On the footsteps of great adventurers of the Silk Road

12 Days
Horseback Riding

Kyrgyzstan

12 days with 9 days of horseback riding on high plateau of Tien Shan.

Follow the footsteps of Marco Polo along the most beautiful passes of the Silk Road. This new adventure will take you to a country located in the highlands of Tien Shan, forms the great barrier between China and the West.

With the agility of Kyrgyz horses, you will cross mountains and rivers to meet kyrgyz nomadic peoples with their two thousand years of culture. This adventure will take you on the footprints by the caravan trails.

Program

Burana Tower

D 1 / Bishkek - Tamga

In the morning, we leave Bishkek. On the way, visit of the Burana Museum, a site of a medieval city of Balasagun, the capital of the Karahanid Kaganate, a Turkic dynasty of the 11 century. Drive along the southern shore of the lake. Lunch in Bokonbaevo village in Sagynbai’s House, an old hunter with golden eagles. Hunting with golden eagle is very popular in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia and Sagynbai's son will tell us about this kind of hunting and how he trains his birds of prey. Overnight in guesthouse.

Juku valley

D 2 / Tamga - Juku valley

After breakfast we will leave the village for Djoukkou valley. We will get to the kingdom of green mountains, red rocks, steep cliffs. Stop en route for picnic. Horseback riding to Djoukkou valley, where we will camp. Overnight in a tent. Transfer: 60km, Riding: 6h

Juku pass

D 3 / Juku valley - Arabelsuu syrt

After leaving the camp we will ride over Juku pass (alt. 3633m). We will enjoy a wonderful view of the Arabel Suu Syrty and small glaciers of the Soek Too range. Overnight in a tent near the Chokoli lakes

D 4 / Arabelsuu syrt - Kumtor valley

Descending to Kumtor valley. We will see a goldmine and as well as big Ak-Shiran mountnain ridge. Overnight in a tent. Riding: 6/7h

D 5 / Kumtor valley - Paterbashik lakes

Crossing Ak-Shirak (white banks) Ridge and Ak-Bel (white back) Pass. Among the traces of hunters and gold diggers we find the traces of caravans. Overnight in a tent.

D 6 / Paterbashik lakes - Ishtik ancient caravanserail site

We continue our way to the ancient caravanserai of Ishtik. We will ride over a small Ishtik (3689 m.) pass and come back to our camp. Free time in the afternoon. Sauna in the evening. Overnight in a tent.

Toez canyon

D 7 / Ishtik ancient caravanserail site - Tez canyon

In the morning we will ride in the direction of the Chinese border. We will s have a wonderful view on the ridge on the border with China. Comming back to the Ishtik river and enter Tez Canyon to get to a small farm. Overnight in a tent. Riding: 5/6h

D 9 / Utch Kochkon valley - Ak-Shyyrak village

We will arrive in Ak-Shirak, a small village lost in the heart of the Tien-Shan. Visiting a yurt camp, see herdsman and yaks. Overnight in a tent. Riding: 4h

D 10 / Ak-Shyyrak village - Taragaï

We leave our horses and set off for a place amidst the Syrty-Taragaï. Overnight in tent. Transfer: 70 km dirty road

D 11 / Taragaï - Karakol

Transfer to the Issyk-Kul Lake. Coming over Soeyeuk Pass (4021m), Barskoon Pass 3980 m.. We will stay for a night in a guesthouse. Transfer: 280km on dirty road and asphalt road.

Bishkek

D 12 / Karakol to Bishkek

After breakfast you will hit the road again. On the way, a stop will be at the house of an Eagle hunter. You wil be able to get to know him and his long traditions of hunting with eagles. You will have lunch on the way. Arrival in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. From 1926 to 1991 the city was known as Frunze named after the Bolshevik military leader Mihail Frunze. After the independence it was renamed Bishkek. City tour. Walk around the city. Visiting Ala-Too Square, the main square of Kyrgyzstan. Overnight in our guesthouse.

Map

Info

Include:
  • Organization of the stay
  • All transfers in vehicle incl. A / R airport
  • French speaking tour guide
  • Full board incl. drinking water
  • Accommodation described in the program
  • Carrying luggage during trekking and horse riding
  • Rent camping equipment (tents, mats, kitchen utensils)
  • All the visits indicated in the program
  • Entry fees at national parks or nature reserves
  • Entry fees at museums mentioned in the program
  • National or regional flights specified in the program
Non Include:
  • Insurance repatriation and CR insurance
  • International airfare and taxes
  • Alcohol or sweetened mineral water
  • Additional services not mentioned in the program
  • Staff costs and rental of personal equipment (ATV, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, etc.)
  • Tips
  • Additional costs due to personal problems (health, loss of luggage, etc.)
Remarks:

Since July 27, 2012, the visa is not any more required for the persons of Swiss, EU, US, Canadian and Japanese nationalities (in total 44 new countries, for more information visit www.nomadsland.kg); passport should be with minimum of 6 months validity for period of 60 days maximum. Vaccination is not mandatory.

This is a draft program. It can be changed due to changes of flight schedules, safetely reasons, weather conditions and others imponderable or unforeseen conditions. Only our tour guide is authorized to take the necessary decisions. Prices are calculated daily and are subject to change in case of wide fluctuations in prices or exchange rates.

Though Kyrgyzstan evidenced caravans over 3000 years it is still a young developing country and infrastructure of villages is not at a very high level. Refusing hospitality might be offensive and in order to avoid misunderstanding one had better to read some guidebooks and other books about Kyrgyzstan before getting prepared to visit.

Hope to see you soon.


Nomad’s Land Team

On your way

We will help you to follow Marco Polo’s routes over the most beautiful passes of the Great Silk Road. This peculiar adventure will lead you to the land lying amidst the high Tien-Shan Mountains, a big mountain range between China and West. You will cross fast rivers and high mountains thanks to staying power of Kyrgyz horses, the most important animal for nomads from the ancient times.

HT03D12

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