Tash-Rabat, Chatyr-Kol & Arpa Valley on Horseback — 7 Days
About this tour
The extended Tash-Rabat route. After crossing the Tash-Rabat pass (3,882 m) to Chatyr-Kol lake, you ride along its shore with views over the whole Arpa valley — for centuries a refuge for shepherds, and the valley that separates Kyrgyzstan from China.
You continue through the Shor-Bulak and Ak-Beyit gorges, where nomad families move for the summer, before returning to Tash-Rabat and its Silk Road caravanserai.
Highlights
- Tash-Rabat pass (3,882 m) and Chatyr-Kol lake
- Panorama of the Arpa valley on the Kyrgyz–Chinese border
- Summer life of nomad families in the Ak-Beyit gorge
- Tash-Rabat caravanserai, Burana Tower, Koshoy-Korgon
- About 1,000 km by car and 90 km on horseback
Group departures
Join a group on one of these dates, or propose your own. A departure is guaranteed once 2 travellers have joined, and the price per person drops as the group grows.
Join a group: choose your date
Publish your dates and other travellers can join you. They go live as soon as you confirm your email.
- Guaranteed from 2 travellers
- Price drops as people join
- Set your own group limit
Itinerary
01
Day
Arrival in Bishkek
Arrival, check-in at a hotel or guesthouse, lunch, city tour and dinner.
02
Day
Bishkek – Tash-Rabat
Drive to the Tash-Rabat gorge via the Burana Tower, lunch in Kochkor and the Koshoy-Korgon fortress beyond At-Bashy. Night in a yurt.
03
Day
Tash-Rabat – Chatyr-Kol
Horse trek through the Aksai valley and over the Tash-Rabat pass (3,882 m), picnic with a view of the lake, descent to Chatyr-Kol. Night in a yurt.
04
Day
Chatyr-Kol – Shor-Bulak
Along the lake shore with a panorama of the Arpa valley, then into the Shor-Bulak gorge. Night in tents or yurts.
05
Day
Shor-Bulak – Ak-Beyit
Ride into the Ak-Beyit gorge, where herders spend the summer — a chance to share their way of life. Night in tents.
06
Day
Ak-Beyit – Tash-Rabat
Return to the Tash-Rabat gorge. Night in a yurt, with a banya.
07
Day
Tash-Rabat – Bishkek
Drive back over the Dolon pass, lunch in Kochkor and a swim in Issyk-Kul. Night in Bishkek.
08
Day
Departure
Transfer to the airport.
What's included
Included
Private transport for the whole route (car for up to 3 travellers, minibus for larger groups)
English-speaking guide
5 nights in hotels, guesthouses or yurt camps (shared twin rooms)
2 nights camping: tents, camp kitchen and a cook
Breakfast and dinner every day
Picnic lunches on trekking, riding and walking days
A horse for each traveller and your guide, with local horsemen
Pack horses with a horseman for the luggage and camping gear
Entrance tickets and park fees
Not included
International flights
Visa fees (if you need a visa)
Travel insurance
Single room supplement: $150 (5 nights × $30), if you prefer a room of your own
Lunch on travel days
Sleeping bag and mat (ask us if you need to rent one)
Drinks and snacks
Tips for your guide, driver and horsemen
Personal expenses
Who is this tour for?
- Riders with average fitness and some riding experience — expect 5–6 hours in the saddle on riding days
- Travellers who want to sleep in yurts and live a few days like nomads
Difficulty & safety
The highest point of the route is about 3,882 m. Drink plenty of water, go slowly on the first days and tell your guide about any headache or dizziness. Riding days are 5–6 hours at a walking pace with an experienced horseman; mountain weather changes fast, so keep a warm layer and rain jacket at hand.
This route enters the border zone, so a border-zone permit is required — we arrange it; send us your passport details at least a month before the trip.
What to bring
Warm clothes — nights in the mountains are cold
Hiking boots or sturdy shoes
Rain jacket
Sunscreen and sun hat
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Pricing by group size
FAQ
Do I need a border permit?
Yes. The Arpa valley and Chatyr-Kol are in the border zone. We arrange the permit — please send your passport details at least a month before the trip.
