Horse riding in winter

Bishkek and its suburbs. Arrival to Bishkek, meeting at the “Manas” airport. Transfer to “Asia Mountains” hotel. Today we will have a city tour of the capital. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan and the biggest city in the country. It’s a distinctive administrative unit and is a town of the Republican Submission. The very first name of it was Pishpek, then it was called Frunze and only in 1991 it finally got the name it has now - Bishkek. Its population is about 1 million people. The town is located on the north of Kyrgyzstan in Chu valley at the foot of Tian-Shan Mountains, about 40 km from Kyrgyz ridge and about 25 km from Kazakh border.

We will have a small city tour and can go to the Ala-Too ridge hills for a 2 hours horse ride for acclimatization and acquaintance with Kyrgyz horses and the way of riding as well as to see winter mountains full of snow. We will get back to the hotel closer to the evening. Rest, dinner, overnight.

Bishkek – Shamsy gorge – Tokmok town (110 km. This day after breakfast we will drive to Shamsy gorge where we will have a horse ride in the mountains. The ride usually takes about 4 hours. Enjoy the nature and air's freshness. Picnic on the way and going back to the car which will take you to the Hawaii center with Burana hotel. 

On the way we will also see the Burana tower historical monument which is dated back to 11th century.

Tokmok town – Kyzart – Kilemche jailoo (200 km / 4h). This morning we will drive to Kyzart village where our horses will be waiting for us to take us to Kilemche jailoo. Lunch in the village of Kyzart. After lunch ride to Kilemche on horseback. On the way you can see the beautiful landscape of our beautiful inner Kyrgyz mountains. Kilemche is located at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level. After 3 hours on horseback, arrival at the shepherd’s house where you can get acquainted with the real life of the shepherds. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Kilemche jailoo – Son-Kul lake shore. This day will be even more exciting, because you have to go a hard way through the Tuz-Ashuu pass, its height is 3400 m. And here you can admire beautiful panoramic views of Son Kol Lake (3016m). Arriving for lunch at the yurt camp. After lunch you will have free time. Can be enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains, ride a sleigh, play different national, entertaining games. And in the evening a beautiful view of starry sky. Dinner and overnight in yurts.

Son-Kul lake shore – Kyzart – Bokonbaevo village (150 km / 3h). After breakfast we rise to the Tuz-Ashuu pass where we can watch beautiful winter landscape. Arriving at our destination in 3 hours on horseback, where a car will be waiting for us to take us to the village of Kyzart. Lunch at the guest house. After lunch we will drive to Bokonbaevo village. On the way you will be able to see the pearl of Kyrgyzstan – Issyk-Kul lake. Issyk-Kul Lake is the second biggest mountain lake after Titicaca in South America; it is one of 25 biggest and 7 deepest lakes in the world. Issyk-Kul Lake ranks second in the transparency of water after Lake Baikal.

The climate here is very soft, the average temperature of the summer is +17 C, it seems that at such a low temperature of summer the winters should be severe but vice versa the winters here are quite warm, average temperature in January is -3 C. Local people call this lake the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan”. As a small bead put on the chain of mountain ridges it definitely justifies this name. The “Pearl” is located on the height of 1609 m above the sea level and enclosed from two sides by the ranges with the poetic names Terskey-Ala-Too (turned from the sun) and Kungey-Ala-Too (turned to the sun). Upon arrival to the village of Bokonbaevo you will visit the house of an eagle hunter, hold the birds in your hands and hear the stories about these precious birds. Overnight in a guest house.

Bokonbaevo village – Djety-Oguz gorge (80km / 1.5 h). In the morning we will enjoy the view of Terskey-Ala-Too ridge and after breakfast will continue our way. We will visit the felt factory with a small souvenir shop where you will be able to see the Shyrdak-show – the process of making Kyrgyz national felt rugs for yurts. We will see the amazing change of landscapes like in kaleidoscope when we start driving towards our next place of stay. We will get to the Skazka (fairy tale) gorge where you may walk like in the museum of fairy tale sculptures made by the sand and wind. After that we will get to Djety-Oguz gorge and stay here for the night in yurts.

Djety-Oguz gorge. This will be a whole day riding for those who wants through the fir forest and to the panorama spot. Those who are tired can stay in the camp and rest.

Djety-Oguz gorge – Karakol city. This day we will have a horse riding tour in the Djety-Oguz gorge. You will see the beauty of huge red rock formations and the gorge itself which has fir-trees all around. Here we will have a horse ride to the waterfall which is called Girl’s braids. In the evening we will move to the city of Karakol and further to the hot springs "Ak-Suu Kench", where you can swim and warm up. Rest, dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Karakol - Bishkek (400 km / 7h). In the morning we will have a little city tour with visiting the local bazaar, an ancient Dungan Mosque, Holy Trinity wooden Church which was built without a single nail and a Prjevalsky museum. After that we will drive to Cholpon-Ata city.

Here we will visit the open air petroglyph gallery, historical museum and cultural center of Rukh-Ordo. Drive further to Bishkek city where we will accommodate in a hotel.

Transfer to the airport. Flight home.. This morning the car will take you to the airport for your flight home. End of the program.