7 - 17 March 2027

Wild camping and local guest houses / shepherd's yurts

We recommend that everyone arrive one day earlier, on 6 March. We will be happy to assist with accommodation arrangements, which will be charged separately. Airport transfers are included in the trip price.Day 1 - The Northern Shore of Issyk-Kol | 7 MarchAnimal Markets, Winter Horseshoes & Hot SpringsWe meet in Bishkek in the morning and begin our journey east towards the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kol.Along the way, we stop at the animal market in Tokmok, offering our first glimpse into the raw and authentic side of rural Kyrgyzstan. Here, we purchase winter horseshoes and make the final preparations for the expedition ahead.By evening, we reach Chon Oryuktu. Before the journey into the mountains begins, there is time to relax in the natural hot springs and enjoy one final comfortable evening.Driving: Approximately 6–7 hoursAccommodation: Guesthouse with shower facilitiesDay 2 - Riding with the Eagle Hunters | 8 MarchGolden Eagles, Taigan Dogs & Ancient TraditionsThis morning, we meet Almas, a traditional Kyrgyz eagle hunter who continues a practice passed down through generations.Accompanied by his golden eagle and native Taigan hunting dogs, we ride into the surrounding countryside and discover the close relationship between the hunter, his horse, his dogs and his eagle.After the experience, we continue by vehicle to Karakol, where we spend the night.Riding: Approximately 3–4 hoursDriving: Approximately 2–3 hoursAccommodation: Guesthouse with shower facilitiesDay 3 - Driving into the Wild  | 9 MarchSnowy Passes, Soviet Ruins & the Chinese BorderToday, we begin leaving civilisation behind.Travelling deep into the Tian Shan Mountains, our route crosses remote, snow-covered passes rising above 4,000 metres. We drive towards the Chinese border and eventually reach Inylchek, a mysterious former Soviet mining town that is now almost completely abandoned.Here, we meet the mountain rangers who will accompany us during the expedition. We also pass through a military checkpoint, giving us our first real understanding of just how isolated and sensitive this border region is.Driving: Approximately 5–6 hoursAccommodation: Guesthouse with shower facilitiesDay 4 - The Long Road Begins  | 10 MarchAbandoned Tracks, Glaciers & the First Shepherd CampToday, we meet our horses and local horsemen and begin the true horseback expedition. We follow an old Soviet mining road that was once maintained but has now been almost completely abandoned. Only a handful of shepherd families continue to live in this valley throughout the year, caring for their sheep and yaks through the severe mountain winter.The landscape becomes increasingly dramatic as we ride beneath glaciers and peaks rising to more than 6,000 and 7,000 meters. By late afternoon, we reach the camp of a local shepherd family, where we experience our first night in the remote mountains.Riding: Approximately 3–4 hoursAccommodation: Shepherd’s wagonDay 5 - Helping with the Yaks  | 11 MarchLife with the Winter ShepherdsToday, we join the shepherds in their daily work and experience the realities of winter life in this isolated valley.The families must watch over their animals constantly, protecting the herds from predators including wolves and snow leopards. This remote part of Kyrgyzstan is considered one of the country’s richest wildlife regions.Together with the shepherds, we ride into the surrounding valleys, gather the yaks and help guide them back into the safety of the corral before nightfall.This is not a staged demonstration, but an opportunity to participate in the genuine rhythm of life in the mountains.Riding: Approximately 3–4 hoursAccommodation: Shepherd’s wagonDay 6 - Into the High Mountains  | 12 MarchFrozen Rivers & the Last Human ShelterToday is one of the longest and most demanding riding days of the expedition.We continue deeper into the valley, surrounded by immense snow-covered peaks. Our route crosses frozen rivers several times as we travel farther into the remote mountain landscape.By late afternoon, we reach a small shepherd’s cabin - the final sign of permanent human presence in the valley. Here, one solitary shepherd spends the winter in almost complete isolation.Tonight’s shelter is simple and remote, but the location offers an experience that very few travellers will ever encounter.Riding: Approximately 7–8 hoursAccommodation: Remote shepherd shelterDay 7 - Beyond the Last Settlement  | 13 MarchRiding Towards the GlacierAfter breakfast, we saddle the horses and continue towards the glacier.Today, we explore a territory that is almost entirely untouched and uninhabited. There are no villages, roads or modern comforts here - only snow, mountains and the immense silence of one of Kyrgyzstan’s wildest regions.The shorter riding day gives us time to absorb the landscape and experience the isolation of this extraordinary place.Riding: Approximately 3–4 hoursAccommodation: Remote shepherd shelterDay 8 - The Journey Back  | 14 MarchCrossing the Valley Once MoreToday, we begin the long ride back through the valley.Retracing our route through the mountains, we return towards the camp of the shepherd family who has accompanied and supported us during the expedition, It is another substantial day in the saddle, crossing the remote terrain that has become our world over the previous days.Riding: Approximately 7–8 hoursAccommodation: Shepherd’s wagonDay 9 - Returning to Civilisation  | 15 MarchA Final Off-Road Journey through the MountainsToday, we say goodbye to the shepherds and leave the remote valleys behind.Our 4x4 vehicles carry us back across the difficult mountain roads towards Karakol. After several days in basic shelters and complete isolation, the return to a guesthouse and a hot shower will feel like a true luxury.Driving: Approximately 6–7 hours by 4x4 on off-road terrainAccommodation: Guesthouse with shower facilitiesDay 10 - Return to Bishkek  | 16 MarchContemporary Kyrgyz Design & a Final CelebrationWe travel back to Bishkek for the final evening of the expedition.In the city, we visit the atelier of Albina, a young Kyrgyz designer who combines traditional wool craftsmanship with modern design. It is a chance to see how the country’s heritage is being preserved and reimagined by a new generation.In the evening, we celebrate the end of our journey with Central Asian cuisine at a lively Tajik restaurant — a place known not only for its food, but also for its energetic atmosphere.Driving: Approximately 6–7 hoursAccommodation: Boutique hotelDay 11 - Departure  | 17 MarchAfter breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international flight home.The expedition ends, but the silence of the mountains, the shepherds’ stories and the vast winter landscapes of Kyrgyzstan will remain with us long after we leave.Included: Airport transfer

