Minteke Trail - 12 Days Hiking And Horseback Riding
About this tour
Hiking and horseback riding trip which starts in off-road places. Discovering of beautiful and various landscapes, wildlife, meeting local people, learning about the local traditions and culture, trying local foods beverages, crossing passes at more than 3800m high won't leave in indifferent; total change of scenery is possible, with an adventural trip across the wild mountain areas moving away like this from the rest of the world.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: manas international airport to bishkek
Reception at Manas airport which is located a few km north of Bishkek. After resting the visit of the capital city is planned. Bishkek, a post-Soviet city called Frunze before, is the cultural, economic and political center of the Kyrgyz Republic. We’ll walk along its main avenues, through the square Ala-Too ; visit the National Museum and the sculpture park of the open-air statue museum. Visiting the Osh market in the afternoon; aisles of dried fruits, vegetables and other parts of . Back at the hotel we will give a briefing on tomorrow's day as well as the entire stay. night at Rich Hôtel;
Day 2: bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to house on Bayrak river, Kyrgyzstan
Early morning breakfast; the day will begin with a bus transfer to arrive at the start point trekking in the Dzhartash canyon. The car will drop us off halfway to the finish point. The very first important walk to adapt. We will go up the stream while enjoying the beautiful landscape in the middle of the large massifs whose peaks reach an altitude of 4500m. Arriving at the bottom of the valley we camp at the foot of the large mountains of the Kyrgyz Ala Too range (part of the Celestial Mountains). night in tent at 3200; transfer takes approximately 2 hours; 3.4 of walking; elevation gain .+700m;
Day 3: pereval Dzjartash, Kyrgyzstan to Sokuluk Alpines, Kyrgyzstan
This day will be one of the most beautiful hiking days since we'll cross the Dzjartash pass (3800 m). Superb view of a majestic landscape with glaciers nearby. We now leave the Chu valley, following a small torrent we'll descend into the Karakol valley where the border of another region passes: that of Naryn. The following days we cross mountain pastures where shepherds spend the summer with their livestock. Tonight we'll spend the night near a river, we have to rest as tomorrow the horses will be waiting for us ... We have to reorganize our luggage because only strict necessary things should be taken; a layer of warm clothing, a sleeping bag, a down jacket, a pair of socks, etc. night in tent at 2600 m; 6,7 h of walking; elevation gain+500; - 900
Day 4: Sokuluk Alpines, Kyrgyzstan to tuz Ashuu, Kyrgyzstan
Let's go for the days of horseback riding but first, a short stop on foot; the goal of our morning walk is to reach the bridge below where the rider will be waiting for us with the saddled horses. The current of the Karakol River is impressive. It is on the other side of the river that starts horseback riding. A gentle ascent on horseback on an old track to reach the top of the mountain. On the plateau a panoramic view is offered to us. We stop for night very close to high mountains; to the left of us the Tuz Achuu pass that we'll cross tomorrow. night in tent at 3200m; 2;30 h walking; 3h of riding; gain+800; -200;
Day 5: Tuz Ashuu, Kyrgyzstan to Oi Kaying
The goal of this day is to arrive in the Oï Kaying Valley which is a summer alpine pasture. We must cross the Tuz Achou pass at 3800m. where we'ill see small glacial lakes. Small stops will be useful for us to relax the legs as well as to rest during the picnic. After a nice descent, here we are near a river again with nature, with a Kyrgyz pasture. From now on we are the neighbors of the shepherds. This is an opportunity to meet these inhabitants to see how they live, the "seminomades". We are far from civilization ... Starry night! night in tent at 2500m; 5h of riding; gain+600; -1300;
Day 6: Oi Kaying to pereval Mynteke, Kyrgyzstan
We move towards Mynteke, another pasture which means “a thousand ibexes”. As its name suggests, it was the habitat of a large number of mountain goats (ibex) in the past. Now their absence in its rocks explains the impact of human action on local biodiversity. As in the previous days we must cross the ridge via a 3900m pass. We see a glacial lake behind it. Now we move into the slope on the other side called Basaldy. We'll see white spots from a distance, these are yurts (“boz uї” felt house). We have arrived at Mynteke, it is time to taste “kymiz” (traditional Kyrgyz beverage). night in tent at 3100m; gain+1400; -900;
Day 7: pereval Mynteke to Besh Terek, Kyrgyzstan
We must be happy to touch the ground after a such adventure on horses, it’s time to explore these steppes on foot. We can already see a tiny bit of the plain, that’s where we’re going. The climate is different here, in a few km you will no longer have the same landscape; we now leave the high mountains for the village Beshtereck. But the beauty of Mynteke is not yet over; After a few km of walking in this fresh air we rush into the Kaptchygaї gorge which is different from what we have seen so far and it is thanks to the forest of willows which color the environment. At the exit of Kaptchygaї a very large space opens up to us; semi-desert steppes except agricultural land. night at the GH;5.6 hours of walking; elev. gain + almost zero, - 1600m approx.
