The Wings of Nomads: 12-Day Horse-Riding Tour
Overview
Six days in the saddle across three separate rides — Chon-Kemin to Issyk-Kul, the high pass above Bokonbaevo, and Kyzart to Son-Kul — with the car doing the long transfers in between. Kyrgyz horses, local wranglers, tents and yurts. Some riding experience helps; none is required, and the pace is set by the slowest rider.
Highlights
Is this trip for you?
- Riders of any level who want the real thing
- Couples where one rides and one is happy in the car (we arrange it)
- Anyone who wants camp life with a purpose
- You have back problems — six days in a Kyrgyz saddle is tough
- You need a shower every night
Our honest opinion
- Kyrgyz horses are small, calm and sure-footed
- Three separate rides mean rest days between them
- Tent nights at altitude are cold
- Saddle soreness is guaranteed on day two
Bring padded cycling shorts. Everyone laughs; everyone is grateful by day three.
The trip in numbers
Your route
Line style shows how you travel each leg: solid = train, dotted = car, dashed = flight.
Day by day
Pickup and briefing; fitting of helmets and chaps.
Burana tower; meet your horses and ride an hour to get acquainted.
First full day in the saddle up the valley; tent camp.
Over the ridge and down to Issyk-Kul; guesthouse by the lake.
A day off the horse: by car along the north shore.
South shore by car; eagle hunters in the evening.
The high pass on horseback; tent camp in the pasture.
Down to the road, car to Kochkor; felt workshop.
Ride up to the pastures; yurt camp with a herding family.
Over the pass to the lake; last ride and a celebration dinner.
Back to the capital by car.
Airport transfer.
What’s included
What’s not included
Where you’ll stay
Or equivalent, depending on season. Hotels are inside or beside the historic centres wherever the town has one.
Traveller reviews
What guests wrote
“Twelve days on horseback through the Tian Shan with a Kyrgyz horseman as guide. I ride at home and the horses here are tough, sure-footed and well cared for. Sleeping in yurts and tents, washing in rivers, eating what the family eats. Not for everyone; absolutely for me.”
Good to know
Most nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30–90 days. If your passport needs an e-visa, it takes 2–3 working days online — we check your case and guide you at booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Visa and Mastercard work in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; keep some cash for bazaars, taxis and tips. ATMs dispense som and sometimes USD.
April–June and September–November are warm and clear — ideal for walking the old cities. July–August afternoons exceed 35°C; winter departures run at reduced prices.
Uzbekistan uses European plug types C and F, 220V. Travellers from the UK, US and Asia need a standard Euro adapter — one per device is enough, hotels have plenty of sockets.
Everyday dress is relaxed across all four cities. Inside mosques and madrasas, shoulders and knees should be covered; headscarves for women are only needed in a few active mosques — your guide will tell you when.
Your included eSIM is activated on arrival, so you’re online from the airport. Hotel Wi-Fi is reliable in all four cities; your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp or Telegram throughout.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund up to 15 days before; after that the booking is non-refundable, but you can move to another date once for free.
Medical insurance for the tour days is included. We still recommend personal travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage — we can suggest trusted providers.
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