HEAVENLY HORSES OF KYRG

10 Days | £2,450 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

RIDE THE ANCIENT SILK ROAD

OVERVIEW

This journey through Kyrgyzstan is designed for riders seeking a genuine encounter with one of Central Asia’s last remaining nomadic cultures, set within an extraordinary and largely untouched landscape. Travelling through the high pastures, lake shores and remote valleys of the Tien Shan Mountains, you experience a way of life that has changed little for centuries, where families still live seasonally among yurts and herds.

From the edges of Lake Issyk-Kul to the wide, open valleys of the Celestial Mountains, the riding is varied, expansive and deeply immersive. Along the way, you pass through local food and livestock markets, follow ancient Silk Road routes, and gain insight into the cultural influences that have shaped this region over time. Encounters with Kyrgyz hosts and neighbouring ethnic communities offer a rare perspective on daily life, traditions and cuisine.

This is a journey that prioritises authenticity, scale and cultural depth, experienced from the saddle and far from the modern world.

LET’S RIDE

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Explore two mountain-scapes that feel like Switzerland and the Steppe
Ride along the Silk Road very near to the ancient pass to China
Stay at Tash Rabat, the best preserved caravanserai in Kyrg
Venture to Kel-Suu close to the Chinese border
Fast riding across mountain plateaus
Visit Chartyr Kol
Spot Ibex, Marco Polo Sheep and large herds of Yaks
See the Milky Way with your own eyes at night
Stay at a boutique hotel in Bishkek
Relax in a stove-fuelled mountain sauna
Benefit from an air-conditioned transfer and support vehicle

OVERVIEW

RIDE GUIDE

Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights / 10 Days Riding

Cost: £2,450 sharing

Max Riders: 8

Arrival / Departure: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Riding Level: Our rides are for experienced riders who are balanced on their horses and in control galloping in open spaces. We only accept advanced riders for social reasons. Most of our guests are life-long riders.

Weight Limit: Maximum of 85kg/187lbs

Time in the saddle: 2 to 7 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

Night 1: Kamandy Jailoo – Yurt Camp

Nights 2,3,6,7,8: Tented Camps

Nights 4 & 5: Golden Moon Mountain Base

Night 9: Tash Rabat Yurt Camp

Night 10: Bishkek – Navat Hotel

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All meals, accommodation, horses, guides, support vehicle and transfers, entry for landmark sights, banya, bottled water and permit for Chinese border.

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 soms in small notes for buying incidentals and paying for public toilets at rest breaks during driving sections.

It may be possible to pay a single supplement of €320 for the additional charge for up to four nights depending on availability.

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 in the Kok-Kiya valley.

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 1000 som ($11), your hotel will charge around 2000 som ($25). There is an atm at airport.

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 almost zero at night on the mountain. The mountains are usually 10 degrees cooler than Bishkek.

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 €15.

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

All departures are £2,450 per person sharing. Your saddle is secured with a 30% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before the ride.

A single supplement of €320 for your own room at hotels is subject to availability.

2026

24 June to 04 July 2026 | Black Saddle Hosted Ride

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

APPLY NOW

KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan sits at the heart of Central Asia, shaped by mountains, migration, and the long memory of the Silk Roads. For centuries it lay on the edge of empires, Persian, Turkic, Mongol, and later Russian. Until the Russians arrived it’s Turkic people remained largely nomadic, moving with the seasons through the high pastures of the Tien Shan. Soviet rule forced sedentarisation in the 20th century, but independence in 1991 marked a return to cultural self-definition rather than a break with the past. Now most families live in the citires and villages and return to the mountains for three months over the summer to take air and take advantage of the mountain jailoos (meadows).

The landscape is overwhelmingly vertical. Snow-covered peaks rise above 7,000 metres, feeding alpine lakes, wide valleys, and rolling jailoo summer pastures. Much of the country remains roadless, accessible only on horseback, and the rhythm of life is still governed by altitude, weather, and grass. On our rides we often summit passes at 3-4,000 meters.

Horses are central to Kyrgyz identity. They are transport, livelihood, and symbol—woven into epic poetry, competitive games, and daily life. Traditional sports like kok-boru, endurance riding, and long-distance herding reflect a society shaped by movement. Even today, horses are not recreational accessories but working partners, linking modern Kyrgyzstan to a nomadic past that is still visibly alive.

