APPALOOSAS OF THE ALA-TOO

RIDE GUIDE

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights / 7 Days Riding

Cost: £1,950 sharing

Max Riders: 8

Arrival: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, pick up from airport is included at a set time.

Riding Level: Our rides are for experienced riders who are balanced on their horses and in control galloping in open spaces. Ideally you are a life-long rider that has owned your own horse. We look for a minimum of 10+ years riding experience.

Weight Limit: Maximum of 85kg/187lbs. As horses in Kyrgyzstan are typically smaller please contact us directly if you are over this weight limit. There are a small number of larger horses for larger riders.

Time in the saddle: 2 to 8 hours a day

HORSES

Kyrgyz ponies typically smaller and perfectly adapted for the high altitude. You’ll horse will be from the appaloosa herd or a mixed breed with some arab or russian types crossed in. Most are around 14hh with some larger options.

The horses are forward, safe, with an active walk and well adapted to trail riding.

Tack is a lower quality that what we are used to in the west but very comfortable. A metal or wooden saddle tree is balanced on layers of thick felt saddle pads and covered with a cushion for comfort. Bridles are simple canvas or leather and bits sit loose in the horses mouth.

ACCOMMODATION

Three nights are spent in traditional yurts. These are round felt lined tents. You will sleep in layers of bedding on the ground in traditional Kyrgyz style. You are welcome to bring your own tent for privacy but it should be light weight a pack very small so that it will fit in your saddle bags.

Three nights are spent in simple dome tents. There are no showers but there is always a stream or river nearby for washing.

One night is spent at a simple guesthouse in Toktogul, the family home of your hosts.

One night is spent at Navat Hotel in Bishkek (or similar).

KYRGYZSTAN

Travelling to Kyrgyzstan is like jumping in a time machine. You land in soviet Bishkek with street signs all in Cyrillic. Russian is widely spoken in the capital city. Though the republic gained independence from the ex-USSR in 1991, Lenin still stands at the back of the National Museum.

The main street is a wide soviet boulevard that once had military parades down it but is now filled with families enjoying cool evenings watching concerts, playing fair games and buying helium balloons for the kids.

Outside of Bishkek Kyrgyz speak their own language. It’s Turkic and partially intelligible with people from Turkey. A lingual link as both peoples originated from Siberia where petroglyphs and the names of the lakes and mountains there are recognisably similar.

Malls look like ours did in the 80s and 90s with cigarettes displayed over the checkout counters. Weed is illegal but it grows wild here. Alcohol isn’t sold in most local restaurants as Kyrgyz have been Muslim since the Arabs beat the Chinese in the Battle of Talas in the 8th century. You can still easily pick up litres of beer from the store though and small bottles of apricot cognac for a mere £3.50. It’s so delicious you don’t need any mixer.

Kyrgyz are very friendly and the country is generally very safe. You can walk around the capital Bishkek with your phone out with no issues which is more than what you can say for London!

PRICES & AVAILABILITY

2026

The ride costs £1,950 per person sharing. As the balance is less than €2,000 the full amount if due to reserve your saddle.

07 - 15 August 2026 - 8 Guests

2027

Prices and dates are expected in November. We will run four departures from late June to August.

To make an enquiry you can fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile and we will get back to you when dates are released.

HOW TO BOOK

As the balance is less than £2,000 the full amount if due to reserve your saddle.

Cancellation Terms

More than 90 days in advance 30% of the full deposit is forfeited.

90 - 0 days in advance 100% of the full amount is forfeited.

WEATHER + CLIMATE

Kyrgyzstan is 85% mountainous and for more than half of the year the alpine meadows and mountain passes we ride through are covered in snow. We time our rides to make the most of the good weather. Riding in the mountains can bring any weather at any time of year and you should bring many layers to make sure you stay warm and dry on your holiday.

Bishkek lies at 800 meters above sea level and can reach temperatures of 40 degree celcius in summer. It’s much cooler in the mountains, usually not exceeding 25 degrees.

June: Animals are well fed and gorging on the new grass and having their young. We love this time of year as it’s when fields of wildflowers pop up all over the mountains. Yurts are surrounded by fields of forget-me-nots, perfect for lying in for sunny afternoon naps.

July: By July most of the animals have been moved up to the mountains for summer grazing and you will see herds of horses where stallions run with their mares and foals. There are less rainy days in July and the warmest temperatures for the year.

August: August has the lowest rainfall. There may be the odd storm but it never lasts long. The animals have grazed the grass down and shepherds are preparing to take their animals back down to the villages for the start of winter.

This is a mountainous ride and good wet weather gear is essential. You will need an excellent gore-tex or PVC coat and trousers. Waxed cotton will not be enough here.

We recommend a sleeping bag comfortable to 0 degree celcius to stay warm at all times. A good sleeping mat is essential. You should buy a light weight inflatable mat with a R rating of 4 minumum.

MEALS

Meal times in Kyrgyzstan start with decadent table-scapes of sweets, dried fruit, nuts, bread, fruit, jams and cream. In nomad times everything available was put onto the table and offered to guests.

Main meals usually consist of meat and onions over potatoes, buckwheat or rice with carrot, tomato, cucumber, peppers or cabbage. Often you are served meat and vegetable soup as a starter.

Plov is a very popular buttered rice served with vegetables and meat dish. Also popular is pasta with cabbage and steamed or fried dumplings stuffed with meat or stir-fry noodles with meat. Watermelon is often served as dessert.

They are not that familiar with making vegetarian dishes though are learning to adapt. Vegetarians be aware that sometimes they think that picking meat out of the group dish will be acceptable to you!

The meals are typically carb-heavy. Gluten-free diets might want to bring their own bread to supplement meals as yurt camps will typically only make one dish for all guests.

Hot chai (black tea) is served at every meal. Bottled water is provided every day.