- Visit Song-Kol and Kol-Ukok Lakes — two of Kyrgyzstan’s alpine lakes.
- Enjoy horseback riding through stunning mountain landscapes.
- Experience authentic nomadic life while staying in traditional yurts.
- Explore remote rural Kyrgyz life in a traditional villages.
Day 1. Drive to Kochkor Village. Horse riding to Kol-Ukok Lake
• Begin your journey early from Bishkek toward Kochkor Village near Kol-Ukok Lake. Stop for lunch at a local guesthouse before meeting your horse and guide.
• The ride begins along gentle trails following the Ukok River, giving you time to get comfortable and familiar with your horse. As the day progresses, traverse challenging passes and rugged mountain landscapes, passing the houses of local herders, and arriving by early evening at a yurt camp on the serene shores of Kol-Ukok Lake. Here, you can relax, observe traditional nomadic life, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
• Settle into a yurt for the night, savor dinner prepared by local hosts, and immerse yourself in an authentic Kyrgyz experience, surrounded by nature and mountain vistas.
Transfer:
Total: 200 km – 3-4 h.
Asphalt: 200 km
Dirt road: 0 km
Horse riding: 15 km – 4h.
Meals:
lunch at guesthouse,
dinner at yurt
Overnight: yurt (3000m)
WC: Sharing WC
Internet: No
Shower: No
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Day 2. Horse riding to Ak-Kiya Village
• After a peaceful night by Kol-Ukok Lake, start your day with a breakfast in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt. Say goodbye to your hosts and saddle up for a challenging ride over Kyzyl-Jar Pass (3600 m), where the trail tests your skills and rewards you with sweeping alpine vistas.
• At the top, enjoy a picnic lunch amid panoramic views, breathing in the silence and snapping photos. Descend into the vast Kara-Kujur Valley, arriving by early evening in the remote village of Ak-Kiya.
• Stretch your legs with a quiet walk through the simple village streets, where tradition thrives. End the day with a homemade dinner and settle in for a restful night, surrounded by the tranquility of the Kyrgyz mountains.
Transfer:
Total: 0
Horse riding: 18 km – 5-6 h.
Meals:
Breakfast at yurt,
lunch-picnic, ,
dinner at homestay
Overnight: homestay
WC: Sharing WC outside
Internet: Mobile phone
Shower: Local sauna
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Day 3. Horse riding to Dolon Pass
• After giving the horses a well-deserved rest, your third day begins with a ride through Ak-Kiya Village, passing traditional homes and fields, glimpsing the rhythm of rural Kyrgyz life. The trail soon climbs, leaving gentle farmland behind for rugged mountain terrain. As you ascend, rolling hills and distant peaks stretch endlessly before you.
• Pause mid-morning for a picnic lunch amid pristine alpine surroundings, breathing in the crisp mountain air. The trail continues along ridges with sweeping panoramic views, where every turn reveals untouched beauty.
• In the late afternoon, cross the Bishkek-Torugart highway, a fleeting reminder of the outside world, before reaching your cozy yurt near Dolon Pass. Here, a shepherd family welcomes you with a hearty dinner and stories by the fire under the star.
Transfer:
Total: 0
Horse riding: 18 km – 5-6h.
Meals:
Breakfast at homestay,
lunch-picnic,
dinner at yurt
Overnight: yurt (2900m)
WC: Sharing WC
Internet: No
Shower: No
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
– After three days of riding, if you’d like a gentler pace, try our classic 3–4 day horseback tour from Kyzart Village to Song-Kol Lake, featuring easier trails and more comfortable yurt stays.
Day 4. Horse riding to Kumduu-Suu Valley
• After a hearty breakfast, prepare your horses and mount up for the ride toward Dolon Pass. The trail steadily ascends, rewarding your effort with a panoramic view: the deep green sweep of Ken-Suu Valley below and the rugged contours of the Kara-Unkur gorge etched into the mountains.
• Pause for a leisurely picnic lunch in a calm, sheltered spot before continuing on a gentler afternoon ride into the wide, serene Ken-Suu Valley. Rolling hills, open pastures, and grazing sheep surround you, with yurts dotting the distance.
. As the sun sets, arrive at a welcoming yurt in the valley, where your horses rest and a local Kyrgyz family greets you with a traditional dish. Spend the evening sharing stories by the fire beneath the star-filled sky.
Transfer:
Total: 0
Horse riding: 20 km – 4-5 h.
Meals:
Breakfast at yurt,
lunch at yurt,
dinner at yurt
Overnight: yurt (2800m)
WC: Sharing WC
Internet: No
Shower: No
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Day 5. Horse riding to Kumduu-Suu Valley
• After breakfast, you bid farewell to your Kyrgyz host family and saddle up for the ride toward Song-Kol Lake. The trail ascends to Terskey Torpu Pass, where you catch your first glimpse of the turquoise lake ringed by distant mountains – a breathtaking reward for days of riding through valleys and over passes.
• At the top, pause for a picnic lunch while the horses rest, giving everyone time to soak in the view and the fresh mountain air. The descent winds slowly through open grasslands toward the lake’s eastern edge, reaching the secluded Kumduu-Suu Valley, where peace and solitude prevail. At day’s end, a cozy yurt awaits, set up by local herders.
• As night falls, the highland sky fills with stars, offering a restful and magical night just a short ride from Song-Kol.
Transfer:
Total: 0
Horse riding: 20 km – 5-6 h.
Meals:
Breakfast at yurt,
lunch at yurt,
dinner at yurt
Overnight: yurt (3100m)
WC: Sharing WC
Internet: No
Shower: No
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Day 6. Horse riding to Uzbek-Ashuu Pasture
• Today you will finally experience the full beauty of Song-Kol Lake from its shoreline. After breakfast, you’ll begin riding along the northern shore, following a smooth and open terrain that offers the perfect opportunity for some relaxed galloping. The vast landscapes, fresh mountain air, and endless horizon create an unforgettable atmosphere as you travel beside the shimmering lake.
• Around midday, you’ll stop at a yurt on the shore for a warm, traditional lunch and a well-deserved rest. Afterwards, you’ll continue your journey along the lake, gradually making your way toward the Uzbek-Ashuu pasture.
• Upon arrival, you will settle into a welcoming yurt for the evening. This will be your final night in a traditional yurt during the trip, making it a memorable end to your nomadic experience.
Transfer:
Total: 0
Horse riding: 20 km – 5-6 h.
Meals:
Breakfast at yurt,
lunch at yurt,
dinner at yurt
Overnight: yurt (2300m)
WC: Sharing WC
Internet: No
Shower: No
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
Day 7. Horse riding to Kyzart Village. Drive to Bishkek.
• Today marks the final day of your journey. After breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and begin your ride toward the Uzbek-Ashuu Pass at 3,300 meters. From the top, you’ll enjoy one last view of Song-Kol Lake before descending toward Kyzart Village.
• The final hours of riding lead you back to the village, where you’ll part ways with the horses that have accompanied you for seven memorable days. At the guesthouse, enjoy a well-earned lunch and a moment to rest after your long adventure.
Afterwards, you’ll drive back to Bishkek, gradually leaving the peaceful nomadic world behind and returning to the rhythm of modern civilization.
Transfer: Total: 280 km – 4 h. Asphalt: 280 km Dirt road: 0 km Horse riding: 16 km – 4 h Meals: Breakfast at yurt, lunch at guesthouse |
NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS
