OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IN THE CELESTIAL MOUNTAINS
OVERVIEW
Join us for this exploratory ride in Kyrgyzstan. We have met the guides and horses but this will be the first run-through of this exciting, new, remote adventure.
Kyrgyzstan is famous for it’s Tien Shan (Celestial) Mountains.
On this ride you will join Kalyinur whose family is famous for saving the native Chaar At - local appaloosa / leopard complex horses who have been DNA tested as having ancient spotty genes.
We’ll cross mountain passes, gallop through alpine valleys, witness a game of Kok Boru played with the headless body of a goat, dine in yurts while seated on the floor, dance around bonfires and swim in the glacial fed waters of Toktogal.
Escape back in time to this heavenly paradise.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Hosted by Black Saddle founder, Emma, who has spent almost a year total in Kyrgyzstan scouting rides.
Totally off-grid mountain riding
Ride with Kyrgyzstan’s premier Appaloosa (Chaar At) Breeder
Finish at Toktogal Reservoir
Discover the home country of poet Toktogal
Stay in a mixture of yurts and remote camp sites
Witness the traditional game of Kok-Boru
See the Milky Way with your own eyes at night
Stay at a comfortable hotel in Bishkek
Car supported for all but two nights for comfort and safety
OVERVIEW
RIDE GUIDE
Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights / 6 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. We look for 10+ years riding experience.
Weight Limit: Maximum of 85kg/187lbs
Time in the saddle: 2 to 8 hours a day
HORSES
Kyrgyz ponies typically smaller and perfectly adapted for the high altitude however it’s now fashionable to have larger horses and most of our horses will be above 15hh.
You will ride stallions (who don’t realise they’re still intact). The horses are typically very docile though some can become forward in gallop. Our guides will assign your a horse to match your need for speed.
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
Four 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. Yurts have cowpat fuelled stoves to keep you warm at night. 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 is spent in simple dome tents. There are no showers.
One night is spent at a simple guesthouse in Toktogul.
One night is spent at Navat Hotel in Bishkek (or similar).
A single supplement is available for the last night in the Bishkek hotel for £80.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All meals, accommodation, horses, guides, transfers, support vehicle for all but two nights, sauna, bottled water.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
The price does not include international or domestic flights, alcohol, mandatory travel insurance, or staff tips (which are optional but appreciated).
ATMs are available near the two markets on the tour where you can buy souvenirs. It’s a good idea to carry about 2,000 Kyrgyz Soms (about €20) in small notes for buying incidentals and paying for public toilets at rest breaks during driving sections.
You are able to get your own room at the hotel in Bishkek for £80.
RIDING
You must be an experienced, confident rider to join this ride. Because of the mountainous terrain most of the ride is at walk with some opportunities to gallop.
The horses work hard at high altitude and so we only accept well balanced, experienced riders that will not push them unnecessarily and ride in a long loose rein on the mountain.
TRAVEL & VISAS
Since 2012 British, USA and most European nationals don’t need a visa to enter and stay for up to 60 days.
TRANSFERS
Transfers from Manas Airport in Bishkek are included if arriving and departing on arrival and departure dates.
If arriving a day early as recommended you can catch a taxi into town. Manas Airport is a 30-40 minute drive from the city. A reasonable price for a taxi from the airport is 1500 som (€15), your hotel will charge around 5000 som ($50). There is an atm at airport.
Recommended Flights:
06 July 2026: TK344 arriving to Bishkek at 08:45am. Your guide will be waiting for you at the airport. Those arriving on earlier flights will be collected at the airport at 08:45am.
13 July 2026: TK343 07:30 to Istanbul.
Important: When selecting flights to Bishkek ensure you have at least two hours to transfer in Istanbul. Flights can be delayed and it takes some time to get to your next gate. You will need to pass through security again. Bags are checked all the way through.
MEALS
Kyrgyz food includes a lot of bread, soups, meat dumplings served with buckwheat and vegetables.
Breakfast on trail always includes hot green tea that the locals drink instead of water. You will eat porridge (rice and oat), yogurt, crepes, small pancakes, eggs and fresh bread.
Lunches and dinners are picnic style with cold cuts, breads, and canned fish while on trail and fresh cucumber and tomato salads, hot soups, pasta, dumplings, and meat on potatoes.
You will have an opportunity to drink kumis - fermented mares milk. It’s an acquired taste for foreigners but a daily drink for locals. You might have the opportunity to drink fresh mares milk too. It’s surprisingly sweet!
Kyrgyzstan is a muslim country though alcohol is readily available to purchase at supermarkets. This is a dry trip though you are welcome to bring your own alcohol.
WHAT TO PACK
Refer to our FAQ for what to pack on a horse riding holiday.
The key to packing well for riding in the mountains, even in summer, is layers. We recommend you pack:
A down jacket, a warm jumper, a very warm sleeping bag effective to 0 degrees, silk sleeping bag liner, rain gear (waterproof trousers should have an opening on the outside at the bottom of the leg in order to put on and take off without removing your trekking boots), 2-3 pairs of warm socks, waterproof trekking boots, underwear, gloves, sunglasses, sun cream with high UV-protection, lip balm with UV-protection, torch, personal medicine, metal water bottle (0.75 L), riding chaps, Micropure (or any other water purification).
