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7 Day Discover the Nomadic Yurts and Horse Riding Holiday in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Summer Horse Riding Tour Kyrgyzstan
This listing has the most popular offer available in Asia & Oceania
Kyrgyzstan is an amazing, unique, and beautiful country. This small oasis in the heart of Central Asia impresses people with its huge variety of landscapes and unique Son Kul Lake plays a considerable role. Often Kyrgyzstan is named "Asian Switzerland". The culture and historical heritage of the Kyrgyz people are equally interesting. Until now, the country retains all the attributes of nomadic life. Only in Kyrgyzstan during the summer period, you will see yurts – nomadic portable dwellings, decorated with felt carpets. Meet nomads, who will welcome you and invite you to their yurt to try traditional Kyrgyz drink kymyz. You will travel by horse and taste delicious national dishes.
Key information
- Rider weight limit: no limit
- Horse height range: 155 - 165 centimeters / 15.2 - 16.2 hands
- Horse Breed: Kyrgyz horse
Highlights
- Daily riding time: 4 - 7 hours
- Discover the unique nature of Kyrgyzstan
- Immerse in the culture and historical heritage of Kyrgyz people
- Sightseeing tour of Bishkek, admire the beauty of Song Kul Lake
- Full board meals and one liter of water per day
- Professional tourist guide
- 6 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
3 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Kyrgyz
Group size: 4-15 participants
Airport transfer included:
Manas International Airport
Accommodation
- Bishkek: B Hotel / Bridges (three stars) or similar (3 nights)
- Kyzart: Homestay (2 persons in one room), 1 night
- Tuz Ashuu: Yurt camp (4-6 person in one yurt), 1 night
- Tulpar Tash: Yurt camp (4-6 person in one yurt), 1 night
- Tuulga Tash: Yurt camp (2 persons in one yurt), 1 night
Yurt
Yurt is a traditional dwelling of the nomadic people of Central Asia. The foundation of the yurt consists of a wooden carcass and several felt layers. The construction of such a dwelling doesn’t require a lot of time, which makes it practical and useful for locals. The interior of a yurt is decorated with felt carpets and traditional embroidery.
Conditions of accommodations:
- Hotels in Bishkek, Issyk Kul – private shower and toilet
- Yurt camps at Song Kul Lake – shared shower (Tulpar Tash and Tuulga Tash only)
- Homestay in Kyzart village shared showers and toilets (2 shared toilets and 2 shared showers)
Program
Day 1, Sunday: Bishkek city (30 kilometers / 45 minutes)
Arrive in Bishkek early in the morning. Upon arrival at the International Airport Manas you will be met by the tourist guide at arrival gates. Transfer to the hotel for early check-in.
Breakfast and rest till midday. Lunch in a local café. Afternoon city tour.
You will visit Manas Monument, the main national hero of the Kyrgyz people. Walking tour around main Ala Too Square to watch the ceremony of changing of the Guard of Honor, Kurmanzhan Datka Monument, main governmental buildings, and finish at the Old Square with Government House. Transfer to Victory Square to finish the city tour by short excursion there. Visit of Osh market (closed on Monday). Return to the hotel. Dinner is not included.
- Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – local café
Day 2, Monday: Bishkek city - Burana tower - Kyzart village (280 kilometers / 6-7 hours)
Drive to the village of Kyzart. On the way, visit Burana Tower, an ancient minaret designated world heritage by UNESCO. It was built in the 11th century in a territory called Balasagyn, which was an important trading point for the Great Silk Road.
In this archeological complex located 80 kilometers away from Bishkek, you can explore the Burana tower, a collection of Balbals Balbals (stone statues honoring dead ancestors), and a small museum where valuable pieces are found in excavations are shown.
The excursion takes approximately one hour. Simple walk, but good shoes required as it’s dusty and little climbing to the tower up along the steep stairs.
Lunch on the way. Upon arrival to Kyzyl Art village, you will be accommodated in the house of local people. You can have some free time for exploration surroundings and meeting village colors. Instructions and preparation for horse riding in the evening with your guides.
Dinner and overnight in place of accommodation.
- Breakfast – hotel, lunch – on the way, dinner – homestay
Day 3, Tuesday: Kyzart - Chaar Archa - Tuz Ashuu (16 kilometers on horseback / approximately 4-5 hours)
Today, after breakfast transfer by vehicle to the bridge (14 kilometers) starting point of horse riding till Tuz Ashuu pasture. During the horse riding, you discover magnificent views of the pastures of Chaar Archa.
Picnic lunch with lunch boxes.
You take the height and arrive at Tuz Ashuu pass (3228 meters). You’ll stop there and enjoy the beautiful Son Kul lake. Descent to the pastures of Tuz Achuu (3050 meters), crossing on our passages several herds of cattle and sheep with their shepherds.
Upon arrival, meet with the family of shepherds who welcomes you for dinner in the yurt camp (4 - 6 persons in a yurt).
- Distance by car from village to starting point: 14 kilometers
- Horse riding distance: 16 kilometers, including 1,100 meters uphill and 200 meters downhill
- Breakfast – hotel, lunch – lunch box, dinner – yurt camp
Day 4, Wednesday: Tuz Ashuu - Tulpar Tash (14 kilometers on horseback / approx. 3-4 hours)
After breakfast, you take the west direction of the lake and horse riding along the shore of the lake. Small climbs and descents (max 100 meters) await you before arriving at Tulpar Tash yurt camp.