Day 8: Besh Terek, Kyrgyzstan to Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Our journey continues to reach the famous Song-Kul lake. A high altitude lake which is quite large in volume and which has an environmental aesthetic typical of nomadic meadows. This day will be done in 3 stages; car transfer, walking and horse riding. After being dropped off near the Chilbel pass we will go up a pretty canyon. Arriving at the top a beautiful landscape opens up to us; the lake in front, the arid plains behind. We resume the “horse” activity, at the bottom horses are waiting to take us to the yurt camp near the lake. In the afternoon, there’s a possibility to climb the hills on horseback or by walk for a panoramic view of the lake. The day ends with a dinner in the yurt (canteen) after which everyone gets ready to spend their first night in a yurt. night in a yurt at 3050m; 3 hours of walking; 2.3 hours of horseback riding; elev. gain + 550m, -250m
Day 9: Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan to Son Kol lake, Kyrgyzstan
We can start the day with a wonderful sunrise at dawn at the very end of the lake if we are lucky with the weather which changes quickly here. We'll follow the north shore of the lake on horseback; the transition of the water color to turquoise, migratory birds and small meandering paths make this ride wonderful and pleasant. We will thus complete the stages on horseback arriving in another yurt camp near the lake. The possibility of swimming if the weather is nice (even if it isn’t). night in a yurt camp ; 3,4 hours of horseback riding, elev. gain +- almost zero
Day 10: Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan to kol Ukok lake
Today's goal is to visit an another high altitude lake Koel Ukok 3000m. Located near the village Kochkor. It's famous for its exceptional beauty. Early in the morning we leave Song-Koel lake via the Kalmak-Achou pass (3446m.) by bus. Direction Kochkor village where we will stop for supplies. A stage on foot in the afternoon to arrive at the camp on the banks of Koel-Ukok. The lake is located in the middle of large snow-capped mountains, what a splendid landscape. We will spend a night there to enjoy this serenity and be one with nature. Premeditation for tomorrow: a beautiful glacial lake at high… night in a yurt camp; transfer 5 h in total; 2h of walking; gain+450
Day 11: kol Ukok lake, Kyrgyzstan to Bokonbaevo, Kyrgyzstan
Day10. Kol Ukok – Bokonbaevo. A walk around the lake is planned. There’s a magnificent glacial lake of a few minutes of climbing from here. With a moderate pace we reach Lake Koel-Tor 3500m. Formed from melted glacier snow, it has a blue-green charm like a precious pebble. It's time to go back down because we have to see the sunset at the south beach of Issyk-Kul lake. Andiamo allegro. We turn back to the start point where the bus will wait for us. Just after Kochkor village we go past the Orto Tokoi reservoir, then our destination will be Ak-Say canyon. It’s a proof of nature’s creativity, going through the tunnel of its fabulous walls we can already see the Kyrgyz pearl, its majesty Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest salt lake in altitude..(1600m. above sea-level).
Day 12: Bokonbaevo, Kyrgyzstan to bishkek
This day is interesting with the discovery of the life of an “Eagleman” who didn’t leave this plain for the well-being of his pets, the golden eagles. Now we head towards Bishkek, on the road we visit the yurt manufacturing demonstration, here, in the Kyzyl Tuu village, everyone does this job, thus contributing to the conservation of the manufacturing of traditional houses. We continue the road to the capital, we will stop for lunch in a nice place. Our stay will end with our arrival in the city. Late afternoon; departure preparations, souvenir shopping. (night at the hotel; transfer – 4 hours;)
What's included
the price will cover everything ; food, accomodation, visits , logistics .
flight tickets , medical insurance.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
manas international airport to bishkek