Horse and Bicycle Tour in the mountains

Arrival to Bishkek . Meeting at the airport Manas and transfer to Bishkek city. Check-in to a hotel, breakfast. After some rest, there’s going to be a tour of the city of Bishkek - the capital of Kyrgyzstan. You can get acquainted with the uncomplicated architecture of the city. Visit: Ala-Too Square which offers a magnificent view of the snowy peaks of the Kyrgyz Range; green parks; complex Manas, Osh Bazaar and much more. You will be greeted by streets, full of colorful crowds. You will smell the multi-layered East. Lunch in a restaurant with national cuisine and return to the hotel where you need to prepare the bikes for the trip. Free time in the evening. Dinner at the hotel.

Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata (250 km / 3 h) . After breakfast we will go to the foothills of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too (30 km by transport). Further, having prepared our iron horses, we will begin the cycle tour along the road, which is not loaded by transport and goes along the beautiful mountains snow-covered on the tops. The road will be winding and hilly. The open spaces will amaze you with the diversity of the grasses. In the summer they are covered with motley flowers. We will drive 30-50 kilometers at an average altitude of 800-850 meters, have lunch on the way (picnic) and then go by transport to the city of Cholpon-Ata on the shore of the beautiful Issyk-Kul lake. Hotel accommodation. Free time. You will be able to swim in the blue waters of the lake and sunbathe.

Cholpon-Ata – Grigoriev gorge (45 km). Today we won’t start early. You can enjoy morning water treatment and a delicious breakfast. Today beautiful mountain lakes located in the Grigoriev Gorge are waiting for you. We are going to reach the gorges by the car (21 km), and then ride up the gorge by bikes (20 km). Grigoriev Gorge is very picturesque, the road runs along a mountain river with crystal clear water; The slopes of the gorge are covered with fir forest. In the upper reaches, the gorge widens, turning into alpine pastures. This is where the incredibly beautiful mountain lakes are hidden. Today we set up our tent camp on the shores of Lake Chon-Aksu. The average height of the bike segment will be more than 2000 meters.

Grigoriev gorge – Karakol –Reina-Kench farm (150 km / 2 h). Early in the morning we will take a bike tour to the second lake, located slightly above the first. Those having a desire may swim in its crystal-clear water. Next, we descend down where the road goes to the next gorge called Semenovskoe, get onto the Kok-Bel Pass (2375 m) by a gentle serpentine and go down the Semenov Gorge to the main road. This path will take about 32 km at an altitude of 2200-1600 meters. Then we will go by car to the Reina-Kench farm, where we will stay overnight in a guest house.

Reina-Kench and transfer to Jyrgalan valley (50 km / 1 h). This morning we will have time to ride horses, go fishing, try yourself in archery and just take a walk around the farm, but most importantly we will see the race horses bred here. After lunch we will go to the village of Jyrgalan, where we will stay overnight in a guest house.

Jyrgalan valley. This morning we will ride horses in the surroundings. You can chat with local shepherds and enjoy the tranquility of this alpine landscape. We will ride to the Kok-Bel waterfall. The waterfall has a height of 2600 m and flows into the Kok-Bel river. This river is vitally important as a source of water for various herds in the valley of Jyrgalan. On the way to the waterfall you can see a breathtaking view of the valley of Jyrgalan and the village as a whole. In the evening return to the village.

Jyrgalan valley. Jyrgalan has a very friendly and homely atmosphere. There are many children on the streets and they are happy to play football, catch-up and other games with your kids. On this day, if you wish, you can go on horseback to the observation point, from where the whole valley is visible, or you can just sit, drink hot tea with herbs and allow yourself to rest.

Jyrgalan valley – Djety-Oguz gorge – Tamga (150 km / 2 h). After breakfast we will drive to Djety-Oguz gorge by the southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. The gorge is located in 60 km to the west of Karakol on the northern slopes of Terskey-Ala-Too. This is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. Along 25 km on both sides of the gorge the fir trees are growing at first merging into small groups and then turning into huge forest mass. The gorge finally becomes a wide Kok-Djayik valley, which is totally covered by fir forests up to the very top of the ridge.
Over the forest zone (about 3000 m) in the wide valley of about 15 km there are amazing subalpine and alpine meadows called Djailoo. During the spring and the summer Djeti-Oguz gorge turns into a kind of flower holiday, among which you may see the silver stars of Edelweiss flowers, alpine daisies and asters, and nard (golden root). In the Autumn the gorge becomes a colorful canvas as it’s covered not only by coniferous forests but also by the leaf trees. In the gorge we will have a horse riding to the waterfall and see the enormous stone constructions “7 bulls” and “Broken heart” - a symbol of love that spawned many beautiful legends. Legends, in turn, attract not only tourists, but also lovers living in nearby villages. You may make a photo session with this beautiful natural monument and tell your kids a beautiful legend. Later we will go to the village of Tamga - the place of our overnight stay. Accommodation in the guest house.

Tamga. Today we will have a whole day to take a walk around the village, swim in the blue waters of Issyk-Kul and just relax. If you wish, you can take a horse or walk to the sacred stone Tamga-Tash. This place attracts huge attention of Buddhist pilgrims. This historical monument is called literally «The Stone with the Mark». One of the most famous Buddhist mantras, Om Mani Padme Hum, is carved on the stone itself. It has many interpretations, but in the most well-known interpretation it says that God or the Universal Mind burns in our heart like a lotus flower. People come to this place to recharge themselves with positive energy and enjoy the silence of this amazing place. Accommodation in the guest house.

Tamga – Son-Kul (220 km / 3.5 h). Today we will continue our journey through Kyrgyzstan. Our path runs along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. You will see a striking difference between the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul lake and the southern shore. The southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is more diverse in landscape and less populated. We will visit the Fairy Tale gorge with beautiful red sand sculptures resembling fairy-tale heroes and built by the nature. Also on the way to Son-Kul high-mountain lake we will visit a hospitable Kyrgyz family in the village of Kochkorka. There are many children and they all help their parents to make little souvenirs and various things of felt. Together with them your kids can make their own crafts. On Son-Kul we will see the real life of the Kyrgyz. We will eat and sleep in yurts, enjoy the pristine beauty of the lake and the surrounding hills without a single tree or bush.

Son-Kul - Bishkek (380 km / 4.5 h). Morning will be free. You can ride horses or walk to the stone paintings (petroglyphs), in the vastness of Son-Kul, you can try to run a horse at a gallop or you can see how the local mistress prepares the soup and fried fish for lunch. After lunch we will go back to Bishkek. In the evening we will return to the capital. Hotel accommodation and farewell dinner.

Departure. This day the car will take you to the airport for your home flight.