The Great Nomad Journey

Your journey begins in Bishkek: Walk through the city center, Ala-Too Square and the market to soak up the local atmosphere.

Drive to Koshkor through mountains and open plains. Along the way there are stops at viewpoints and natural spots to pause, breathe in the landscapes and slowly ease into the country’s pace. Visit to Burana Tower and overnight in a guesthouse with a traditional dinner.

Start of the horseback route towards Son Kol. Day of riding through open valleys and a gradual ascent to higher areas, unhurried, with time to adapt to the terrain and the horses rhythm. First encounters with nomad families.

Ascent towards the mountain passes and arrival on the shores of Son Kol. Day of long horseback rides along the lake shores and meadows, surrounded by herds and yurts, before spending the night in a nomad camp.

Full day at Son Kol living alongside the nomads. Nomad Games (traditional horseback games and local contests) are organized so you can watch and, if you wish, take part in an authentic experience of Kyrgyz culture.

Return to Koshkor on horseback following a different route. After several hours of riding, we’ll arrive back at Kako’s home, where the whole family will welcome us for a friendly meal. Last views of the lake and the steppe before coming back to the village to rest.

After breakfast in Kochkor, we’ll prepare to ascend into the mountains leading to Lake Kol-Ukok, one of the most beautiful and least-visited corners of the region.

After breakfast by the lake, we’ll head up to Lake Kol-Tor, combining horseback riding with a short trek due to the terrain. At the top, we’ll enjoy a picnic by the icy shore—brave swimmers can dip in the glacial water—then descend to Kochkor for a well-earned dinner.

Today we leave Kochkor and drive east along the shores of Issyk-Kul. We’ll stop to explore a spectacular canyon, then visit local families and artisans for a deep cultural day. We end the day in a scenic nature-park valley, sleeping in comfortable yurt camps surrounded by rivers, meadows, and waterfalls.

After breakfast, we’ll take an easy walk to a hidden forest waterfall, then drive toward the Karakol region and switch transport to handle the steep mountains. In the afternoon, we’ll relax in natural hot springs at nearly 3,000 meters, and end the day in a small valley hotel to rest before our final horseback day.

Early start on horseback to Lake Ala-Kol, climbing nearly 1,000 meters through steep but manageable trails. We finish the last stretch on foot to reach the turquoise lake at around 4,000 meters beneath snow-capped peaks. After a picnic by the shore, we descend back through the valleys by horse in the afternoon light, then return to the hotel to shower, relax, and celebrate the journey.

Early risers can visit the Karakol livestock market (Sundays only), one of Central Asia’s biggest. Then we’ll drive along Issyk-Kul’s southern shore, stopping at a wooden Orthodox church and, if the weather allows, a lakeside beach. We’ll finish the day at Adil’s camp with a bonfire and barbecue under the mountain sky—our last night together.

After breakfast, we’ll drive back to Bishkek across the wide Kyrgyz landscapes. In the city, you can explore the lively Osh Bazaar for last-minute souvenirs, or relax at the guesthouse and take a final stroll before our farewell dinner. An unforgettable journey through nomadic Kyrgyzstan comes to a close.