Day 1
|
You will be met at Bishkek airport.
The morning to rest, settle in, relax and the rest of the day to enjoy
sightseeing in the small and beautifully positioned capital at the foot
of the mountains and in full view of surrounding glaciers. In the afternoon
your guide will take you to see the enormous Alatau square. If time you
may visit the history museum and fascinating bazaar, one of the most
colorful in Asia, and perhaps the Ala-Archa park , a short 30 minute drive from Bishkek.
The park contains a beautiful gorge surrounded by high granite peaks
and is richly populated with wildlife including bears, ibex, griffin
and eagles. Return to the hotel for dinner and the night in a twin room.
|
|
Day 2
|
Breakfast and then a drive of about
2 hours (80 km) to the Shamsy valley where horses are waiting. The route
goes via the tower of Burana dating back to the 13 th century and stands
on the site of the ancient capital Karakanids. Time to relax and lunch
at a “yurt” camp situated in a beautiful alpine valley. The afternoon's
ride takes you into the next door valley where you leave the horses, returning
to the yurt camp by vehicle. Dinner and the night in camp.
|
|
Day 3-7
|
Breakfast in the yurt before setting
off by jeep to meet the horses. Mount up again and set of the following
valley, climbing up to a pass of some 13 000 feet in the Alatau range.
Cross the pass in the early afternoon before stopping for a picnic lunch.
After lunch continue descending to a wide open valley, dotted with yurts,
the homes of nomadic herdsmen. The back up vehicle is waiting here and camp
is set up close to a friendly yurt. The 5 days are spent riding through forested
gorges, across high alpine pasture surrounded by glacier covered peaks,
and green valleys carpeted with wild flowers. The Kyrgyz Alatau range, through
which ride, has peaks of up to 16 500 feet. There are small farming communities
in some of the valley floors and nomadic shepherds on the high pasture.
Towards the end of the ride the country opens out to broad plains as you
reach Son-Kul lake.
The Terskey range forms a spectacular backdrop to the lake which rests
between the Tenskey and Fergana mountains. 5 nights camping in simple camps
using 2 man dome tents with zip up doors and built in groundsheets, with
all equipment carried by the back vehicle, which will meet you each night.
|
|
Day 8
|
A day in a Yurt camp, relaxing by
the shores of Son-Kul lake with a chance to ride up into the hills above
the camp for those who wish. Dinner and night in camp.
|
|
Day 9
|
Leaving the horses, drive to village
of Bokonbaevo. Perhaps
a chance for a relaxing sauna before dinner and night in a “yurt”, a
round latticed construction covered in felt and canvas and used by Nomads
of the region (small tents available if preferred).
|
|
Day 10
|
The old sport of falconry still survives
in this area and Golden Eagles are used to hunt for foxes, hares, gazelles
and even wolves. After breakfast you will have a chance to join the
two hunters as they ride out with eagles perched on their arms into the
hills on the southern shores of the lake in search for game. Using local
horses ride out following the hunters to their summer camp in the mountains.
Overnight in the camp.
|
|
Day 11
|
A full day riding with the eagle hunters
with the night spent at their summer camp.
|
|
Day 12
|
Return by vehicle to the village of
Bokonbaevo (or possible option of a 3 hour ride back to the village).
Set off driving first along the southern lake shore and then following
the Chai river along the border with Kazakhstan and back to Bishkek.
|
|
Day 13
|
Transfer to the airport for your return
flight home.
|
|
