Horseback Riding Tour from Fergana Valley to Song-Kol Lake
Days: 5
Locations which you will visit: Jalal Abad, Arslanbob forest and waterfalls, Kazarman, Song Kol lake
Tour Highlights
Experience a thrilling 5-day journey from vibrant Jalal-Abad to peaceful Song-Kol Lake. Traverse the lush walnut forests of Kara-Alma and journey through Kazarman, your gateway to the Tien-Shan mountains. Embark on horseback rides through stunning gorges, conquer majestic mountain passes, and immerse yourself in the nomadic lifestyle at Song-Kol Lake. Savor traditional Kyrgyz milk products and enjoy overnight stays in cozy yurts. This tour is a captivating blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty in the heart of Kyrgyzstan.
Itinerary
Morning drive from Jalalabat to Kazarman village. On the way visit Kara-Alma village. This quiet and undiscovered village is a good alternative for people who want to avoid the crowded village of Arslanbob in the peak season. Kara-Alma is situated in the middle of a huge walnut forest and is famous for its wild apples. Have homemade lunch with Kyrgyz family. After lunch continue drive to Kazarman, which is located behind Fergana Valley. By dinnertime, arrive in Kazarman village. Dinner and overnight in a homestay.
After breakfast in a homestay transfer from Kazarman village to Nasan Bulagy (a source) – the starting point of your horseback riding tour. It is a small waterfall with a long string of cascades of water. Here you can have a picnic-lunch with beautiful view of the source and meet with your guide team. After short break start ride through the gorge. Along the way, on a jailoo called Bala Tapan, we will see an interesting natural object – a stone on which there is a depression similar to the imprint of a children’s foot. By dinner time arrive to shepherd’s hut or tent and have a rest. Dinner and overnight in hut or yurt.
Today will be a challenge day for you. You will have the opportunity to reach two beautiful passes with completely different landscapes. The first pass is Kadu Pass (3394 m), these are flower fields with tall coniferous trees, and the Ashuu-Tor Pass (3615 m), which are Rocky Mountains where you can meet wild goats and golden eagles soaring above your heads. Your horseback riding will end on the southern shore of Song-Kol Lake in a yurt camp. Here you will have dinner and spend the night.
Spend the day enjoying a refreshing and well-earned rest at the lake-side. Watch and/or participate in the everyday life of the shepherds: milking mares; making traditional Kyrgyz milk products like kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) or airan (a sour, dense milk product); tending cattle. Eat a delicious lunch here, stroll along the lakeshore, and hope the legendary Song- Kol weather is kind. Dinner and overnight stay in a shepherd’s yurt. End of the tour.
Services Included
- Accommodation according the program (home stays, guest houses and yurt camps)
- Meals during tour (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners), except alcoholic drinks
- Local transport services from Jalal-Abad to Kazarman
- Visiting cultural/historical places and entrance fees
- Cultural events and show according to the program
- 3 days horseback riding tour from Fergana valley to Song-Kol lake
- Accommodation and meals at cafes in Bishkek
- single supplementEnglish speaking touring guide
- personal expenses; activities out of program
- travel insurance
- tips
- international air fare
- horse riding
- boat trip, rafting