Kyrgyzstan Horse Trek

Your declared riding level, riding frequency, weight and height are sent to the ground operator before you arrive, and your handler pairs you with a horse on that basis. Tell us honestly what you want - steady, or forward.

Stock-style saddles on the Central Asian treks. Expect to be sore for the first two or three days regardless of experience. Riding jodhpurs or padded tights, riding gloves and half chaps make a real difference.

See the individual trip page. Whichever applies, your helmet must be a current certified equestrian helmet meeting. Ski, cycling and climbing helmets are not accepted, are not safe for riding, and are usually not covered by travel insurance.

Yes, on our multi-day treks. You need to be at least an Intermediate rider: in control at walk, trot and canter in open country, able to mount and dismount unaided, and comfortable spending six or more hours in the saddle. These are not trips for first-time riders.

Answer four questions. Can you mount and dismount unaided? Have you ridden at least six times in the past year? Can you hold a rising trot for ten minutes? Are you happy cantering in open country, in a group, on an unfamiliar horse? Four yeses puts you at Strong Intermediate.

The trek operates during the summer months when high passes are accessible and pastures are lush.

Travel in Kyrgyzstan can generally be taxing – whether you are sitting in a vehicle or on horseback you should be prepared for an active journey. However, our riding trips can only be described as moderate. Any one with a reasonable level of fitness can join the trips. Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan is relatively easy. We provide the gentlest horses for our clients and are extremely comfortable to ride. No prior experience is necessary. On all our trips the guides will instruct you before the riding commences with some general rules about riding in Kyrgyzstan. Should you have any doubt as to your level of fitness or ability to join a trip please get in touch with us.

To learn more, please check out our blog on Horse Trekking for Beginners: What you need to know - https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/horse-treks-for-beginners-what-you-need-to-know

The yurt and tented camps provide comfortable sleeping arrangements, shared facilities, and basic services such as meals, hot tea, and evening bonfires. The yurt accommodation is on a multi-share basis with 4 people in each yurt. In some camps, depending on the location and weather, we may also use large, high-quality tents instead of yurts; but the comfort level and services remain the same.

For meal inclusions, please refer to the detailed trip notes. Most lunches and dinners are included.

Breakfast – Full western style breakfasts will be provided by the hotels. Cereals, breads, spreads, tea / coffee

Lunch - vegetables, meats, rice, pasta, bread, tea / coffee

Dinner - soup, vegetable dish, noodles, meat dish, dessert, tea / coffee

For those who prefer a vegetarian diet, it should be noted that generally most dishes of Central Asia include some meat – so you should be prepared for a limited variety of vegetarian dishes.

Mongolia is long, flat and open — the demand is hours in the saddle on forward-going horses across big country, at low altitude. Kyrgyzstan is mountain riding: shorter distances but steep climbs, exposed ground, scree you lead your horse through, and passes above 3,500 m (11,483 ft). Choose on terrain, not scenery.