We always recommend you wear hiking boots and half chaps when on a riding holiday. Always wear boots you are happy to walk in.
The weather can range from 40 degrees in Bishkek to zero at night on the mountain. The mountains are usually 15 degrees cooler than Bishkek during the day.
INTERNET
You will be out of cell range for portions of the ride. We recommend purchasing a O! sim card on arrival at the airport. The store is located to the left after customs. Unlimited internet for two weeks will cost around €6.
If your phone doesn’t take sims, or if you would prefer to organise a sim ahead of time, download an e-sim from Airalo and install before you arrive to be connected at all times.
Use our code BLACKS3976 to receive $3 off your e-sim credit.
Your guest houses will have wifi.
DATES + RATES
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.
A single supplement of £80 for your own room in the 5* hotel in Bishkek on your final night.
06 - 13 July 2026 - 8 Guests + Black Saddle Host
To make an enquiry you can fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile and we will get back to you with loads of information and availability.
GET IN TOUCH
Fill in an obligation-free rider form and we will share information on the ride
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 in front 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!
ITINERARY
Rides are intended to be run as shared but Kyrgyzstan is mountainous and weather can be unpredictable. Your guide may need to adapt your itinerary according to weather conditions.
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As 90% of flights arrive around between 2am and 5am we recommend arriving a day early to rest from the flight and enjoy exploring Bishkek.
We will share details on how to catch a taxi to your hotel (it’s veyry easy) and recommend hotels at different price points.
We will organise an optional dinner the night before where you can try local cuisine, visit a supermarket and meet other guests.
We recommend staying at Navat or Orion Hotels.
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Collection from Bishkek Airport at 8:30am or from your central Bishkek hotel at 9am.
The group will travel through the Too-Ashuu Pass, zig-zagging up to 3,180m at the summit before shooting through a tunnel and emerging from the other side to witness the great plains and mountain peaks of Suusamyr Valley.
After a traditional Kyrgyz lunch in the newly built yurt with glorious views over the the Ala Too range you’ll enjoy a short introduction ride to try out the horses.
Overnight in a modern yurt with a warm stove and external banya. (sauna).
Driving distance/time: 196km, 3 hours.
Overnight and dinner in Kalyinur’s yurt with Starlink wifi.
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We begin our ride by climbing the mountain behind yurt camp towards the quieter valley behind the peaks.
We’ll cross Tuz Ashuu pass to reach our campsite by the river.
5-6 Hours Riding. 28 kilometres.
Overnight in tents
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We follow the Madylbek River up to its junction with the Suusamyr River, then ride up the Suusamyr Valley until reaching the Chymyndy summer pasture, where we meet our sprinter bus.
We’ll have the chance for some fast gallops today.
5 - 6 Hours Riding
Overnight in a yurt.
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We head into the Jaisan Valley, crossing the 3600 m Muztor Pass.
Our campsite is nearby the Jaisan River
5-6 Hours Riding
Overnight in Tents
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Today we head towards the summer grazing for the appaloosa herd and we should get sight of the famous breeding stallion Chaar Sulu and his mares and foals.
5-6 Hours Riding
Overnight in a yurt.
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This is the longest riding day on our trip and the most technical. We’ll weave through the high passes on the mountains on our way to Toktogul. Two are at 3,400 meters.
Up to eight hours riding - possibly longer depending on weather conditions. Approx 30 kilometers.
Overnight in Tents
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After breakfast we’ll make the drive back to Bishkek crossing the Ala Too mountain range.
After lunch in the city we’ll visit Osh Bazar where you can find all sorts or souvenirs and horse riding equipment to take home.
We’ll enjoy our final dinner in town.
Overnight at Navat Hotel (or similar)
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Departure to the airport to make your flight
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
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.
A single supplement of £80 for your own room in the hotel in Bishkek on your final night.
06 - 13 July 2026 - 8 Guests + Black Saddle Host
To make an enquiry you can fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile and we will get back to you with loads of information and availability.
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.
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 5 minumum.
TEMPERATURE
RAINY DAYS
RAINFALL
ACCOMMODATION
SIMPLE DOME TENTS
Nights 2, 4, 6,
On the mountain you will sleep in simple dome tents.
Camp is close to a steam for water for a face wash. You guides will boil water for drinking though we recommend you also bring micropur tablets or a filter water bottle for drinking water.
Biodegradable wipes can be used for washing and disposed of in the campfire.
Yurts
Nights 1, 3, 5
Yurts are traditional shepherd yurts rather than tourists yurts so everyone will sleep in a single yurt with your sleeping mat and bag. You are welcome to pitch your tent for more privacy.
All have a cowpat fired stoves for heat. Meals are taken seated on cushions on the floor.
One yurt has a banya - a mountain sauna.
All the yurts are completely off-grid.
Guest House
Night 7
One night is spent in a small guest house owned by your own family in shared rooms.
NAVAT HOTEL
Night 8
Huge, grand, soviet, like something out of Wes Anderson film, this hotel welcomes heads of state and celebrities. The building also houses the Swiss, German and British embassies.
Each room has a bathtub to wash away the mountain. There is an excellent onsite spa, a gym, bar and restaurant.
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. We provide bottled water every day.