25th July 2026
behind the ride: kyrgyzstan
I came home from Kyrgyzstan just over a week ago and what a trip it was. Kyrgyzstan is an incredible country with kind people, breath taking views and LOTS of horses. With so much to reflect on after two weeks away, I wanted to share some notes on our Wild Kyrgyzstan tour and what it looked like behind the scenes.
Where the tour began
Our tour and my time in Kyrgyzstan began in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. A thriving city filled with markets, specialty coffee shops (much to my delight) and remnants of the Soviet era. Wide boulevards, monumental architecture and leafy parks tell the story of a city that spent 65 years as 'Frunze', part of the Soviet Union, before Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991.
Ala-Too Square, perhaps the heart of Bishkek, features the bronze statue of Manas , the legendary hero of the Epic of Manas, one of the longest epic poems in the world and a cornerstone of Kyrgyz culture. The statue sits in front of the State Historical Museum which is well worth a visit.
After a few days to acclimatise in Bishkek, it was time to collect the guests before heading to Osh Bazaar, one of Bishkek’s largest markets. Filled with food, spices, clothing, souvenirs, tack, fabric and more, it’s a maze of narrow aisles and a glimpse into everyday life in Bishkek.
kyzart village
Kyzart village is where the riding part of our tour began. We were gracefully welcomed into Bubuzhan and Dastan’s home, our base for 2 days. We ate delicious meals in their yurt and slept on bedrolls within the comfort of their home. Life is different there to compared to what we’re used to in the West, especially when it comes to the keep of horses. There are no paddocks, fields or stables. Horses are hobbled on communal land and are brought to water daily and often placed within the shade during the heat of the day. We met Nick’s (our guide) horses and began to prepare them for the tour ahead. Before heading out into the mountains, guests got the chance to learn even more about Kyrgyzstan’s culture with a demonstration on how Kyrgyz women make wool products such as rugs and a visit to a local eagle keeper.
the riding begins
After an ‘all hands on deck’ morning getting prepared to leave and a heart lunch, it was officially time to begin the riding part of the tour. We left Kyzart village, heading past rolling hills and looming mountains. It was a beautiful ride and an introduction to what we could expect over the next few days. We covered 25km with some trots and a few canters before reaching Kilemche yurt camp. After a long ride, we were all starving and ready for dinner which consisted of soup and stew, featuring lots and lots of potatoes. We discovered the camp had actual loos (a real luxury!) and made ourselves at home within our yurts. With no signal, we were truly unplugged and left to admire the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
what happened next
The next day featured an exciting ‘out ride’ to a nearby river where we stopped for a break and some coffee. The journey there was strenuous and very uphill so we dismounted for a section and allowed our horses a break. The river flowed at the bottom of an impressive valley and its banks provided the perfect place to rest and swim if you were brave enough (I wasn’t). The journey back was just as beautiful, with some terrain that forced us to place complete trust in our horses and also allowed for a nice trot and canter towards the end. It was also the ride that highlighted to me that I was unfit to continue the tour….let me explain.
Whilst in Kyzart, I fell ill for an unknown reason (likely stress and new food) and had to miss out on a day and a half of activities and preparation. After recovering slightly, I was really struggling to eat and started to feel worse. Riding in Kyrgyzstan requires strength and grit and without proper fuel, it wasn’t safe for me to continue the ride into remote mountainous regions. So I made the decision to head back to Kyzart and onto Bishkek to rest and heal before meeting the guests back in Kyzart at the end of the tour.
I’m therefore unable to share many more of my thoughts on Son Kul Lake and the rest of the ride but luckily I heard many amazing stories from our guests and have plenty of their beautiful pictures to share.
All in all, it was an incredible trip (minus the sickness). The horses were amazing and Nick takes such great care of his horses within a country that has far lower standards than we’re used to. The views were even better than I was expecting and the guests had a great time. I don’t feel that my time with Kyrgyzstan is over yet. With so many experiences still to be had and so much to be explored, I expect I’ll be back very very soon.
reflections
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