7 Days Horse Trek Combo Tour
About this tour
Experience nomadic life in a traditional Kyrgyz dwelling boz-ui (yurt)
✓ Ride a horse in Song-Kol lake – best destination to combine horse riding and
exploring nomad’s life
✓ Hike to Altyn Arashan
✓ Meet the Kyrgyz eagle hunters
✓ Visit the most popular sites of the south shore of Ysyk-Kol Lake – Fairy-Tale
canyons, Barskoon waterfalls and Jety-Oguz mountains.
✓ Enjoy views of alpine lakes, fields, and mountains
✓ Learn about the history of the Islam Renaissance in Central Asia exploring Burana
Tower
✓ Soak in the hot springs of Altyn-Arashan
✓ Explore Bishkek on foot
Activities included
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Day 1.Bishkek – Kilemche. Transfer 270 km-4 h. Horse riding- 20 km 4 h. After breakfast, you will head to Kyzart village. The drive time is three hours, so you will arrive in the village by the lunchtime. After a brief instruction of horse riding from your guide, it will be time to saddle up for a horseback ride to beautiful Kilemche valley. As you will leave the village behind, follow the trail as it gradually climbs up the west bank of the stream of Chaar-Archa river. Then you will break off to the right towards the valley of Kilemche - a summer pasture of the local nomads. After your arrival and cup of tea, get ready to enjoy the smooth atmosphere of the valley with a sweeping views. Keep your camera handy to catch beautiful sunset over the mountains. Release your horses for overnight with your guide and go for the dinner at boz-ui - a traditional dwelling ofthe nomad Kyrgyz people.
Day 2
Day 2.Kilemche – Song Kol. Horse riding 24km-1h After breakfast in Kilemche, you will continue the journey on horse towards to JalgyzKaragai pass (3400 m) on the way to Song-Kol Lake. The pass provides a great panoramic view to both – Song-Kol lake and Kilemche valley on other side. After a while enjoying the view and giving a break for the horses, the ride continues across grassy hills, home to grazing herds of sheep, goat, horse, and cattle. In the warm summer months, nomad families will be busy with daily chores including milking cows and horses. You will arrive in yurt camp by the lake for lunch and fuel up with a hearty lunch before hitting the road again. You will have about two hours more of horse riding on the trail by the lake until you reach the Tuz-Ashuu pasture, where the local shepherd’s family will cordially welcome you with a bowl of kymyz – a national Kyrgyz drink made from horse milk. The remainder of the day you will spend with the familywatching their daily life. For hiking lovers, the valley is a great place to stroll over the mountains around.
Day 3
Take some extra time to enjoy the scenery of Song-Kol lake before you start the journey. With mountains in the background, the lake looks even more beautiful in the morning sunlight. Once you get on your horse again, choose the upper trail for better views of the lake and make your way towards Kara-Kiya pass. From here, the ride is fairly moderately strenuous as you will descend towards the village, then spend the last hours of smooth riding until you will reach the village. On arrival, you will have a lunch at guesthouse and continue your journey east driving to Bokonbayevo village, taking in stunning views of Ysyk-Kol Lake and enormous mountains of Terskey-Ala-Too. After you will check-in at the guesthouse, you can rest until dinner.
Day 4
In the morning, you’ll meet eagle hunter. First, you’ll drive to an open field near the village where you will meet the hunter with his eagle. After some explanations of the peculiarities of golden eagles and hunting with them, he will demonstrate hunting to fox and rabbit. If you do not want to see how the eagle hunts the wild animals, then the hunter will use the skin of a fox. After the demonstration, there will be many opportunities for you to snap some great photos with the eagle on your wrist. Righr after the show leave Bokonbaevo behind as you travel to the east along the south shore of Ysyk-Kol Lake. Your destination is a city of Karakol – the most touristic city of the country. On your way, you will discover some of beautiful and popular sites on the southern shore: Skazka canyons, Barskoon waterfalls and Jety-Oguz mountains In the early evening, you will arrive in the city of Karakol. Founded in 1869 by Russian settlers, now Karakol is the most popular tourist city. Following the tour, you will visit popular and interesting sites including Dungan Mosque and Holy Trinity Church among other sites of interest. Finish up your day with a dinner in restaurant.
Day 5
Hop the car from Karakol to start your Off Road to Altyn-Arashan gorge. First, you will drive to Ak-Suu village and change the car for Sppecial VAN . Lace up your hiking boots and embark on a journey through the gorge, accompanied by a guide along the river path. The hike is smooth and easy and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery of hills and mountains, which often open up right in front of you. When you reach the first panorama, you will stay for a picnic, admiring the views of the entire valley and the peak of Oguz-Bashi (nicknamed "The Tent"). Altyn Arashan (translated as "Golden Spring") is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyrgyzstan, due to its unique nature, extensive spruce forests and stunning views. Altyn Arashan is also widely known for its hot springs located right in the gorge. Upon arrival at the gorge, relax in the hot springs. You can also take a short walk to the wild hot springs in the valley before having dinner in the yurt in the gorge. After lunch, at about 4 p.m., you will go back down to Karakol
Day 6
You will have a hearty and pleasant breakfast at the hotel, after which We will take you for a walk to ponarama on Yeltsin Peak, which is a very beautiful peak that you can look at with a wonderful view. We will have a leisurely walk through the picturesque forest, and when we arrive at the panorama, we will have a delicious picnic lunch waiting for us. Let's admire the view, take beautiful photos and move back to the fork where the car will pick us up. We will go to Karakol and go to the pier where we will meet the sunset by swimming in the lake and riding a Sap Board dinner and rest.
Day 7
On the final day, you will get to know Bishkek., But first, after breakfast, we will drive towards Bishkek, have lunch in Balykchi and visit the beautiful Kok Moynok canyon, after which we will go to Bishkek. We will go to Ala-Too Square, in the heart of the city, and visit the Central Mosque, a symbol of the country's rich cultural and religious heritage. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner before checking into the hotel for the night.
What's included
✓ Transfer Toyota Sequoia 2 SUVs ✓ English speaking guide - driver ✓ Full board meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) ✓ Accommodation double and triple rooms 7 nights ✓ Horse riding, rent of horses ✓ Eagle hunting show & archery ✓ Mineral water per day per pax ✓ Kayaking ✓ Special VAN to Altyn Arashan ✓ 1L of mineral water per day per pax ✓ Entrance fees and tickets
Õ Personal expenses Õ Activities outside of the program Õ Single supplement
Languages spoken
What to know
Are there any dietary considerations?