Lunch in a yurt camp.
The shore of the lake is beautiful with the herds of horses, cows, sheep, and goats. Possibility to go to the shepherds and taste fermented mare’s milk, kurut – cheese balls, and simply tea with cow’s milk.
Dinner and overnight at yurt camp (4 - 6 people in a yurt).
- Horse riding distance: 14 kilometers, including 100 meters uphill and 100 meters downhill
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner – yurt camp
Day 5, Thursday: Tulpar Tash - Kambar Ata - Tuulga Tash (18 kilometers on horseback / approx. 5 hours)
This day, you ride 18 kilometers along the shore of Son Kul lake. Although there are no trees or even bushes around the Lake, the altitude and climatic variations allow watching an exceptional flora and fauna.
Lunch at Kambar Ata Yurt Camp.
Fields of edelweiss and forget-me-nots will be present during the ride. Possibility to observe different species of birds, such as ducks, cranes, storks, mergansers, coots, plovers, golden eagles, cormorants, and thousands of seagulls. Continue horse riding till Tuulga Tash pasture.
Dinner and overnight at a yurt camp (2 persons in a yurt).
- Horse riding distance: 18 kilometers, including 0m uphill and 0m downhill
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner – yurt camp
Day 6, Friday: Tuulga Tash - Bishkek (350 kilometers / 6-7 hours)
After breakfast, you will take another beautiful drive to Bishkek city. You leave Song Kul Lake and will take the road in the morning through one of the most spectacular areas of Tien Shan, Kalmak Ashu Pass (3446 meters), towards Bishkek city. Lunch – en route. Arrival to Bishkek, check-in to the hotel. If time permits, you may go shopping at the one of department stores in the city – ZUM.
Farewell dinner in a restaurant.
Optionally (for a supplement): Folklore show during dinner at the restaurant. Especially for you, musicians will play national melodies of the Kyrgyz people and show you musical instruments. You will listen to singing and enjoy the charming melodies of the Kyrgyz people's ancestors.
- Breakfast – yurt camp, lunch – local family, dinner – restaurant
Day 7, Saturday: Bishkek city - Airport Manas (30 kilometers / 45 minutes)
Breakfast. Morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home. End of tour.
- Breakfast – hotel
Level of difficulty
There are some difficulties on the route, tourists should have an average level of fitness for horse riding, and take into account that sometimes they have long transfers up to 4 hours by mountain roads and more than 4 hours of horse-riding (1 day only).
Please note that in summer the temperature in Bishkek can reach 40°C, while in the mountains the temperature can be as low as 10°C. Be prepared for unexpected changes in weather (rain, snow, wind, hail). The lowest temperature during the trek is on the lakeshore of Song Kul lake, the night temperature can go down to -2-4.
Kyrgyz horse
The Kyrgyz horse or Kirgiz horse is a traditional breed of small horse from the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyz people associate it with their nomadic past. During the Soviet era of Kyrgyz history, the Kyrgyz horse was cross-bred with imported foreign breeds, including Don and Thoroughbred strains, to create a new and larger breed, the Novokirgiz or New Kirgiz.
Included excursions
- Visiting Ala Archa National Park
- Hiking to the Ak-Sai waterfall
- Sightseeing tour of Bishkek
- Going to ZUM (Central department store) to buy souvenirs
- Trekking in the canyons of Konorchek
- Hiking to Tuz Achuu pasture
- Visiting Osh Bazaar, the biggest open-air market in the city
Location
This horseriding tour will take you to all the top destinations in Kyrgyzstan starting from Bishkek city, Kyzart village, Tuz Ashu, Tulpar Tash, Tuulga Tash, then back to Bishkek city, then the airport.
Food
Included in the package are the meals as per itinerary (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners).
Food in Kyrgyzstan is strictly connected with the country’s nomadic traditions and is influenced by food from Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, and other Central Asian countries. The staples of the Kyrgyz diet and the diets of most of the traditionally nomadic people in Central Asia are boiled mutton, flat, crusty round bread, rice, and tea mixed with sheep or horse milk.
Kyrgyz are very fond of horsemeat. Sour cream, yogurt, and sausage are used to flavor dishes. Kyrgyz likes soupy food. The sort of food that is eaten in the form of pasta by Russians is eaten as a soup by Kyrgyz.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing in hotel and homestay and 4-6 people sharing in yurts (except Tuulga Tash yurt camp, in this yurt camp accommodation is 2 pax in a yurt) – 7 nights (with early check-in)
- Service of a local English speaking guide
- Meals as per program (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners)
- Entrance and ecological fee according to the program
- Transport services during all tour
- Drinking water (1 liter per person a day, please take your flask which you’ll use during horse riding part) boiled water
- Rent of horses for riding, horseman services, and his assistant (s) on days 3, 4, and 5
- Horses for portering on days 3, 4, 5
What's not included
- Single supplement
- Folklore show
- Personal expenses
- Tips for driver and guide
- International and domestic flights
- Alcohol and soft drinks
How to get there
Recommended Airports
FRU
Manas International Airport
22 km
Transfer included
Airport: Manas International Airport
Airport transfer included: Manas International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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