tour price
£1,350 / €1,550 / $1,800 per person for an all-inclusive round trip (transport, accommodation, food, horses, guides, entrance fees, etc.).
Group discounts available – please contact us.
Riding days – 5 in total (Beginner riders are welcome)
– Riding/Galloping in Ala-Archa
– 3-day horse trek to Son-Kul Lake
– Riding in Chon-Kemin
Payment terms
Deposit: £350 (or equivalent in € / $) to reserve a spot on the tour.
Balance: £500 (or equivalent in € / $) due 3 months before the trip; the remaining balance should be paid 1 month before arrival.
Photography and Drone Footage Included
We also use professional filming equipment, drones and cameras during the tour. With your permission, we are happy to share photos and video footage of your trip, and we appreciate it if you tag us when you post on social media.
Not included
Flights to and from Kyrgyzstan are not included.
If you have specific requests about places you would like to visit or activities you would like to try, please let us know and we will do our best to fit them into the itinerary.
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