Kyrgyzstan · Hiking · Horse Riding
nomad state
Kyrgyzstan is horses, high passes, yurts and a lot of space in between. We’ll ride through remote valleys, sleep where the road ends and spend a few days moving at a very different pace. Expect big landscapes, local people, changing plans and just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting.
- Dates
- 06.06 - 13.06.2027
- Length
- 8 days
- Group
- 12 - 15 people
- Effort
- 3 / 5
- Price
- €1450
- Places
- 14 of 14 left
activities
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
- Culture
the idea
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend hours a day on a horse, riding across plains that look like your desktop screensaver, sleep in a yurt, and eat more mutton than you thought was humanly possible? No? Just us? Fine. Kyrgyzstan is the country nobody can point to on a map and somehow has five different landscapes before lunch. You wake up somewhere that looks like Sardinia, ride for three hours and you’re suddenly in Montana, blink again and it’s Switzerland — except there’s a yak standing in the middle of it and nobody’s charged you an entrance fee.
highlights
- Sleeping in a yurt at Son Kul
- Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon
- Horse riding through the Kyrgyz mountains
- Staying with local families
day by day
Day 1
Bishkek
Breakfast/lunch in Bishkek, because you need something in your stomach before we tell you the rest of the trip involves yurts. Quick stop at Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret that’s been standing longer than most of our life choices. Drive to Chon Kemin for the first night in a guesthouse. Optional evening horse ride, for anyone who wants to get the falling-off part out of the way early.
Day 2
Chon Kemin → Son Kul
Leaving for Son Kul, with a stop at Kok Moinok Canyon along the way. Lunch in Kochkor. First night in a yurt at Son Kul, at 3,000m, where the wifi doesn’t work but the stars do. Optional horse riding for those who didn’t get enough yesterday, or need a rematch
Day 3
Son Kul → Issyk Kul
Leaving Son Kul, back through Kochkor for lunch (yes, again — it’s on the way, and the food’s good). Golden eagle show, in case you want to see a bird that could absolutely destroy you if it wanted to. Head to Issyk Kul, the world’s second-largest alpine lake, for a swim and lakeside camp.
Day 4
Issyk Kul → Karakol
Skazka Canyon, aka “Fairy Tale Canyon,” which is doing a lot with rock formations and very little with fairy tales. Then Barskoon waterfall, casual shrug included. On to Karakol for dinner and a proper bed for the night.
Day 5
Karakol → Altyn Arashan
Up to Altyn Arashan by “buchanka” — the Soviet minivan that’s somehow survived every road in this country and will probably survive yours too. Night in Altyn Arashan, hot springs included. Optional walk and horse riding for anyone still trusting horses at this point.
Day 6
Altyn Arashan → Jeti-Oguz
Down from Altyn Arashan — on foot, by buchanka, or by horse, pick your punishment. Lunch in Karakol, then on to Jeti-Oguz and Kogdzaik Valley. Sleep in yurts again, with optional evening horse riding for the diehards.
Day 7
Departure
Head back to Bishkek. Try to explain to people at home why you smell like a horse and can’t stop talking about mutton.
Day 8
Flight home
what's included
- 7 nights accommodation
- All breakfasts and dinners
- 2x horse riding excursions
- 4x4 SUVs with driver
- Guides and permits
- Airport transfers
not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches
These people will lead you
Baša
Trip Guide
Baša, founder of Dip & Dream, has spent years travelling, organizing trips and figuring out which parts of a journey are actually worth planning and which are better left alone. For Kyrgyzstan, she chose the local team herself, rode the route, checked the places we stay and built the trip around people she trusts. She stays involved from start to finish, not to control every detail, but to make sure the important ones are covered. The rest is allowed to unfold a little. Expect long days outside, horses, yurts, big mountains, local people and a few things we probably won’t be able to predict in advance. That’s part of it.
Muhammad & Bai
Local guide
We have been working in tourism since 2017, organizing private and small-group trips across Central Asia. Over the years, we have gained extensive experience and developed a deep understanding of the region, its culture, traditions, and local communities. We organize different types of journeys, including 4x4 and off-road adventures, trekking and hiking, horse riding, camping, cultural tours, and multi-day road trips. We can create both carefully planned itineraries and more flexible trips depending on our guests’ interests and preferences. As a local team, we take care of all the important details — transportation, accommodation, route planning, permits, activities, and logistics. Our priority is to make every trip safe, comfortable, well-organized, and memorable.
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