The Kyrgyz are famously hospitable with their guests and the cities are very safe. You can safely walk around Bishkek at any time of the day or not without fear of crime.

While Muslim, their pre-islam belief of Tengrinism, sky and ancestor worship, still has significant meaning. Women are choosing to wear hijab more often though religion isn’t as noticeable as it is in other muslim countries.

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.

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 organise an optional dinner the night before where you can try local cuisine, visit a supermarket and meet other guests.
The first day of the tour starts with a transfer directly into the mountains, leaving the city behind as the landscape opens into wide valleys and high summer pastures.
The journey takes you deep into rural Kyrgyzstan, where nomadic life continues much as it has for generations.
On arrival at the Kamandy jailoo, meet your hosts and begin an introduction to the horses with a short ride across the surrounding pastures. This first ride allows time to settle into the rhythm of the journey and experience the scale and quiet of the highlands.
The evening is spent with a local family, sharing simple, home-cooked food and an insight into life on the jailoo.
Driving distance/time: 400km, 7 hours. Riding time: 2 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 150m
Overnight in a yurt. Altitude: 3,000m
Riding out across the Kamandy summer pastures, you follow established routes used by local herders, passing scattered yurt camps and grazing livestock along the way.
The route climbs steadily through open mountain terrain towards Lake Köl-Tör, a remote alpine lake set at around 3,000 metres. The riding is rewarding, offering long stretches to absorb the scale and quiet of the landscape as you gain altitude.
Camp is made near the lake, surrounded by high ridgelines and open sky.
Riding distance/time: 30km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 1,110m
Overnight in tents. Altitude: 3,100m
Start your day with an early breakfast followed by a ride out from Balik Suu, heading towards the wide, remote landscapes of the Aksai Valley, close to the Chinese border.
The route climbs gradually through open terrain, with long riding stretches across high mountain plateaus.
By afternoon, you arrive at the Kabyrga Bulak pastures, set at around 3,100 metres. This is a working summer grazing area, where families move seasonally with their herds, offering a rare insight into Kyrgyz pastoral life in one of the country’s most remote regions.
Camp is set on the pasture, surrounded by vast skies and an unmistakable sense of isolation.
Riding distance/time: 30km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 840m
Overnight in tents. Altitude: 3,400m
Today’s ride takes you into the Kök-Kiya Valley, a high mountain corridor known for its rich alpine flora and wildlife. The route undulates through open valleys and across higher ground, with changing perspectives as you gain and lose altitude.
As the valley opens, views extend towards the surrounding peaks and nearby glaciers, adding a dramatic backdrop to the day’s riding. The sense of remoteness deepens as you move further from settled ground.
You arrive in the Kök-Kiya Valley by afternoon, where you are welcomed into a traditional guest house the night.
Riding distance/time: 32km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 1,045m / 941m
Overnight in Golden Moon Guesthouse. Altitude: 3,500m
Today is spent exploring one of Kyrgyzstan’s most striking landscapes. Riding out from the Kök-Kiya Valley, you cross high ground towards the remote basin that holds Kel Suu Lake, set close to the Chinese border.
The lake and it’s turqiose waters are sometimes descried as the most beautiful in Kyrgyzstan. Its waters contained by sheer limestone cliffs that rise directly from the shoreline. The setting is dramatic with shifting light and colour throughout the day.
After time at the lake, you return the guesthouse through this stark and beautiful terrain.
Riding distance/time: 8km, 4 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 250m / 250m.
Overnight in Golden Moon Guesthouse. Altitude: 3,500m.
Leaving the Kök-Kiya Valley, you ride out across a wide, open landscape framed by rugged peaks and grazing yak herds. The terrain rises gently, allowing time to absorb the scale, silence, and sense of isolation that defines this region of southern Kyrgyzstan.
By early afternoon, you arrive at a former Soviet-era cultural centre in the Ak Sai Valley. Long since abandoned, it is now home to just a handful of nomadic families. Time is spent here with the residents, offering rare insight into a way of life shaped by remoteness, self-sufficiency, and the seasons.
Later in the day, riding continues through the surrounding valley before reaching camp.
Riding distance/time: 30km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 500m / 200m.
Overnight in a yurt. Altitude: 3,100m.
This morning’s ride is more straightforward but engaging, crossing open terrain and several shallow river crossings. Some sections allow for longer, faster riding where conditions permit.
As the day unfolds, the landscape opens into broad pastureland, and after a full day in the saddle you arrive at the Karool Dobo pastures in the late afternoon. The setting is expansive and quiet, defined by high altitude and open skies.
Camp is set on the pasture for the night.
Riding distance/time: 35km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 200m
Overnight in tents. Altitude: 3,200m.
Leaving Karool Dobo in the morning, you ride across a high plateau towards Lake Chatyr-Kul, the third largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. The climb is gradual and unforced, allowing the scale of the landscape to unfold slowly—wide valleys, open horizons, and increasingly rugged ground.
As altitude is gained, the terrain becomes starker and more elemental. By late afternoon, you reach the outskirts of Chatyr-Kul, a vast, isolated lake set at over 3,500 metres, often shared with grazing yak herds and free-roaming horses.
Camp is made close to the lake, offering a rare sense of space and stillness in one of the country’s most remote regions.
Riding distance/time: 32km, 7 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 150m
Overnight in tents. Altitude: 3,500m.
Today’s ride follows a historic route once used by traders moving between Central Asia and China. Leaving the shores of Chatyr-Kul, you ride through high mountain terrain towards Tash Rabat, a well-preserved stone caravanserai dating back to the Silk Road era.
The route traverses remote Chinese borderland landscapes, where altitude and exposure heighten the sense of place. By afternoon, you arrive at Tash Rabat, set in a narrow valley beneath steep surrounding slopes. Time is taken to explore the caravanserai and understand its role as a refuge for travellers centuries ago.
The day concludes with a warm, unhurried evening in a traditional yurt.
Riding distance/time: 14km, 4 hours.
Ascent/Decent: 500m / 900m
Overnight in Ak Sai Yurt camp. Altitude: 4,000m.
The morning at Tash Rabat is unhurried, offering time to take in the setting before leaving the mountains behind. After breakfast, you depart by road, travelling back towards Bishkek through a changing landscape that gradually gives way to wider valleys and settlements.
A lunch stop is taken en route before arriving in the capital in the late afternoon. The journey concludes with time to settle into the hotel, followed by a farewell dinner with the team, marking the end of the expedition.
Overnight in Navat hotel in Bishkek.
No Riding Today.
Driving distance/time: 430km, 7 hours
Depending on your departing flight, enjoy a final breakfast at the Navat hotel before transferring to Manas Airport in Bishkek (40 km) and catching your international flight.

