Horse riding: To ride to heaven

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To ride to heaven

Horse riding tour

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Duration: 9 days

Nomads have been appreciating horses for many centuries. They have many traditions and customs that are connected with horses. Almost all Kyrgyz games are on horses. It was impossible to live in the mountains without it. You also can ride a horse in the places that are hidden from other people. You will ride it as if you are in the past time... The feeling of riding a horse in the mountains is amazing. You start to feel the taste of life and you understand - the best architecture in the world is the Mother Nature!

Places to visit: Bishkek - Issyk-Kul Lake - Karakol - Chong Kyzyl Suu Valley - Ashu Tor -

Kishi Kyzyl Suu village - Jumakuchak - Kok Terek village - Bishkek

 

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Bishkek - Issyk-Kul Lake
You will be met at Manas International Airport and then transferred to Bishkek City (30 min. drive), where you will start the day with a breakfast. Afterwards we will start our drive to the celestial Issyk-Kul Lake (200 km), the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608m.above sea level). The Lake is also called "the pearl of Central Asia". On our way, we will visit the Burana Tower that was built in the 11 century and also we will visit an open air museum of Balbans or stone warriors. After having taken a traditional lunch, we continue our way to the lake. As soon as we are in a hotel you will have a rest on the northern beach of the lake where you can lie on the warm sand or swim in the lake. Thanks to the salty water, Issyk Kul Lake possesses curative qualities. Your dinner will be served at 7 p.m. 
In Short:
   ► Pick up at Airport and Transfer to City
   ► Breakfast
   ► Transfer to Issyk Kul Lake
   ► 1st stop to visit Burana Tower and to see stone warriors 
   ► 2nd stop to take lunch
   ► Free time on the beach 
   ► Dinner and Overnight in a hotel

 

Day 2: Issyk-Kul Lake - Karakol
After breakfast you will have free time to swim in the lake till 12 pm. Then you will start your trip to Karakol city by car (200 km). On the way, we will make a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.), including the local museum. You will have a second stop during the trip at 12 o'clock, where you can enjoy lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, before continuing our way to Karakol city along the northern shore of the sparkling pearl of Central Asia. National dinner will be at 7 p.m. Night in a guesthouse.
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Transfer to Karakol city
   ► On the way:
   - visit of ancient stone inscriptions 
   - visit of local museum
   - lunch
   ► Dinner
   ► Overnight in a guesthouse.

 

Day 3: Karakol - Chong Kyzyl Suu Valley
You will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock. The entire morning is dedicated to a guided Karakol City Tour. The tour includes the visit of the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it is built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Later, you will visit the museum of M.V. Prejvalsky, one of the world's greatest explores. His biggest achievements were the crossing of the great desert Taklamakan and the discovery of more than 4000 animals, including the Horse of Prejevalsky. We will end the City Tour with a traditional lunch and leave Karakol at 1 p.m. and start our way to impressive Chong Kyzyl Suu Valley (70 km). On the way, you will see red mountains in different shapes, just before we will visit the mineral sources of hot springs at Jeli Suu ( Dungan Village), where you will have the possibility to take a bath. Afterwards, a horseback riding tour to the Physical and Geographical station of Chong Kyzyl Suu is waiting for you (1 hour). Your dinner and overnight stay will be in yurts. A yurta is an original nomad's dwelling. It is made of a wooden skeleton that is covered by felt. This is a collapsible dwelling that is built without nails.
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► A guided Karakol city tour:
   - Dungan mosque
   - Orthodox Church
   - museum of M.V. Prejvalsky
   - lunch
   ► Transfer to Chong Kyzyl Suu Valley
   ► Jeli Suu - Hot Springs and possibility of taking a bath
   ► Horseback riding tour to Geographical station of Chong Kyzyl Suu
   ► Dinner and Overnight in yurts

 

Day 4: Chong Kyzyl Suu - Ashu Tor - Chong Kyzyl Suu (6h)
After a strengthening breakfast, we will leave the camp at 9 am and start our horseback riding tour to the Ashu Tor pass (2800m). After your lunch you will have an ascent on horses to an amazing mountain lake, which finds its origin in a glacier. With a bit of luck you might see mountain goats. After enjoying the view of the mountain lake we come back to the station. Dinner is served at 8 p.m. Overnight in yurts. 
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Horseback riding tour to the Ashu Tor pass 
   ► Lunch
   ► Ascent to a mountain lake
   ► Horseback riding tour back to the station of Chong Kyzyl Suu
   ► Dinner and Overnight in yurts

 

Day 5: Chong Kyzyl Suu - Kishi Kyzyl Suu
After an early breakfast at 7 am, you will ride off to the valley of Kishi Kyzyl Suu (lunch on the way) - it is a gorgeous canyon that you will definitely like (6h). You will be carried away by the amazing scenery offered through views the untouched nature. We will arrive in Kishi Kyzyl village at 7 pm, where you will have half an hour time to settle in your tents, before being served a traditional dinner.
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Horseback riding tour through the valley of Kishi Kyzyl Suu 
   ► Lunch on the way
   ► Dinner and Overnight in tents at Kishi Kyzyl village

 

Day 6: Kishi Kyzyl Suu village - Jumakuchak
After breakfast we continue our horseback riding tour from the Kishi Kyzyl Suu valley to Jumakuchak (6h) via the small Jumalai pass, where we will have a picnic. There is a gorgeous sight of the surface of Issyk-Kul Lake. You will have a chance to explore its virgin nature on your own. Traditional dinner is served at 7 p.m. Overnight in Jumakuchak in tents among nomadic yurts of Kyrgyz people.
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Horseback riding tour to the Jumakuchak 
   ► Jumalai pass on the way
   ► Lunch and free time to explore surroundings
   ► Continuing the horseback tour to Jumakuchak 
   ► Dinner and Overnight in tents

 

Day 7: Jumakuchak - Kok Terek village
The day starts with a breakfast at 8 am, before you will mount your horse to take the ride from Jumakuchak to Kok Terek Village under the hoofs (6h). On the way you will come across the red cave that is called "500 rams" and a picturesque mountain waterfall. You will have your lunch at the bottom of the waterfall. The waterfall is situated not far from hot springs (40 degrees Celsius) that are also possible to visit if you wish. After having a rest we continue our way to Kok Terek village. Our dinner and overnight will be in a home stay. 
In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Horseback riding to the Kok Terek village
   ► visit the red cave
   ► waterfall
   ► lunch
   ► hot springs optional
   ► Dinner and Overnight in a home stay

 

Day 8: Kok Terek - Bishkek
After packing your backpacks, you will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then you will be transferred to Bishkek city by car along the southern shore of the famous Issyk-Kul Lake (380 km). You will arrive in Bishkek in a Hotel **** at around 8 pm, where you will have time for yourself until your pick up at 7 pm. Then you will have a farewell dinner in a restaurant.

In Short:
   ► Breakfast
   ► Transfer to Bishkek city
   ► lunch on the way
   ► Farewell dinner 
   ► Overnight in Hotel****

 

Day 9: Flight home
Early in the morning you will be transferred to the airport.