
Song-Kol Lake Pastures
Kyrgyzstan
The lake surface glimmers in the sun by day and reflects the starlight by night. The white mountain tops emerge on the horizon and all around spread the summer pastures, dotted with clusters of yurts. The horses nicker anxiously and the riders slowly sip koumiss. It’s a clear sign that we set off to scout!
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Days overall9 daysDays in saddle7
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Group size10Available
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Standardnomad territory in the wildLuggage15 kgFoodlocal cuisine, vegetarian/vegan meals unavailable
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Skillswalk, trot, gallop
Local clans in Kyrgyzstan are a great bunch of people. They invited us to ride in beautiful places across their mountainous country. It’s one of the must-see-and-ride places if you are a true horse rider. The breathtaking trail runs through the mountains and along lake shores.
The green pastures of middle Asia are a totally different world. It is far from the civilization and the time passes slowly. The horse is the best way to get around and there is no better place to rest after a full day in the saddle than a hospitable yurt. The pastures lay asleep in the tight embrace of the surrounding mountains with the Song-Kol lake glimmering blue in the middle.
Our mounts are brave, hardy horses. They are very calm and have great motor coordination, so much needed on the narrow mountain paths. While they stand little chance racing against our Moroccan, Romanian our Ukrainian horses, they are by far the safest and most comfortable means of transport in Kyrgyzstan.
- Accommodation in the Bishkek hotel and yurts and tents on the road
- Full alimentation (except alcohol)
- Transfer from and to the Bishkek airport (on the first and the last day of the trek)
- Entry tickets to the Ala-Archa park and the Burana Tower
- Company of the local guide
- A horse with a full tack
- A tourist insurance covering high-risk sports
- Flight ticket to and from Bishkek
- Minor expenses (souvenirs, extra snacks, alcohol, etc.)
- Day 1 Arrival
- Day 2 On the Silk Road
- Day 3 Summer pastures
- Day 4 The land of eagles and marmots
- Day 5 Mountain ridges
- Day 6 The lake view
- Day 7 Along the lakeshore
- Day 8 The last glance at the Song-Kol
- Day 9 Leaving Kyrgyzstan



During the first couple of days, we travel through uninhabited lands. We will be camping in tents accompanied by horses, marmots, and eagles. All riders will be asked to help with pitching tents. On the fourth day, we will enter the areas of summer pastures and spend the nights in yurts.
In Bishkek, we will spend the night in the hotel.
The cook will be responsible for preparing the meals on the road. It is a typical shepherd diet: lots of meat and vegetables. The Kyrgyz cuisine is generally quite fattening and heavy, but very tasty nonetheless. We will draw water from the crystal clear springs.
Attention! There will be no access to the shower during the trek. We suggest that you equip some handy hygiene products. However, you are free to embrace the Kyrgyz climate and give up on washing until we’re back in Bishkek 🙂
Equipment
We use Russian saddles in Kyrgyzstan. Bearing in mind the colorful pillow serving for a seat, they remind of the Caucasian Tusheti saddles, but their construction differs visibly. They are known for being comfortable and work well in hilly terrain. We’ll be attaching our luggage to them, so it’s good to equip straps and a string.
Considering the horses’ temper (the Kyrgyz mounts are patient, forgiving but a bit lazy), we recommend using a horsewhip.
Moreover, we recommend using mountain clothing instead of typical riding gear. Above everything else, you should take good, waterproof boots instead of Jodhpur boots.
What you should take with you
The path of the Kyrgyzstan trek leads through the mountains inaccessible for cars. Because of this, the horses will need to carry all our luggage. Its weight can’t exceed 15 kg per person. Everything needs to be packed in a waterproof backpack or a sack that can be easily attached to the saddle.
- passport
- cash, preferably USD or EUR
- electronics, e.g. camera
- small bags or a handy backpack (for documents, wallet, bottle of water)
- a canteen or any other handy water container (e.g. a plastic water bottle)
- sleeping bag flashlight, a headlight may come in handy
- sunscreen
- headcover against the sun
- waterproof trekking boots
- raincoat
- toilet paper
Date | Trip Status | Price | Spots | |
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2023 dates coming soon!
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