PRICES & AVAILABILITY

All departures are £2,450 per person sharing.

2026

24 June to 04 July 2026 | Black Saddle Hosted Ride

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

Your saddle is secured with a 30% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before the ride.

Cancellation Terms

More than 90 days in advance the full deposit is returned net of bank charges and a £250 cancellation fee per rider to cover our time spent organising your holiday.

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

APPLY NOW

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 Song Kol and you will see thousands of horses living by the lake. 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 effective to 0 degree celcius to stay warm at all times, especially for the two nights you will spend on the mountain in Chong Kemin National Park.

TEMPERATURE

RAINY DAYS

RAINFALL

ACCOMMODATION

GOLDEN MOON GUESTHOUSE

**Night 4, 5**
Golden Moon is a rustic guest house and yurt camp located in the remote Kok-Kiya Valley near Lake Kel-Suu, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most striking high-mountain lakes. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Tien Shan mountains, the property offers simple but comfortable accommodation with a strong sense of place, close to the natural landscapes you’ve travelled to experience.
We stay in basic twin rooms with a nearby dining room hosting meals and providing charge points.

SIMPLE DOME TENTS

**Night 2, 3, 6, 7, 8**
On the trail you will sleep in simple dome tents on camping mattresses. A short drop loo will be dug.
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 micropure tablets or a filter water bottle for drinking water.
Biodegradable wipes can be used for washing and disposed of in the campfire.

NAVAT HOTEL

**Night 10**
is a charming, locally styled three-star boutique hotel in the heart of Bishkek, set within easy walking distance of city highlights such as Osh Bazaar, Ala-Too Square and museums.
The hotel offers comfortable twin rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, alongside facilities including a terrace, bar/lounge and daily buffet breakfast.

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 beware 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.