Tash-Rabat to Arslanbob Horse Expedition — 12 Days
About this tour
Our big crossing of the south: from the Tash-Rabat gorge almost to Osh on horseback. These valleys have kept their beauty untouched by civilisation — snowy mountains, wild forests and rivers of clear water, with marmots, foxes, falcons and, if you are lucky, a bear.
Seven riding days take you through nomad camps (with tea, kymyz and kurut), across the Arpa valley, up to the Kamandy glacier and over the Jylanach pass into the Chytty gorge. The trip ends with the waterfalls of Arslanbob and a boat ride on Sary-Chelek, the most beautiful lake in Kyrgyzstan.
Highlights
- Seven days and about 240 km on horseback across the south
- Kamandy glacier and the wide Arpa valley
- Herders' hospitality: tea, kymyz and kurut
- Arslanbob's Big (80 m) and Small (23 m) waterfalls
- Boat trip on Sary-Chelek lake (234 m deep)
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, rest, lunch, city tour and dinner.
02
Day
Bishkek – Tash-Rabat
Drive to the Tash-Rabat gorge with lunch on the way. Visit the caravanserai. Night in a yurt.
03
Day
Tash-Rabat – Kemen-Siya
Start of the horse trek: into the Ichke gorge and over a pass, picnic, river crossing, rolling hills and Kyrgyz hospitality — tea, kymyz, kurut. 6–7 hours. Night in a yurt or tent.
04
Day
Kemen-Siya – Kerege-Saz
Into the Kerege-Saz gorge watching nomad life — milking mares and cows, meeting herders. 7–8 hours. Night in a tent camp.
05
Day
Kerege-Saz – Kol-Saz
Across the meadows and the Sook river, picnic at a spring, into the Arpa valley with herds of horses below the peaks. 6–7 hours. Tent camp.
06
Day
Kol-Saz – Kamandy glacier
Across the Sook river and up to the Kamandy glacier. 7–8 hours. Tent camp.
07
Day
Kamandy glacier – Shilbiluu
Past the glacier and down to the Arpa river — glacier, wide river and woodland. 6–7 hours. Tent camp in the Arpa valley.
08
Day
Shilbiluu – Jylanach pass – Chytty gorge
Over the Jylanach pass into the Chytty gorge (Jalal-Abad region) with bird's-eye views of the peaks; meeting southern nomads. 6–7 hours. Tent camp.
09
Day
Chytty gorge – Kara-Shoro – Bishkek–Osh road
Down the rocky Chytty gorge to the Bishkek–Osh road. 6–7 hours. Last night in the tent camp.
10
Day
To Arslanbob
Drive to Arslanbob village; visit the Big waterfall (80 m) and the Small waterfall (23 m). Night in a guesthouse.
11
Day
Arslanbob – Arkyt – Sary-Chelek
Drive to Arkyt in the Sary-Chelek reserve and on to Sary-Chelek lake (7.5 km long, 234 m deep) for a boat ride. Night in a guesthouse in Arkyt.
12
Day
Arkyt – Bishkek
Drive back to Bishkek with lunch in the Chychkan gorge. Night in Bishkek.
13
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)
7 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?
- Confident riders — you will ride 5–7 hours every day
- Travellers looking for remote country far from roads
- Travellers who want a true expedition across the country
Difficulty & safety
The highest point of the route is about 4,000 m. Drink plenty of water, go slowly on the first days and tell your guide about any headache or dizziness. Riding days are 6–8 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
How hard is this trip?
It is our most demanding horse expedition: seven riding days of 6–8 hours, camping, and altitudes up to about 4,000 m. You should be a confident rider.
Do I need a border permit?
Yes, part of the route is in the border zone. We arrange the permit — please send your passport details at least a month before the trip.
