Horse Riding Adventure
Bishkek → Kyzart → Chaar-Archa → Song-Kul → Bishkek
Duration
6 Days / 5 Nights
Route
Bishkek → Kyzart → Chaar-Archa → Song-Kul → Bishkek
Group Size
2–8 persons
Difficulty
Moderate (4 days in the saddle)
Overview
About This Tour
Four days on horseback across the high pastures around Song-Kul — the way Kyrgyz herders have travelled for centuries. You'll ride over alpine passes, sleep in yurts at 3,016m, and share meals with the families who summer their animals on these plateaus. This is a riding tour first: being comfortable in the saddle matters more than any landmark checklist.
Photo Gallery
See It in Pictures
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Pick-up from Manas airport, transfer to a 4★ Bishkek hotel. Welcome dinner, tour briefing, and a gear check with your guide.
Bishkek — 4★ HotelDrive across the Suusamyr pass (~6 hours) to Kyzart, the gateway village to the Song-Kul horseback routes. Meet your horses, take a test ride for fit, and settle into a family guesthouse.
Kyzart — Family GuesthouseYour first full day in the saddle — 5–6 hours through alpine pastures and over a low pass. Camp at a yurt on the summer pastures.
Chaar-Archa — Yurt Camp5–6 hours riding, climbing to Song-Kul (3,016m). Arrive at the lakeside yurt camp by afternoon, in time for sunset over the water.
Song-Kul — Yurt CampA lighter ride around the lake, a visit to a herder family, kymyz tasting, and traditional nomad games. Optional swim for the brave.
Song-Kul — Yurt CampA short morning ride to the pickup point, then transfer to Bishkek (~7 hours) for an evening departure.
What's Included
- 5 nights accommodation (hotel 1 + guesthouse 1 + yurt 3)
- All meals from Day 1 dinner through Day 6 lunch
- English-speaking horse guide
- Support driver and vehicle
- 4 days horse rental
- All transfers (airport + Bishkek–Kyzart–Bishkek)
- Tour briefing & gear check
- Bottled water
- International flights
- Visa
- Personal insurance
- Alcohol
- Tips
Accommodation
| Region | Primary Option | Backup Option |
|---|---|---|
| Bishkek | Hyatt Regency (5★) | B Hotel (3★) |
| Kyzart | Kyzart Family Guesthouse | Local homestay |
| Song-Kul / Chaar-Archa (3 nights) | Erlan Yurt Camp (full board) | Feel Nomad Yurt Camp |
Frequently Asked
Questions Travellers Ask
You should be comfortable spending 5–6 hours a day on a horse. You don't need to be an experienced rider — we match you to a calm horse and the guide teaches the basics on Day 2 — but the saddle days are long, so reasonable fitness and a genuine wish to ride make all the difference.
Yes, beginners are welcome. Day 2 includes a test ride and basic instruction before the real riding starts. Kyrgyz horses are small, sure-footed, and used to mountain trails. If you're nervous around animals, tell us on inquiry so we can plan accordingly.
Song-Kul sits at 3,016m and you sleep there two nights. Most riders feel mildly out of breath on arrival but adjust quickly. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol the first night, and your guide carries a basic first-aid kit.
Long trousers that won't chafe in the saddle, sturdy boots with a small heel, a warm fleece and a down layer (yurt nights drop near freezing even in summer), a waterproof shell, gloves, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a head torch. Yurt camps have shared bedding and basic facilities.
June to September. The Song-Kul pastures are only open and grazed by herders in these months, the passes are clear of snow, and the yurt camps are running. Outside this window the high route is impassable.
Manas International Airport (FRU) in Bishkek. Airport pickup and drop-off are included. The tour starts and ends in Bishkek.
Horse Riding Adventure
From $1,290