Horse riding program

Bishkek. Arrival to Bishkek and transfer to the hotel for some rest. This day will be spent in the city where you may visit the main Ala-Too square with the change of guards, old square with the Lenin statue, Manas complex with Philharmonic hall, Osh market and Victory square with the central mall - ZUM. Overnight at the 3* hotel.

Bishkek – Chong-Kemin gorge (150 km / 2h). After breakfast transfer the Chong-Kemin Gorge. On the way we will visit the historical-architectural complex of Burana Tower. Burana tower (minaret) is located on the territory of an ancient settlement 90km far from Bishkek. The historians and archeologists proved that the settlement was once the capital of Karakhanid Khanate and was called Balasagun founded in 10th century AC. Burana tower is the central monument of this complex. We will continue our way by car. 

Arrival to Chong-Kemin gorge. Free time to walk around and fly-fish in the mountainous river.
Kemin Natural Park is situated on the territory of 500 hectares, in high-water bed below Shabdan Village. It is used for protection of pheasant and hares. In the gorge there is also an opportunity to ride a horse or walk in the forest. Dinner and overnight. 

Chong-Kemin – Kochkorka (120 km / 2h). Transfer to the Boom Gorge. Today we will be scouting and exploring the labyrinth of various canyons with names like „Grand Canyon“, Bobsled“canyon and „skyscraper“canyon - amongst others. In some canyons you’ll really have to strain to measure the true dimension whereas in others one comes face-to-face with the tight passages, some of which you will even have to turn sideways to pass through. Furthermore, it is sometimes necessary to climb the cliffs a bit in order to see the most interesting things. (4-5 hours hike)

Afterwards we will go further to Kochkorka village where we will stay for the night. Here you may visit the local souvenir museum and see Shyrdak-show (the process of making felt rugs for yurts). Overnight in a guest house.

Kochkorka – Kilemche jailoo. After breakfast you will drive from Kochkorka to Kyz-Art pass there get on the horses to ride through the gorge along the rushing river. The way is beautiful and interesting: mountain landscapes, yurts, cattle, shepherds, children, horses, gorges on the right and left. After we get to the end of the gorge we will start riding the mountains of Kum-Ashuu. On the right are the Kilemche mountains. There’s going to be a great view of Lake Son Kul from the top.

After lunch we'll start riding down the gorge of the Ak-Tash mountains and go to the open Son-Kul valley. In 40-50 minutes we will reach the shores of Batai-Aral, where we will stop for overnight. (5-6 hours ride).

Day of horse ride . Today we will ride horses to the other side of the lake along its western shores and come to yurts the host of which will be waiting for us. The road is going to be difficult, swamps, rivers, steep ascents and descents but finally it is going to change into the flat western shore. Again we will see the yurts and maybe try tea with lepyoshka (flat bread) and kymyz. Then in the yurts the full meal will be waiting for us and the joy from the fact that we did it! We will say goodbye to our horses and enjoy the evening on the shores of an amazing alpine lake. Overnight in yurts. (5-6 hours ride)

Son-Kul - Naryn – Kel-Suu lake / ~ 230 km drive. After breakfast we will head to the town of Naryn driving over the Terskei-Torpok (kyrg: pigs tail) pass and down by the 33 parrot serpentine (by the number of turns) further to the valley of Ak-Say river. At first we will ascend Kyzyl-Bel pass and then go down to a wide At-Bashi valley. To the south you will see a great At-Bashi summit sparkling on the sun. We will ascend Kyndy pass (3398 m) where the customs is going to be as we are going into the border zone. From the pass we will go down to the Valley of Ak-Say River which is one of the biggest alpine valley on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. The bottom height of the valley varies from 3000 up to 3900 m above the sea level and is a desert area covered by short-grassy meadows which is an ideal habitat for a popular Marco Polo sheep.

Kol-Suu lake is situated on the height of 3500 m above the sea level which is clenched by the high cliffs. The lake appeared from once happened landslip that has blocked the river which afterwards turned into a basin with the length of 12 km. Not far from the lake there is a yurt camp where you will have lunch and to which you will come back for dinner and overnight after riding horses to the lake.

Horse ride to Shaar waterfall. This day you will have a day ride to the Shaar waterfall. The waterfall with the interesting name Shaar is located at an altitude of 3200 meters in the Bash-Kaindy gorge. It is the largest waterfall in Central Asia. Its height is about 300 meters.

The Shaar Falls is so magnificent that it can be seen at a distance of 45 km from the road leading to it. Not far from the waterfall there is a yurt camp where you will have lunch. After lunch you will have free time to walk in the surroundings and take fascinating photos. Closer to the evening you will ride the horses back to the yurt camp at Kol-Suu lake.

Kel-Suu lake - Chatyr-Kul lake surroundings and Tash-Rabat / ~ 180 km drive. This day we will drive further to Chatyr-Kul lake surroundings on the border with China and come to the Tash-Rabat caravan-serai for lunch. “Tash-Rabat” caravan-serai, located on the bank of Kara-Koyun river. There is no doubt, it’s the most important representative of historical architecture, appeared in epoch of activization of the Great Silk Road on Tien–Shan. Walls of caravan-serai rise among powerful spines. It was erected in X century AC by local governor Mykhammed-khan on the ancient caravan road.

This day will be free for you to enjoy the unity with the nature, have a little walk over the surrounding mountains and just relax. You may do a little hike to the hills to see the panorama of the place and make good pictures of Kyrgyz mountains at the sunset. Overnight in yurts.

Tash-Rabat – Bokonbaevo (400 km / 6 h). After breakfast we will be transferred to Issyk-Kul lake to the village of Bokonbaevo. In the village we will visit the house of an eagle hunter and see the eagles, get information about eagle hunting and have an opportunity to hold them in hands. We may also visit the local felt factory. Overnight is going to be on the shores of the lake in yurts.

Bokonbaevo - Bishkek (270 km/ 4h). This morning will be free to walk along the beach, to swim in the lake and enjoy your time sunbathing.

After lunch driving back to Bishkek. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

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