Ride through the Mountains of Kyrgyzstan with Alexandra Tolstoy

A Riding Tour of Sary Chelek, Kyrgyzstan
4th - 13th June 2021

Join us and explorer Alexandra Tolstoy on a unique riding tour across the utterly picturesque Sary Chelek region in Kyrgyzstan. CLICK HERE to view the itinerary.

The Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, lying at the heart of the old Silk Road, is one of the least-known and yet most fascinating of landscapes. Alexandra has been riding across the country for the last 20 years, having co-written the bestselling book The Last Secrets of the Silk Road, recounting her equine journey with three friends across Central Asia. The tour will take place 4th-13th June 2021, and will see guests riding through the meadows and peaks of what the horsewoman calls “perhaps the most spectacular scenery I have ever encountered”. Mounted on Kyrgyz horses, which are among the most hardy and sure-footed in the world, the group will be accompanied by one guide for every three guests on horseback and housed in comfortable English-style camps in spectacular settings.

Beginning in Osh, the oldest city in Kyrgyzstan and once a pivotal Silk Road trading post, the tour will explore the local bazaars, which still retain an old-world atmosphere before dinner at a local tavern. The ancient city, said to be founded by Alexander The Great, is also home to UNESCO World Heritage Site the sacred mountain, Sulaiman Too. Whilst here the group can experience a guided tour of Uzgen, once the capital of the 12th century Turkish Karakhanid Khanate, and filled with minarets and bathhouses from its golden era. After lunch in the colourful town of Djalal-Abad, the first camp will be set up near the hamlet of Dharik Tash beside an aquamarine river and encircled by mountains.

The next morning the group will ride through the breathtaking panorama of alpine meadows and flower-filled villages stopping for a picnic lunch and breathing in the cleanest air in the world. As the tour progresses the group will slowly meander towards the Sary Chelek Golden Hollow Reserve via the Tas Bel Pass; spirited canters through a carpet of wildflowers and swims in the crystal clear waters - paradise. The Reserve supports the largest walnut forest in the world which will be explored before settling down beside a turquoise alpine lake for the night. A kaleidoscope of scenery that can hardly be imagined with dreamlike views will follow over the next few days. There will be visits to local yurts and a memorable chance to watch a game of Ulak-Tartysh (reminiscent of polo but using a dead goat!) on a plateau next to the dramatic Lake Kara-Suu.

Following the sun-dappled River Kara-Suu downstream past waterfalls and cascades, the ride will close with a drive to the impressive Susamir Valley, the home of nomads and their herds. Saddle-stiff bodies will find blissful comfort in the swimming pool and soft beds of the family-run Asia Mountain Hotel! The tour’s final day will be spent in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. This little-explored city was once a Silk Road caravan resting stop before becoming a mud fort of the Uzbek Khan and a Russian garrison town. The Soviet-era buildings make for an interesting visit, including the vast Ala-Too Square, scene of the largest protests of the Tulip Revolution of 2005. There will also be a chance to buy some colourful Kyrgyz felt rugs and hats before flying back home.

We hope that you will join us and Alexandra on this one-of-a-kind adventure into some of the most pristine and untrammelled landscapes on the planet. It is sure to produce a lifetime of memories and be a unique bonding experience with both fellow travellers and horses! 

For more information about this tour, please contact us or CLICK HERE to view the itinerary:
info@ampersandtravel.com // +44 (0) 207 819 9770