Horse holidays abroad · Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Horse Trekking: Song Kul and the Tien Shan Mountains
Horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan means a camp-to-camp trail over the passes of the Tien Shan to high summer pastures and lakes such as Song Kul, on trips of 10 to 17 nights.
- Best monthsJun to Sep
- Level
Experienced to expert - Typical trip10 to 17 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Kyrgyzstan involve?
- Best monthsJune to September; some treks from May to October
- Riding level
Intermediate to experienced, secure at walk, trot and canter on steep ground - Hours in the saddle3 to 10 hours a day, about 25km
- Typical trip10 to 17 nights, with 6 to 15 riding days
- Weight limit90kg to 100kg, depending on the trek
- Group sizeUp to 10 riders where a limit is published
- HorsesKyrgyz mountain horses, 13.3hh to 15.3hh
- TackKyrgyz wooden-framed saddles or McClellan-type saddles, ridden with neck reining
- AccommodationHotel in Bishkek, then guest houses, yurts and tents
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan like?
Horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan is a mountain trail from camp to camp, crossing passes of up to 3,600m between valleys at 1,100m and high summer pastures.
Most of the riding is at a walk, with canters where the ground allows, and you cover about 25km a day. On steep sections you lead your horse on foot, sometimes for half an hour.
Song Kul, a lake on a high plateau at about 3,016m, is the halfway point of several treks. Its shores are summer pasture, and some treks see traditional horse games there.
The longest trek crosses the whole Ala Too range from north to south in fifteen riding days, through pastures, canyons, desert and high lakes, and wildlife on the passes includes marmots, ibex, eagles and bearded vultures.
Song Kul and the central mountains
The Ala Too north to south
Issyk-Kul and the Tien Shan
Sary Chelek
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Kyrgyzstan?
The best time to ride in Kyrgyzstan is June to September, when the high pastures are open and the treks run on set dates.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Some treks start in mid-June and finish by mid-September, and the longest crossing runs only from June to mid-August, while a few smaller camps run from May to October.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Kyrgyzstan?
You need a secure seat at walk, trot and canter for a Kyrgyz trek, and experience of steep ground helps a great deal.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You are fit enough to walk uphill at altitude beside your horse
- You are happy sleeping in a tent or on a yurt floor
- You like long days of steady riding through open mountains
It is not for you if
- You weigh more than 100kg in your riding clothes
- You want fast canters every day
- You need a single room every night
The days run from 3 to 8 hours on most treks and up to 10 hours on the longest, with early starts. Riders also walk uphill at altitude, leading the horses on the steepest ground.
The weight limit is 90kg on some treks and 100kg on others, and the longest crossing takes riders from the age of 10.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyz mountain horses are small, fit and very sure-footed, standing from about 13.3hh to 15.3hh, and they are bred in the mountains and used to altitude. They are quiet and extremely fit, and one trek keeps a herd of 45 to 54 of them.
Some treks use traditional Kyrgyz saddles on a wooden frame with a high pommel, others local McClellan-type saddles with a cushion added, and the crossing trek uses English-style bridles. You neck rein in either saddle, and on that trek riders tack up their own horses after instruction.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan?
You stay in a hotel in Bishkek at each end, and in guest houses, yurts and tents on the trail.
Rooms and tents are shared, and on some treks you sleep on the floor of a yurt or house in your own sleeping bag. The smaller camps use tents with camp beds, and single tents are available on some treks by request.
The crossing trek has no single rooms at all, while the Sary Chelek trek moves a lightweight camp of British-made tents each day, with a hotel night in Bishkek at the start and finish.
The cost
How much does a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan cost?
A horse trek in Kyrgyzstan is a higher price per person, before flights, and a full crossing of the Ala Too is also a higher price.
Song Kul crossing trek, shortest option
Price guide
Higher
Tien Shan mountain trail
Price guide
Higher
Ala Too north-south trek
Price guide
Higher
Sary Chelek ride, May and June
Price guide
Premium
The price includes riding, meals, camping equipment and transfers from Bishkek, and the small-camp trek to Sary Chelek is a premium price in May and June.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Kyrgyzstan?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Song Kul crossing trek
A trail across central Kyrgyzstan in two halves that cross over at Song Kul, with local houses, yurts and dome tents, and 6 to 10 hours a day.
Tien Shan mountain trail
Seven or eight riding days past Issyk-Kul and Song Kul, over passes above 3,600m, on Kyrgyz horses of 13.3hh to 15.3hh.
Ala Too north-south trek
Fifteen riding days crossing the Ala Too from north to south by way of Song Kul, camping most nights. Minimum age 10.
Sary Chelek camp-to-camp ride
A camp-to-camp ride with lightweight camps and a hotel in Bishkek.
Common questions
Kyrgyzstan riding questions
How high is Song Kul?
Song Kul lies at about 3,016m, and the passes on the treks around it reach 3,600m.
What is the weight limit for horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
It is 90kg on some treks and 100kg on others, so check the limit for the trek you choose.
Can beginners go horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
The multi-day treks ask for a secure seat at walk, trot and canter. A beginner is better off gaining that first.
How many hours a day do you ride in Kyrgyzstan?
Most treks ride 3 to 8 hours a day, split by a long lunch, and the longest trail can mean up to 10 hours with early starts.
Do you walk as well as ride?
Yes, on steep sections you dismount and lead your horse, sometimes for half an hour at a time.
When do the treks run?
Most run from June to September, and the longest crossing runs from June to mid-August.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.