Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan, Truly Nomadic Land

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Osh City – Kara Bulak Village – Tepshi Camp⌄

   Distance: 12 km riding. Ascent: 1218 m; Descent: 154 m. Start your ride up a dirt road after driving to Gulcha from Osh along the Pamir Highway. The road follows the Kara Bulak stream towards the Tepshi camp, passing shepherds’ yurts set up among junipers. Near the top of the climb, you will leave the road for a trail ascending the ridge on the left. Here, you will eat lunch and enjoy the rugged mountains of the Alay across the gorge formed by the Gulcha river. At the end of the ridge, you will descend into the Tepshi camp to meet with your host for the night. Dinner.

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in yurt camp

2. 2Tepshi Camp – Airy Bell Pass – Sary Oi Camp⌄

   Distance: 14 km. Ascent: 613 m; Descent: 1087 m. Breakfast. Start the day heading up to Airy Bell Pass on a small trail starting from your yurt. A steep, hour-long ride will bring you to the summit and an impressive panorama of the Kum Bell Mountains to the west. Descend to the Cholo Kaiyng Gorge and stop for lunch. In the gorge, a dirt road follows a small river to the Sary Oi camp. Arrive at your yurts and join your hosts in the daily activities of nomads. Dinner.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in yurt camp

3. 3Sary Oi Camp to the foot of Ak Tor Pass⌄

   Distance: 13 km. Ascent: 1020 m; Descent: 223 m. Breakfast. The third day starts with a demonstration of milking and making dairy products from horse and cow milk. After an easy morning, descend from Sary Oi summer camp to the river and turn upstream, skirting a precipitous gorge. Eat lunch near a shepherd’s tent with a new view of the craggy mountain ridge you descended the previous day. Continue along meandering trails through a pine forest towards the foot of Ak Tor Pass. Arrive at a private yurt. Dinner.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in yurt camp

4. 4Ak Tor Pass – Murdash Valley – Uch Chat Camp⌄

   Distance: 14 km. Ascent: 757 m; Descent: 1283 m. Breakfast. Cross the headwaters of the river and ride south towards the entrance of the pass. A short, but steep 500 meters ride up brings you to the summit of Ak Tor Pass. On the way up, admire the sharp rock walls of the Asan Korgon range. At the highest point of your horseback ride, rest for a lunch with a side of the majestic Alay mountain ranges. Descend from the pass along a new stream to a final dirt road. Near the end of the day, ride on to Uch Chat summer camp and your host’s yurt. Dinner.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight in yurt camp

5. 5Ak Tor Pass – Murdash Village – Osh City⌄

   Distance: 18 km. Ascent: 846 m; Descent: 1515 m. Breakfast. The final day of riding follows the road to Murdash village. Start by riding up to Kosh Moinok Pass. Once past the final rise, snake down through Murdash valley toward your lunch among numerous shepherds’ yurt and shelters. Early in summer, herds of horses, cattle, and sheep laze in the grass on the sides of the road. At the end of summer, locals mow the grass with a scythe. Finally, arrive at end drive back to Osh city.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch