11 Day Epic Horse Riding Tour in Kyrgyzstan with Lakes, Mountains, Horses, and Nomadic Traditions

• Horseback riding through Kyrgyzstan’s most spectacular landscapes, from alpine meadows to high mountain passes
• Visit four iconic lakes - Song Kol, Kel Suu, Ysyk Kol, and Ala Kol - each with unique scenery and character
• Overnight stays in traditional yurt camps and family-run guesthouses with authentic Kyrgyz hospitality
• Immersive nomadic culture experiences, including kymyz tasting, felt carpet making, and traditional horse games
• Riding alongside local herders and witnessing daily nomadic life in remote mountain regions
• Scenic trek to the hidden Kel Suu Lake and boat ride beneath dramatic limestone cliffs
• Eagle hunting demonstration, horse archery, and cultural performances by local communities
• A perfect balance of adventure, nature, and cultural discovery in the heart of Central Asia

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Manas Airport - Horse riding in Chong Kemin National Park

Morning arrival in Bishkek and meeting with your guide. Transfer to Chong Kemin National Park through picturesque valleys and mountain scenery. After some rest and lunch, enjoy your first horse ride across wide meadows surrounded by forested slopes. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.

• Driving time: 3 hours
• Horse riding: 2 hours
• Minimum altitude: 640 meters
• Maximum altitude: 1,700 meters

Day 2: Jumgal Valley - Horse trek to Song Kol Lake

Transfer to Jumgal Valley. Begin your scenic ascent to Song Kol Lake, passing nomadic settlements and vast mountain pastures. Cross Tuz Ashuu Pass, from where a breathtaking panoramic view of Song Kol Lake opens below. Descend to the lakeshore and arrive at the yurt camp.

• Driving time: 2 hours
• Horse riding: 4 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,400 meters

Day 3: Horse riding to the northwest of Song Kol Lake

Ride along the north-western shore of Song Kol, meeting herders and watching daily nomadic life. Visit to a shepherd’s yurt for tasting fermented mare’s milk (kymyz). Overnight at a yurt camp.

• Horse riding: 4 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,050 meters

Day 4: Horse riding to the south of Song Kol Lake

Continue your gallop exploration of Song Kol, riding across vast meadows and shallow rivers while enjoying wide-open panoramas of the Ala Too Mountains. In the evening, relax by the bonfire under a starry sky. Overnight at a yurt camp.

• Horse riding: 4 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,050 meters

Day 5: Teskey Torpok Pass - Naryn - Kok Kyia Valley

Drive across Teskey Torpok Pass, offering stunning views of surrounding peaks and valleys, then descend to Naryn town for lunch. Continue to the wild and beautiful Kok Kyia Valley, the base for the Kel Suu trek. Overnight at a yurt camp.

• Driving time: 5 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,200 meters

Day 6: Hiking to Kel Suu Lake

Start early for an easy hike to the mysterious Kel Suu Lake, hidden among towering limestone cliffs. Enjoy a picnic by the lake, followed by a nine-kilometer boat ride to fully take in the stunning turquoise waters and the surrounding peaks. Overnight at a yurt camp.

• Hiking: 4 hours
• Boat ride: 1 - 2 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,500 meters

Day 7: South Shore of Ysyk Kol Lake

Return through Naryn and continue toward Ysyk Kol - the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan.” Along the way, enjoy a demonstration of traditional Kyrgyz felt carpets (shyrdaks) and learn about their making. Arrive at the southern shore to relax and swim. Overnight at a guesthouse.

• Driving time: 5 hours
• Felt carpet show: 1 hour
• Maximum altitude: 1,600 meters

Day 8: Fairytale Canyon - Barskoon Waterfall

In the morning, enjoy a national cultural program including an eagle hunting demonstration, archery, horse archery, a visit to a yurt museum, and the opportunity to wear traditional Kyrgyz clothes for a photoshoot. After the morning activities, visit the colorful Fairytale Canyon and continue to Barskoon Gorge, famous for its waterfalls and breathtaking views of glaciers. Overnight at a guesthouse.

• Driving time: 3 hours
• Eagle hunting show: 1 hour
• Hiking: 2 hours
• Maximum altitude: 1,600 meters

Day 9: Horse riding to Oguz Bashy Peak

Short transfer to Jeti Oguz Gorge, known for its striking “Seven Bulls” red rock formations. Begin your horse ride through spruce forests and along mountain streams toward Oguz Bashy Peak (5,168 m). Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Ala Too mountains along the way. Overnight at a hotel.

• Horse riding: 4 hours
• Maximum altitude: 2800 meters

Day 10: Altyn Arashan Gorge - Ala Kol Lake - Altyn Arashan Camp

Early morning, take a two-hour drive in a classic Soviet UAZ through the scenic gorge, then continue on horseback toward the stunning Ala-Kol Lake. Before the lake, climb a steep mountain pass on foot to admire the breathtaking turquoise waters surrounded by snowy peaks. After a short rest and photos, return to the Altyn Arashan camp for dinner and overnight.

• Driving time: 2 hours
• Horse riding: 4 hours
• Hiking: 2 hours
• Maximum altitude: 3,900 meters

Day 11: Karakol - Cholpon Ata - Bishkek

Return from Altyn Arashan to Karakol by Soviet UAZ vehicle, then continue driving along the northern shore of Ysyk Kol Lake. Stop at the largest local hippodrome to observe traditional horse games and make a short stop to swim in the lake. Afterwards, continue to Bishkek for a farewell dinner.

• Driving time: 6 hours
• Maximum altitude: 800 meters