wild kyrgyzstan (exploratory)
july | £1972pp / $2700 USD | kyrgyzstan
RIDE WILD like a kyrgyz nomad
Overview
Over the course of 8 days, you’ll traverse the Kyrgyz landscape as if you were a nomad yourself. This is a tour that fosters an authentic connection with your horse and a real local experience.
Throughout the journey, you will spend nights in both yurts and tented camps with Kyrgyz host families, under the stars on Son-Kul Lake, building camp in a hidden valley. You’ll explore a mountain range home to wolves, wild boars, farm animals, and nomads. The Kyrgyz are a mountain people, and this is where the ride will take you.
Horses and horsemanship are so deeply tied to the Kyrgyz culture and this is something you will come to feel deeply immersed in. Kyrgyzstan’s mountain horses have carried nomads across the landscapes for centuries and they are perfectly adapted to high altitude trekking.
This truly is a wild experience for the most adventurous riders. Riders who want to experience what true nomadic living is like, being deeply in touch with the landscape around you and the horse beneath you.
All photos by Nick Sherlock, your guide and host
What you need to know
Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan
This is an ‘exploratory trip’ meaning you’ll be one of the founding riders on this Wild Kyrgyzstan escape as we experience it together for the first time
£1972 pp | $2700 USD
All meals, drinks, accommodation, riding and transfers from the airport included
5 - 14 July (full), 18 - 27 July (full), 03 - 12 September (full) 2026
10 days, 8 days riding
4 hours riding everyday | max 25km
Riding across mountains and lush valleys
Tented and yurt accommodation
Community based, local suppliers
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OVERVIEW
Need to know
Dates: 5 - 14 July (full), 18 - 27 July (full), 03 - 12 September (full) 2026
Price: £1972 pp | $2700 USD
Location: Kyrgyzstan
Operator: Nick Sherlock
Riding level: Advanced and experienced. Able to control horse in a group up to a canter / gallop within open spaces
Max group size: 3
Time in the saddle: 4 hours
Horses: A variety of Kyrgyz bred horses which include a Don Horse, Chaar Horses & Kyrgyz saddle horses
Weight limit: 90kg
Currency: Kyrgyz som
Saddle type: Kyrgyz saddles
Airport: Bishkek Manas Airport
Adventure level:
Accommodation during the trip in a 3* hotel the first night and then a mix of tented camps & yurts
All riding and guides
Breakfast, lunch, dinner & beverages
1x airport transfer, transfer to Kyzart village and back
A support vehicle at points to transfer luggage
Sleeping bag and hiking tent (you can also bring your own)
What’s included:
Flights into and out of Kyrgyzstan
Accommodation outside of the trip
Tips / gratuities
Travel & medical insurance (this is mandatory)
Early check in and onward travel from Kyzart village
Riding hats
What’s excluded:
Food:
Food is simple, home cooked, and made with love. Upon arrival in Bishkek, guests will be introduced to local cuisine and can expect some western snacks to help acclimatize. Once on the trip, meals will be provided by the host families you stay with and will be full of classic Kyrgyz meals, of which includes lagmaan, kuurdak, manti, borscht, shashlik, plov, breads and fruits. Good coffee will be readily available throughout the trip. Select dietary requirements can be accommodated such as gluten free but please check this with us before booking.
Accommodation:
This trip is a real adventure and best for riders who enjoy camping and living/travelling off grid. There will be some nights where you will sleep in a tent with a sleeping bag. There will also be nights spent in Yurts. These dome shaped homes are made of wool and wood. A yurt (kyrgyz - bozu) is a sacred space - it is a privilege to be able to sleep in one. Some yurts are communal and may be shared by guests of an opposite sex. There will not always be an opportunity to shower everyday. Toilet stops may sometimes be bush style although most camps have their own long drop. Some camps have Russian banyas which are a traditional steam bath house and there may be an opportunity to shower there!
Accommodation and food
Kyrgyzstan’s mountain horses have carried nomads across the landscapes for centuries. Stocky and resilient, they are perfectly adapted to high-altitude trekking. Among the herd, you’ll also find a few Soviet-era remnants - the Don horse, a breed cultivated by the Cossacks, renowned for its strength and stamina. And perhaps most sacred of all, the Chaar horse - a striking, spotted breed, argued by some equestrian historians to be the original Appaloosa. A sacred animal, indigenous to Kyrgyzstan.
You'll be matched with your horse based on energy and riding style. There will be time to adjust to your horse to make sure you're a good fit. You'll bond very closely with your horse over the course of the trip and they will be your responsibility (with supervision). As a group, we will be catching our animals every morning, taking them to water, tacking and untacking - this is a tour for those who wish to form a partnership with their horse and would like to learn from Kyrgyz horsemanship.
Find out more about the horses are cared for here.
Horses
Riding hat and comfortable riding boots
Light and loose layers of clothing.
