By Horse Across the Tien-Shan Mountains

Duration: 14 Days Horse Trek
Season: July-September

This horse riding tour takes you across the Barskoon Gorge and Juuku River, to the Arabel and Taragai valleys, through alpine meadows and high passes amidst majestic natural surroundings. The trek gives riders a chance to see the beauty of primordial nature: climb onto the shoulders of snow capped giants, meander through virgin forests, and cool off in mountain lakes with crystal clear water. Your journey takes you along the paths of the nomadic Kyrgyz who drive their flocks and herds to summer meadows, called “jailoos”, from July to September. Throughout these days you will experience. different climate zones: from semi-desert to tundra and four seasons in one day. On your way you will meet wild animals and birds, such as marmots, hares, foxes, eagles and if lucky a bear, a wolf, a Marco Polo sheep or even the elusive snow leopard.

Level: This 14 day trek starts from the 3800 high Arabel Pass. During this trek you will cross mountain passes ranging from 3600 m to 4028 m. You will also ride alongside many beautiful lakes and cross many rivers.

Itinerary

Day 1 By car from Barskoon village to the Arabel Pass (3800 m). Distance: 55 km. Time: 2 hours by car. After lunch you will ride by horse through the Arabel Pass (3800m) along the Jashyl-Kol mountain lake and then across the Suyek Pass (4028 m). Distance: 15-20 km.
Time: 3 hours. Overnight in tents.

Day 2 You will ride along the Suyek and Taragai Rivers and through the Kyzyl-Eshme valley. In the afternoon you will come to the Bel Pass (3714 m). Here you will enjoy open riding through beautiful high mountain valleys and pastures. Distance: 25-35 km. Time: 4-5 hours.

Day 3 On horse from Bel Pass to Kara-Sai River and a mountain lake where shepherds once took their cattle. Now these pastures are empty because of the present economic crisis.

Day 4 Kyrtash-Yshtyk Valley with the possibility of sighting Marco Polo sheep. Distance: 35-40 km. Time: 5-6 hours.

Day 5 Through Ak-Shyyrak Canyon you will come to a shepherds yurt and have tea with them. Through your guide you can talk to them about the life of a shepherd. Distance: 35-40 km. Time: 5-6 hours. Overnight in tents.

Day 6 From Kurtash to Kara-Sai River with open fields to gallop and occasional roads to walk. The weather will vary from scorching sun to snow and hail. Distance: 35-40 km. Time: 5-6 hours. Overnight in tents.

Day 7 From Kara-Sai River to the Akbel Pass (3833 m), then to the Taragai River. Distance: 30-40 km. Time: 5-6 hours. Here you have again an opportunity to see mountain goat and Marco Polo sheep.

Day 8 Horse riding from Taragai River and Maitor Valley to
Chokuluu Kol. On the way you will meet horse shepherds and taste Kymyz (mares' milk). From Juuku Pass (3633 m) down to the Juuku Valley. Distance: 35-40 km.
Time: 5-6 hours. O/n in tents. This pass is unique with its horse trails used by shepherds to bring their cattle to summer pastures. On the way you will see two mountain lakes called Jashyl-Kol (meaning “green lake” and colored green by the glacial melt).

Day 9 From Juuku Valley up to Dunguromo Pass (3773m), then down to Sary-Moinok. The trails run alongside the wild mountain river and you will cross it many times at safe fords. The steep slopes are covered with thickets of blackberry, juniper bushes and fir trees.
Distance: 30-40 km. Time: 5-6 hours.

Day 10 From Sary-Moinok to Keregetash. Along the way you will see shepherds and drink the national drink - Kymyz. A legend says that when a foreigner drinks Kymyz they will come back to Kyrgyzstan. The wildness of the mountains will excite you every day during this horse riding trek.

Day 11 From Zoo Otok-Jantyk to Chunkur-Kol, a beautiful mountain lake whose name means Deep Lake. At night the stars shimmer on it as if the sky were kissing the earth.

Day 12 From Chunkur-Kol to Tosor Pass (3893 m). Two to three hours of horse riding will bring you to a yak shepherd's yurt where you can watch them herd the hardy, woolly cattle.

Day 13 Across Karol – Dobo, Sarytor, Altyn Kungoi and Tash Kechuu. On the way you will meet shepherds and listen to their stories about the Kyrgyz and their beloved Ala-Too mountains.

Day 14 From Tash Kechuu to Kok Dobo (green hill) Valley. Revel in the beautiful mountain scenery with glaciers on the right and Issyk-Kul Lake on the left. In the evening, drive to Barskoon by car. Soak in a hot water bath and enjoy supper before falling asleep in a real bed.

During your horse riding trek we provide:
English speaking tour guide, cook, horseman, 3 meals a day, tents, cooking equipment, horses with all equipments, first aid.

Need to bring
Down jacket and warm sweater, warm sleeping bag, rain gears, silk blanked inside sleeping bag, 2-3 pairs of warm socks, trekking waterproof boots, gloves, sunglasses, suncream, flashlight, personal medicine, metal water bottle (0,75 litters),Term-A-Rest mats, riding chaps, micro pure (or any other water disinfections).