HORSEBACK TREK IN THE CELESTIAL MOUNTAINS
This itinerary includes several horse treks in different locations, allowing travellers to rest in a hotel or guesthouse between treks, as it is often not possible to shower or sleep in a comfortable bed during the treks.
DAY 1: BISHKEK – KYZART – KILEMCHE
Transfer to the village of Kyzart. The horseback trek begins in the afternoon, and we will have lunch with locals in Kyzart. Meet our guide-groom and his horses. Kyrgyz horses are very docile, and you will have horses that are used to tourists. After a 4-hour trek, we will arrive at the mountain pasture called ‘Kilemche’. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation gain: +1,600 m
DAY 2: KILEMCHE – SON-KOL LAKE
In the morning, after breakfast, we continue the trek. We climb to the Jalgyz-Karagay pass (3,300 m) and descend to the lake. Lunch in a yurt. Then we ride back on horseback and arrive at a place called ‘Jaman-Echki’. 4-5 hours of trekking. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation: +800; -300 m
DAY 3: SON-KOL LAKE- NARYN
We are in no hurry, so we take our time in the morning and set off for the town of Naryn. Easy short walks along the road. It takes about 3 hours to get there. We settle in and rest in a small, comfortable hotel. Dinner in a restaurant.
Elevation: – 1000 m
DAY 4: NARYN – KYZYL TUU – SHYRYKTY
In the morning, our driver will take us to the starting point of the horseback trek, not far from the village of Kyzyl-Tuu in the At-Bashy region. We will meet our local guide and his horses. We will trek on horseback for about 5 hours before setting up our tents in the beautiful Shyrykty Valley.
Elevation gain: +1,100 m
DAY 5: SHYRYKTY – TASH RABAT
We continue the trek and cross a small pass (3,450 m) to reach Tash Rabat, a 11th-century caravanserai. We settle into a yurt camp. We arrive at midday. Lunch. Free afternoon, visit to the caravanserai. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt (but there is also a beautiful, well-heated house).
Elevation: +350; -350 m
DAY 6: TASH RABAT – PANORAMA – TASH RABAT
6-7 hour horse trek (round trip) to climb to the Panorama Pass (4050) to see Chatyr-Kol lake located on the other side of the mountain range. Return in the evening to the same yurt camp.
Elevation: +950; -950 m
DAY 7: TASH RABAT – CHON KEMIN
Transfer to the village of Kalmak-Ashu in the Chon-Kemin valley. En route, 2-hour walk in the Konorchek canyons. Arrival in the Chon-Kemin valley in the afternoon. Check-in at a guesthouse.
Elevation: -1,400 m
DAY 8: CHON KEMIN – TORU-AIGYR VALLEY
In the morning, the local guide and groom will pick us up with his horses. We will set off on our horse trek. We will pass through villages and forests and cross rivers before arriving at a place called ‘the foot of the Toru-Aigyr valley’, where we will set up our tents.
Elevation gain: +600 m
DAY 9: TORU-AIGYR VALLEY – KOL KOGUR
We continue the trek and our goal for today is to reach the shore of the small Kol-Kogur lake. Five-hour trek on horseback. Upon arrival, we set up our tents next to the lake.
Elevation gain: +900 m
DAY 10: KOL KOGUR – ISSYK KOL
We climb even higher up the Toru-Aigyr Pass, from where we can see the country’s largest lake, Issyk-Kol. We hike for another 4 hours before meeting our driver, who will take us to a village on the lake shore. Swimming in the lake, rest. Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.
Elevation: -1600 m
DAY 11: ISSYK KOL – BISHKEK
Drive to the capital. En route, we will visit the 11th-century Burana Tower. Arrival in Bishkek in the afternoon. City tour. Check-in at the hotel. Farewell dinner at a restaurant.
Elevation: -800 m
DAY 12: AIRPORT TRANSFER
Transfer to Bishkek Airport. Have a safe journey!
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