Summer Tour B: 10 Day North Kyrgyzstan Adventure (3 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 Son-Kul Lake

We will set off early and start our drive to the Son-Kul lake. It is a long but a beautiful journey, through mountain passes and snow-covered roads. The journey is half the experience. We will arrive at an altitude of about 3,000 m .

It is breathtaking. At this altitude the weather is cold. There is no internet, no phone connection, and no electricity lines.  Just you and the bare beauty of Son-Kul Lake. We will stay in a Kyrgyz yurt like the nomads of Central Asia have done so for thousands of years.

This is a relaxed day where we take in the beauty - the peace. In the evening we will sit around a campfire and look at the night sky, with no light pollution whatsoever. If there are no clouds, we will see the glimpse of our galaxy called the Milky Way. My undergraduate degree was in Astrophysics and Cosmology. I can tell you all about our galaxy and our place in the universe.

Accommodation: Yurt Camp near the South Shore of Son-Kul

Day 5 - Drive to South Shore of Issyk-Kul

We will set off from Son-Kul and drive through the mountainous 32 Parrots Pass. This may be the most beautiful road I have ever driven on. The scale of the mountains is immense. Unending valleys and mountains, meandering roads, and clouds so close to you they are at your fingertips. This journey is breathtaking and you will be in silent awe.

We will drive to the south shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake and stay at Beltam Yurt Camp. For everyone who is willing, we will have an evening swim in the lake.

Accommodation: Beltam Yurt Camp

Day 6 - 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 7 - UAZ drive to Altyn Arashan Hot Springs

We will drive to Karakol, a city at the most eastern part of the Issyk-Kul lake. We will leave the car, pack our belongings for two days and take a specialised Soviet UAZ vehicle up to Altyn-Arashan valley.

In the valley we will stay at the guesthouse and visit the secret wild hot springs. These are naturally formed hot springs in a cave right next to a rapidly moving river. Formed by placing rocks into a little pool by hunters who used to bathe hundreds of years ago. This may be my favourite spot on Earth.

Accommodation: Altyn-Arashan Guesthouse

Day 8 - Horse Ride to Ala-Kul Lake

We will start early and ride on horseback to 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 roundtrip 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 together 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 – 3 in total
– Riding/Galloping in Ala-Archa
– 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.