A DARING ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF HEAVEN
OVERVIEW
The Mountains of Heaven (Tien Shan) form a natural border between Kyrgyzstan and the Middle Kingdom - China. Far away from civilisation these mountains and glaciers have been a place of refuge for nomads and their herds of yaks and sheep for thousands of years.
You traverse two mountain passes at 4000 meters, discover petroglyphs, galciers, kurgan (burial) mounds, and broken remnants of soviet monuments with the tell-tale red star.
This expedition finishes in Kaindy Valley with a soak in soviet hot pools that once serviced a now abandoned mining town.
For the fit and the brave.
Let’s Ride
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Stunning mountainscapes
Pack horse supported
Soviet hot pools
Excellent wildlife viewing (marco polo sheep, ibex, eagles, yaks)
Glacial views
Visit the abandoned soviet mining town of Engilchek
Stay at a soviet farmhouse
Jeep transfers
Photographer guide
OVERVIEW
RIDE GUIDE
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights / 5 days riding
Cost: €2,100 per person sharing + a single supplement for your own room
Operator: Ibraim
Languages: You must speak fluent english to join our rides
Max Riders: 8
Departing: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Riding Level: Advanced. Many years riding with a natural seat and most importantly, horse sense. You must also be generally fit.
Weight Limit: Maximum of 85kg
Time in the saddle: 4 - 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.
You will take just what can fit in a saddle bag.
ACCOMMODATION
Nights 1, 6,7: Twin share hotel rooms
Nights 2,3,4: Twin share tent
Night 5: Shepherds hut with real beds, dorm style bunk accommodation in fireplace heated home.
This is a camping trip in simple dome tents. The equipment is new and in good condition.
Camp will have a central mess tent for sharing meals and hanging out when not riding.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All meals, accommodation, horses, guides, borderland visa, banya, 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 soms in small notes for buying incidentals and paying for public toilets at rest breaks during driving sections.
RIDING
Advanced. Many years riding with a natural seat and most importantly, horse sense. You must also be generally fit.
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 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.
Meals are simple on trail and we cannot cater for vegetarians or gluten free diets.
Breakfast on trail always includes hot green tea that the locals drink instead of water. You will eat porridge (rice and oat), yogurt, eggs and 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 most of this adventure but you should buy a sim card for the days that we are travelling by car. 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 €5.
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.
DATES + RATES
All departures are €2,100 per person sharing. Your saddle is secured with the full balance.
A single supplement of €150 for your own room at hotels is subject to availability.
2025
05 - 13 July 2025 PIONEER RIDE
We can organise private groups on request with a minimum of 8 riders.
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.
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 Natural History 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
This itinerary is intended as a guide only. Your hosts may change the itinerary to take advantage of weather conditions.
04th July: Arrival - We recommend you arrive the day before the ride to rest and explore Bishkek. If arriving early we can recommend hotels for your night in Bishkek.
05th July: Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol - Arrive to Manas Airport for collection at 8:30am if not arriving the day before. Jeep transfer to Karakol (6 hours) Hotel Accommodation
06th July: Day 2: Karakol - Sary-Jaz valley - Transfer to Sary-Jaz valley 5h driving. Tent accommodation.
07th July: Day 3: Sary-Jaz valley - Tuz pass - Our riding begins as we climb towards our first pass. Riding time c. 20km. 6-7 hours riding. Tent accommodation.
08th July: Day 4: Tuz pass - Enilchek valley - Travers Tuz pass at 4000m. Continue down the mountains and arrive to close glacier area for camp. C. 20km Tent accommodation.
09th July: Day 5: Enilchek valley - At-Jailoo pass - Traverse foothills before climbing At-Jailoo pass. C. 20km. Tent accommodation.
10th July: Day 6: At-Jailoo high pass - Kaindy valley - Riding down to Kaindy valley around 20km. Visit local sauna. Shepherds hut accommodation.
11th July: Day 7: Kaindy valley - Karakol - Panoramic ride around Kaindy valley with a glimpse of Engilchek glacier. 2-3h. Drive to Karakol stopping at soviet hot pools. Hotel Accommodation
12th July: Day 8: Karakol - Bishkek - Travel day back to Bishkek via South shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. We’ll enjoy our final dinner in the city. Hotel Accommodation
13th July: Day 9: Bishkek - Departure any time. Most flights depart between 3am and 10:30am.
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
2025 DATES | €2,100
05 - 13 July 2025 - Pioneer Ride
Pioneer rides are the first run through of an itinerary. Things are expected to be polished and perfect - but they might not be. You must be able to go with the flow and keep in good spirits as we navigate things for the first time.
Fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile with your preferred dates and we will get back to you with availability.
HOW TO BOOK
Saddles are reserved with payment of the full balance.
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 - 61 days in advance the deposit or 50% of the full amount is forfeited.
60 – 0 days in advance 100% of the full amount is forfeited.
YOUR GUIDE
IBRAIM
Ibraim was born in Karakol and grew up exploring these mountains and spending time with his family at their country house on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul.
His foray into the tourism industry began in 2016, driven by his deep love for the mountains and the desire to showcase the unparalleled wonders of Kyrgyzstan to the world. For many years he worked for a top agency and hotel company in Karakol before leaving to create his own expeditions.