Price: 2560 EUR per person Single room supplement: Available for 1 night in Bishkek and 2 nights in Karakol, subject to availability. Price to be confirmed.Sleeping bag rental: 50 EUR per person for the entire expeditionDeposit: 800 EUR Please make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your return date. Special permits are required for the border region and are arranged as part of the expedition.What is included:Specialist English-speaking horseback expedition guide for Central AsiaSpecialist English-speaking mountain expedition guideAll accommodation throughout the trip, as described in the itineraryAll private transportation in 4x4 vehiclesAirport transfersThree meals per day throughout the tripBottled water during the travelling days outside the horseback expeditionHorse rental, including the day with the traditional eagle hunterLocal horse guides throughout the riding expeditionRiding helmetsSpecial permits for the restricted border regionTraditional eagle-hunting demonstrationSatellite phone coverage during the mountain expeditionWhat is not included:International flights to and from BishkekTravel insurance covering horseback riding activities and high-altitude expeditions — mandatorySingle room supplement for 1 night in Bishkek and 2 nights in KarakolSleeping bag rental: 50 EUR per personPersonal water purification tablets or filters; boiled water will be available throughout the expeditionPersonal expensesTips

Level: Intermediate+The RiderThis expedition is designed for confident intermediate and experienced riders with good trail-riding skills and strong physical fitness. You should be comfortable spending several hours in the saddle in winter conditions, riding across remote high-altitude terrain and adapting to changing weather, snow and difficult ground.Most riding days last around 3–4 hours, while the two longest days involve approximately 7–8 hours in the saddle. Riders must be prepared for frozen river crossings, isolated mountain valleys, basic accommodation and several consecutive days far from roads or modern facilities.HorsesThe expedition horses are prepared for the severe winter conditions of the Tian Shan Mountains, including the use of special winter horseshoes.Kyrgyz horses are small, strong and incredibly sure-footed, perfectly adapted to the country’s steep mountains and high-altitude terrain. Calm, hardy and reliable, they can cover long distances across rocky trails, rivers and open valleys while carrying riders comfortably through the wild landscape.RouteThe journey combines remote 4x4 travel with six days on horseback. We begin with a shorter ride into the hunting grounds of a traditional eagle hunter before travelling deep into the Tian Shan Mountains, close to the Chinese border.The main riding expedition follows an abandoned Soviet mining road through a valley inhabited by only a few shepherd families. We ride beneath glaciers and peaks rising above 6,000 and 7,000 metres, stay in shepherds’ wagons and isolated mountain shelters, help gather herds of yaks and travel deeper into one of Kyrgyzstan’s richest wildlife regions.The most demanding section includes two long riding days of approximately 7–8 hours. The route crosses frozen rivers several times and reaches the last shepherd’s shelter in the valley before continuing towards the glacier and returning through the mountains. Exact riding distances are not stated in the original proposal, and the itinerary may need to remain flexible according to snow, river and weather conditions.