Waterproofs
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Sun cream
A water bottle
A power pack for charging your phone
A charging adapter (Europe standard plugs)
A book for entertainment
Toiletries (remember lip balm, hand cream and moisturiser), towel, riding trousers etc
Camera gear
Swimming costume
Trekking tent and sleeping bag (these can be borrowed if you’d rather not bring your own at no extra cost)
Upon booking, you’ll be sent a full packing list.
What to pack:
Apply to join this ride:
Itinerary
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Upon arrival, we will pick you up from the airport (Bishkek Manas Airport) and take you to your hotel (inc in the price). From there we will make our way to Flask Coffee, Bishkek’s own specialty coffee shop.
After your warm cuppa, it’s time to head to a local market. Here we will explore local cuisine and rummage through Soviet leftovers and traditional crafts. We’ll also visit Magazine Taikazan - Osh Bazaars most popular tack shop. For those interested, we can also visit a legendary vintage camera shop and pick up some expired Soviet film for your 35mm camera.
The day will end with dinner at a local restaurant, embracing more local flavours and customs of hospitality.
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Today will have an early morning departure for Kyzart village. A shared taxi will take us on a 5 hour drive to Kyzart where you will not only meet your horse by Dastan and Bubuzhan - the couple who host us in Kyzart village.
Upon arrival in Kyzart, you will be matched with your horse based on energy and riding style and introduced to the Kyrgyz riding style.
From here on out, it is your responsibility to feed, water and groom your horse (with support if needed).
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Today is the first riding day and the ride starts in the village as you’re introduced to the local corners of Kyzart before making your way past the farming areas and alongside a flowing river.
Along the trail, you’ll practice river crossings and begin learning the foundations of Kyrgyz horsemanship. You’ll get comfortable moving between gaits and even try perfecting the Kyrgyz jorgo.
We’ll end the day with a homemade BBQ (shahlik) in our host’s backyard. It’ll be all hands on deck as everyone gets together to help build the perfect evening.
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After a hearty breakfast and a specially brewed cup of coffee, our adventure begins. From here on out, we will be in limited cell reception as we trek further into untouched territories. We’ll start slow as today’s ride will be easily paced but plenty technical. This route introduces Kyrgyzstan’s natural beauty.
The trail today covers farmland, grassy plateaus and finally a majestic canyon. We’ll end the day in a valley named ‘spotty mountains’, camping next to a flowing river in tents and sleeping bags.
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After roughly 4 hours of riding, we’ll arrive at Nick’s favourite yurt camp in the region. Draped in handmade quilts and woollen blankets passed down through generations, we will be spending our night in a very local Yurt camp.
The trail will take us up over a set of mountains which are said to be home to Marco Polo sheep, wolves and bears. Our riding follows a shepherd trail and animal track that covers quite a distance but less of a technical ascent and descent than the day before.
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Today’s ride ascends a pass of 3400m altitude. The mountains and lake introduce an element of altitude to newcomers, but nothing extreme. Save your energy in the morning so that you and your horse are able to canter onto the grassy banks of Son Kul in the afternoon. The lake itself stretches 4km long, with a community of Kyrgyz nomads residing along its steppe.
Weather is hard to predict on the lake and changes in an instant. Lucky for us, the Yurts we’ll stay in will be cosy and the low light on Son Kul Lake is magnificient.
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After a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast for you and your horse, it’s showtime. A support vehicle will be taking our bags for us so that today’s ride is pure fun.
There is a place in a horse’s heart that loves to gallop, finding it and allowing the animal to move at their own will can be a spiritual experience.
Today’s ride will stick to the banks of Son Kul Lake as we trek to the southernmost point, stopping at a family run Yurt camp. These shepherds were the owners of what was rumoured to be the very first Chaar horse of the region, Chaar Sulu. With counterparts in Kyzart village, they have kindly allowed for some of their sacred horses to be ridden by guests on our trail.
This is our last night on the lake before heading back into the mountains.
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Today allows the opportunity for a lie in and to take your horse to the water, soaking in the magic of the lake. For those keen to stay in the saddle, we’ll take a relaxed ride down to the water’s edge. If your horse is brave enough, you’re welcome to dip in for a swim together.
Those interested in a hike will be able to explore the surrounding hills or even spend time helping our hosts and their neighbours with a bit of shepherding.
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Kyzyl Tuu pass is a lonely pass known and used only by the hardiest of shepherds. We’ll take it slow today as our horses carry us onto high altitude plateaus. We’ll stop for a snacky lunch along the way and descend the mountains back onto the far side of the village.
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After getting up for breakfast, we’ll take a shared taxi back to the hotel in Bishkek, departing around 11am from Kyzart.
