Adventure Tours and the Treks

Make a list of the things you typically seek from a great trip – beautiful landscape, exotic culture, relaxation, excellent companionship, millions of edelweiss flowers – and Shepherd’s Way Trekking delivers them with guided horseback trips into the “Mountains of Heaven” of Central Asia’s secluded paradise: the Kyrgyz Republic. For anyone seeking to travel with authentic and friendly guides that can open the gates of Kyrgyzstan’s great culture and scenery for you, there is simply no better way to go than on horseback.

Most of the treks start from the family home in Barskoon village, (350 km east of Bishkek) to the Tien-Shan Mountains along the shepherd’s way and last from 3-30 days. All these tours give riders a view of Kyrgyzstan’s nature in its pristine condition.

Riders go on horses from an altitude of 1700 m above sea level up to glaciers of 4000 m. Experience the cool, refreshing feel of summer snow and a top-of-the-world view virtually unmatched around the globe.

• All of our guides are local people who have extensive knowledge and experience of riding in the Tien Shan mountains.
• Excellent English-language interpretation, allowing you to communicate with mountain shepherds and their families. Upon request French translation is available.
• The horses are strong, reliable and show amazing surefootedness over the varied mountain terrain.
• Comfortable handmade saddles in the Kyrgyz tradition.
• The kitchen in Barskoon produces delicious traditional Kyrgyz dishes. All meals during the trek are prepared for you so you can relax and just enjoy the scenery.
• Camping conditions of utter comfort and all other equipment necessary for a relaxing and safe trip.
• Reasonable prices competitive with any horseback tours in Central Asia.

• Treks are adapted depending on the riding skills and endurance of participants: from very easy treks along wide paths to more challenging treks crossing large rivers, high passes and riding above impressive gorges.
• Horseriding is also available for non-experienced people, even those who have never ridden before.
• Groups are usually small – with between 2 and 8 riders – so riders are assured of personal attention.
• Sit cross-legged a top the carpets of traditional Kyrgyz yurts while shepherds welcome you with local dishes, hot tea, fermented mare’s milk, and their colorful company.
• Short treks are available for Family groups. In combination with the tours to other regions, it gives an opportunity to discover the country from many perspectives.

Shepherd’s Way Trekking is a Central Asian leader in culturally-based mountain horseback trips.

There are more than 17 different itineraries to a of variety places. Combined treks of different durations are available upon request.

• Part of the silk road and visit the remains of an 11th century fort once operated by Chinese merchants.
• Along the Barskoon river, Juuku Valley, Ak-Shyirak Canyon
• Visit dozens of waterfalls, cross hundreds of streams and rivers, cross hundreds of passes, some over 4000 meters high (over 14, 000 feet). Ride at the foot of glaciers, ride in the middle of water in very spectacular canyons, ride wild across the open fields of the high plateau.
• Meet shepherds with their herds of cows, sheep, yak and horses.
• Sit cross-legged atop the carpets of traditional Kyrgyz yurtas and drink tea, fermented mare’s milk (kymyz) and share traditional food.
• Watch Kyrgyz men on speeding horses, hunt for game using trained falcons in age-old Central Asian tradition.
• Camp in utter comfort in high-quality tents, sleeping bags, rain gear and other equipment necessary for a relaxing and a safe trip
• Enjoy great and silent nature, a magical environment
• See falcons, eagles and vultures circling overhead. Watch deer, mountain goats, Ibex, Marco Polo sheep, marmots and wild rabbits
• Pass by hundreds of horses, cows, sheep and yak
• Relax in the many hot springs of the Issyk-Kul region

Accommodation in the house or yurt on arrival and departure in Barskoon village. Accommodation in tents or yurtas during the trek. English speaking tour guide, cook, horseman, 3 meals a day, tents, cooking equipment, horses with all equipment, first aid kit and visa support. There is always a guide and his assistant.

You need to bring:
Down jacket, warm sweater, warm sleeping bags, rain gear (pants should have an opening on the outside at the bottom of the leg in order to put on and take off without removing trekking boots), silk blanket for inside sleeping bag, 2-3 pairs of warm socks, waterproof trekking boots, gloves, sunglasses, sun cream, flashlight, personal medicine, metal water bottle (0,75 liters), Therm-A-Rest mats, riding chaps, “micropure” (or any other water disinfections)

Food
The guide prepares the food: it consists of
Breakfast: hot drinks, bread, fried eggs or meat, cheese, honey, jam, dried fruits
Lunch: is a picnic and consists of bread, tea, cheese, meat, cold meat, fruits, chocolate.
Dinner: hot vegetable soup, meat, pasta, salad, rice, cheese, honey, dried fruits, fruits, chocolate, hot drinks.