Summer Tour A: 10 Day High Mountains Adventure (6 Riding Days)

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 a chef’s dinner is 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 the next guesthouse. This is a chance to take a hot shower, do some laundry and recuperate after several days in the mountains.  

Accommodation: Amirhan Guesthouse

Day 7 - Eagle Hunting and UAZ drive to Altyn Arashan Hot-Springs

After breakfast we set off for a masterclass in Golden Eagle hunting and Taigan (Kyrgyz hunting dog) tracking. This is a demonstration of ancient Kyrgyz traditions led by a local hunter from Bokonbaevo village. You will also learn to shoot traditional bows, just like the warriors of old.

Afterwards, we drive to Karakol (4 hours), enjoy a big feast at the traditional Dastorkon restaurant, and prepare for our journey into the mountains of the Altyn-Arashan Valley. From Ak-Suu village, we take a specialised Soviet UAZ off-road vehicle up to the guesthouses. There are no showers, but natural hot springs are available for relaxing.

Accommodation: Altyn-Arashan Guesthouse

Day 8 - Horse Ride to Ala-Kul Lake

We will start early and ride on horseback to the Ala-Kul Lake. On this journey we will ascend the mountains while viewing beautiful scenery, wild animals and endless peaks. The lake itself is at an altitude of about  3800m, the air is cold but the view is breathtaking. This is definitely the hardest part of the tour but definitely worth it. The horses ride up to 3000m and the last steep ascent to the lake will be done on foot. After we come back to the guesthouse we can swim in the hot springs and relax. It is a 6-7 hour round trip journey on horseback and on foot.

Accommodation: Altyn-Arashan Guesthouse

Day 9 - Cholpon Ata Beach Resort

We will leave Altyn-Arashan early, visit the wild hot springs in a cave and hike down to the city of Karakol. After lunch we drive through the north shore of Issyk-Kul to the city of Cholpon-Ata.  We will visit some hiking routes on the way such as Gregorievka Valley. It is a gentle journey back where we will stay beachside and enjoy one last day togerther before making our way back to Bishkek

Accommodation: Issyk-Kul Villa

Day 10

After breakfast at the guesthouse we will drive to Bishkek and drop people off at the airport or their hotels. We wish you a safe and wonderful flight. We hope you had a lovely holiday, and would be happy to have you back should you wish to join us again!

Price list

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 – 6 in total
– Riding/Galloping in Ala-Archa
– 3-day horse trek to Son-Kul Lake
– Riding in Chon-Kemin                          – Ride from Altyn-Arashan to Ala-Kul Lake       

Payment terms

• Deposit: £350 (or equivalent in € / $) to reserve a spot on the tour.

• Balance: £500 (or equivalent in € / $) due two months before the trip; the remaining balance should be paid 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.