Apply to join this ride:
this ride is right for you if:
You like a real adventure, where everyday brings something new and nothing can be predicted ✔
You like immersing yourself in the culture of countries you visit ✔
You’re happy to camp and live off grid (this includes toilet stops behind bushes and some days without showering) ✔
You like riding through breath taking landscapes ✔
You’re happy to go with the flow. Whilst Nick knows exactly what he’s doing with his tours, we’ll be joining you on the ride for the first time! ✔
About kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a rugged, breathtaking country in Central Asia, known for its dramatic mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, and wide-open valleys that feel almost untouched. Much of the country is dominated by the Tian Shan mountains, making it a paradise for hikers, trekkers, and anyone craving fresh air and vast horizons.
Its culture is deeply rooted in nomadic traditions, where yurts, felt crafts, eagle hunting, and epic oral storytelling are still part of everyday life, especially in rural areas. The people are famously warm and hospitable, often welcoming guests with tea, fresh bread, and homemade dishes like beshbarmak, and they take real pride in sharing their way of life.
Travellers can expect simple but soulful experiences, nights under star-filled skies and a slower rhythm that encourages connection over convenience. Horses are at the heart of it all, symbolizing freedom, strength, and heritage, and you’ll see them everywhere, from high mountain pastures to traditional games, festivals, and daily travel, reminding you just how closely life here is tied to the land.
Weather: what to expect
Kyrgyzstan has a continental, mountainous climate with large variations depending on altitude. Summers are generally warm in the valleys, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), while higher elevations remain cooler. Winters are cold, especially in mountainous areas, with daytime temperatures often between –5°C and 5°C (23°F to 41°F) and much colder nights. Spring and autumn are typically short and mild, with occasional rainfall and snow in higher areas. Overall, the climate combines warm lowlands in summer with harsh, snowy winters in the mountains, making the weather highly seasonal and regionally varied.
commonly asked questions
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How is my luggage transported?
Your luggage on this trip which should be packed in a 26 - 32L backpack will be transported in a mix of ways. At points it will be on your back, at other points in a support vehicle and sometimes on a pack horse.
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What's the pace like?
This Wild Kyrgyzstan trip offers a mix of paces, largely dependent on the terrain. There will be days where we’re mostly walking as we cross mountain passes and canyons but once the ground flattens out and opens up, there will be lots of opportunities for long canters.
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What's the accommodation like? do i need to know how to set up a tent?
Accommodation on this ride is a mix of tents and yurts. The tents will be single person hiking tents and you don’t need to know how to set it up. There will be help on hand. The yurts will be at specific camps and already set up.
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What flight should I book?
Flights sometimes land and take off at early hours of the morning in Kyrgyzstan so you can book a flight for whenever suits you. We’ll be there to pick you up from the airport and take you straight to the hotel. We can also arrange an extra night at the hotel for you if you wanted to arrive a day early. We’ll be back in Bishkek around midday on the last day of the tour so you’re welcome to book a flight from 5pm onwards. We’re always happy to offer assistance with flight questions so do reach out!
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How remote is this ride?
It’s pretty remote! We’ll be starting in Bishkek (city) and Kyzart (village) before we make our way into the mountains. There will be times where cell signal isn’t available and we may not see anyone else for a day or two. We’ll be staying at Yurt camps for a few nights meaning we’ll likely bump into some other people. The Yurt camps may have batteries for charging devices however it’s best to bring a power pack. Our guide will always have a satelite phone should anything happen.
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Can I come on this ride solo?
Absolutely! Our first fully booked trip date is filled with only solo riders so you won’t be the odd one out. Trips like these are a great way to make new friends and everyone will likely be of a similar age with similar interests.
your guides & hosts
Nick is a filmmaker, explorer and horseman working in Kyrgyzstan, where he designs and leads adventurous horseback journeys through remote parts of the country. His work connects experienced riders to horses, landscapes and local communities, with a focus on sustainability and Kyrgyz horsemanship.
@truelifenick / @nick_sherlock
Eleri, the founder of Wild Mane, will also be joining you on the trip, helping to host our group of Wild Mane riders. This is our first time visiting Kyrgyzstan and Eleri can’t wait to explore the area and experience it with you. She’ll be your point of contact on the lead up to and throughout the trip.
@wildmanetravel
How to book
Choose your ride
Submit the application form under ‘request to book’
Wait for us to confirm space with the operator (we aim to get back to you within 24hrs)
Pay your deposit (20%)
Full balance is due 65 days before departure
cancellation policy
Cancellation terms vary by operator and are specific to this ride.
If cancelled more than 90 days before departure, deposit is refundable less a £100 cancellation fee
After paying the full balance, if cancelled more than 30 days in advance, you’ll receive a full refund minus the deposit
If cancelled less than 30 days in advance, a refund of 10% of the total trip price is provided
why wild mane?
Curated, unforgettable & welfare focused riding holidays
Personal advice and human support from booking to your return home
Clear and transparent booking process with no hidden fees
We work directly with established operators, many who are family run