Day 1
Riding: No riding.
Departure from home
Day 2 - Bishkek - Chong Kemin
Riding: No riding.
Arrival to Bishkek airport in the early hours and transfer to the city. Breakfast and a city tour. From here you will head towards Karool-Dobo village in Chong Kemin valley. On the way you will stop to visit the Burana Tower, an architectural complex from the 10th to 11th century and an important point on the Great Silk Road. After lunch there is time for a short walk around the village to Karool-Dobo and to the Orto Kaindi Gorge. In the evening you will return to the village to stay overnight in a home stay and have dinner there.
Day 3 - Kayindi - Chelek Lake
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After eating breakfast at around 09:00, you will begin your first day of riding in Kyrgyzstan! After a morning in the saddle you will stop for a picnic lunch at the entrance to Chong Kemin Park. Later in the afternoon you will arrive in the mountain pasture of Toru Aigur which is situated 2200m above sea level, the spot for your first campsite. It's time to put up the tents and prepare dinner. You will eat around a big fire.
Day 4 - Chelek Lake to Ayuluu-Tor Valley
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After a hearty breakfast, it's time to catch your horses and cross the Toru Aigur meadow. You will climb up to 2500 - 2600m above sea level today and will face the Kol Konur Lake. You will help to set up the camp whilst the cook prepares the picnic at the edge of the lake. The afternoon is free - you can spend this time fishing in the lake!
Day 5 - Ayuluu-Tor Valley - Karakol
Riding: 6 - 7 hours
Very early breakfast today. You will leave your campsite to pass the Ak-Suu pass at 3200m above sea level where you will stop and have a picnic with the nomads. After this short break you will go down to Kytai Too to catch your bus to Kara Kol (about 3 - 4 hours drive). You will cross beautiful landscapes and can see Lake Issyk Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant and overnight is in Askar Guest House.
Day 6 - Karakol - Bokonbaev Village
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you will visit the Duncan Mosque and the Holy Trinity Cathedral in order to better understand the life of Kyrgyz people in the 19th century. From there you will drive to Jeti Oguz Valley - after a short walk through the valley you will stop for a picnic lunch. Then you will drive on to the 'Fairytale Canyon' and you will have dinner and overnight in Gulmira guesthouse.
Day 7 - Bokonbaeva - Kochkor - Song Kol
Riding: No riding.
This morning you will visit an ancient family of eagle hunters and will have the chance to take a photo with their eagles and falcons. From there you will head to Kochkor where you will visit a felt show in a handicrafts centre before stopping for lunch in an authentic Kyrgyz yurt. Your trip then continues to Song Kol via Moldo Ashu pass. Dinner and overnight with a nomad family in Kumduu Suu.
Day 8 - Kumduu Suu - Tash Dobo
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast it's time to meet your new herd of horses and the local team. After a short period of instruction you will begin your horseback trek to Joloman's yurt camp in Tash Dobo. On the road you will stop for a picnic in a historical place called 'Manas Stones'. This afternoon you have a chance to take a hot shower in a handmade shower/bath. Dinner and overnight in yurt camp.
Day 9 - Tash Dobo - Tulpar Tash
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
Another day of your trek around the Son Kol. Today you will continue to explore the amazing culture of the semi-nomadic lifestyle. After three or four hours of riding you will join your host family for lunch under the blue sky. In the afternoon you can take some local training on the horses before dinner and night in a yurt.
Day 10 - Tulpar Tash - Tuz Ashuu
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
After breakfast you will have another three to four hours in the horse trek, following by lunch with the family in Tuz Ashuu. After lunch you will say goodbye to the team and go to the beach of Song Kol lake for a few hours. Last dinner and overnight in yurt.
Day 11 - Tuz Ashuu - Kochkor
Riding: 6 - 7 hours
This day is your last horse riding day. After breakfast you leave Song Kol Lake, riding via Kyzart pass. Following the main road, this last day will be a bit longer than the others. In the afternoon you will come down to the main road between Kyzart and Kochkor village, stopping here for a picnic before continuing your journey by bus. Dinner in Kochkor village with folk show. Overnight with Nurjan family.
Day 12 - Kochkor - Bishkek
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you will transfer to Bishkek, stopping for lunch on the road in Boom Canyon. You will arrive to the hotel around 16:00 and will have a few hours free to shower and relax. In the evening you will explore Bishkek by night, taking dinner in a local restaurant and bar. Overnight in a 3* hotel.
Day 13
Riding: No riding.
Transfer to airport for departure in the early hours of the morning.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.