Horse Trek Tours in Jalal-Abad
Explore Jalal-Abad's beautiful mountains and gorges on horseback!
Jalal-Abad region in Kyrgyzstan's western Tian-Shan Mountains is the perfect location for horse treks, whether you are a beginner or advanced horse back rider. Experience our mountains on horseback and take in all the alpine lakes, wild walnut forests, gorges and lush valleys. Our carefully crafted tours provide you with a horse trek experience in Kyrgyzstan you won't forget!
Our most popular horse trek tours around Arslanbob and Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve in Jalal-Abad region are listed below. All of our trekking tours are fully supported, meaning we take care of providing you with a local guide, horse wanglers, horses, camping gear, food, entrance fees, transport and other logistics. This allows you to just enjoy the horse trek and all the stunning landscapes around you without any worries or stress.
To arrange any of these horse trek tours, get in touch with Destination Jalal-Abad. In addition to the list below, some of our popular trekking tours can also be done by horse so get in touch if any of those are of interest. We can also help you arrange transport and transfers from Osh (closest international airport) or Bishkek.
Note: Pricing charts below indicate the costs of horse treks for groups of up to six people. Horses will carry 15 kilos of gear per person and the standard tent provided is for two people. For groups of up to three people, the trekking guide also serves as the cook. For groups of four or more trekkers, a separate cook is needed. Groups of six or more require an assistant guide and cook. This allows us to maintain a high level of quality and safety on every tour.
All Horse Tours Include
- Local guide
- Horses
- Horse wrangler
- Food
- Transport
- Camping gear (if needed)
- Entrance fees (if needed)
The price depends on the tour design. We are happy to organize your individual tour and to give you a customized price. Travelers are responsible for their own insurance.
Our Most Popular Horse Trek Tours Around Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve
Exploring Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve on Horseback (3 Days)
Explore the stunning mountain landscapes of the Chatkal Mountains and Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve by horseback. This horse trek introduces you to authentic local culture as you ride through shepherd and other summer camps with an opportunity meet and engage with locals. Take in the beauty of pristine alpine lakes fed by glacial runoff. This 3-day horse trek provides so many natural highlights of Jalal-Abad region. Overnights in tents.
Highlights:
- Kara-Suu Gorge to Kara Kamysh Lake (Day 1): After choosing your horses in Kyzyl-Köl village, begin the horse trek with a ride through the narrow Kara-Suu Gorge and take in the slopes covered by silver fir forest. The trail continues below a waterfall and the over mountain pass to reach Kara-Suu Lake (1,800 meters), our campsite area for the night. You’ll have time in the afternoon to ride around meet local people who spend their summers up in these hills making honey and tending to their animals.
- Kotormo Pass and Iri Kol Lake (Day 2): Begin the day with an ascent up to Kotormo Pass (2,446 meters) over a winding trail. Enjoy stunning views of Sary-Chelek Valley and the peaks of the Chatkal Mountains in the distance. The descent is very steep, so we’ll walk down with the horses for safety reasons. Then, we’ll continue riding until we reach the shores of Iri Kol Lake where we’ll set up camp for the night. After lunch you’ll have an opportunity to continue riding to explore five other alpine lakes of Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve.
- Walnut Forest and Kyzyl-Köl Village (Day 3): Enjoy a relaxing morning ride through the towering trees of the walnut forest followed by a green valley that is often used for making hay, farming, grazing animals and beekeeping. You’ll have an opportunity meet local people here and see local village life once we reach Kyzyl-Köl where a family guest house will welcome you with a home cooked meal.
Into the Lap of Nature on Horseback: 4-Day Sary-Chelek Horse Trek
Explore the natural beauty of Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve on this epic four day horse trek that takes you through green meadows, raspberry-filled valleys and deep gorges. You’ll have stunning panoramic views of the nearby mountain peaks above and turquoise alpine lakes below. Exploring the mountains by horseback allows you enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the western Tian Shan Mountains in a relaxing and unique way. Overnights in tents.
Highlights:
- Kara-Suu Gorge to Kara-Kamysh Lake (Day 1): Begin the horse trek with a ride through the narrow Kara-Suu Gorge where the slopes are covered by a beautiful silver fir forest until we reach Kara-Suu Lake (1,800 meters). Ride along the river where views of the amazing Muztor peaks begin to open up. This area is covered in evergreen trees and is famous for its raspberries and honey, so you’ll have a chance to engage with locals who spend their summers up in these hills.
- Makmal Pass and Sary-Chelek Lake (Day 2): Enjoy a morning of passing through the pastures of local shepherds and getting a taste of their life on the jailoo (high pasture) during the summer months. Don’t be surprised if you are invited for tea, and we encourage you to accept. Continue on to Makmal Pass (2,651 meters) where you’ll be rewarded with fabulous views of the dramatic peaks of the Muztor Mountains. On the descent you’ll have the unique experience to ride through grass as tall as humans. Rest for the night at a campsite on the northern shore of Sary-Chelek Lake, the biggest and most famous lake in the nature reserve.
- Ashuu Pass and Iri Kol Lake (Day 3): The ride up to Ashuu Pass (2,611 meters) is rather steep and will require walking the horse for some time. However, you will be rewarded at the top with incredible panoramic views over Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, including its lush green valleys, dramatic granite mountain peaks and turquoise alpine lakes. Descend through raspberry bushes and walnut trees to Iri Kol Lake for a night along the lake shore.
- Walnut Forest and Kyzyl-Köl Village (Day 4): Enjoy a relaxing morning riding through the walnut forest with towering trees above you. As you go through the nearby valley keep your eye out for locals tending their animals, making hay or beekeeping. The horse trek ends in Kyzyl-Köl village where you can enjoy a home-cooked meal and family welcome at your guesthouse.
Our Most Popular Horse Trek Tours Around Arslanbob
Horse Trek to Holy Lake: 3-Day Arslanbob Horse Trek
Take to the hills outside of Arslanbob on horseback and explore the area’s alpine lakes, changing landscapes, and collection of rugged mountains. This horse trek is recommended for experienced riders who want to enjoy magnificent mountain panoramas and the challenge of tough climbs and steep downhills. Overnights in tents.
Highlights:
- Chakmak Tash Pass, Ontomo Pass and Sere Valley (Day 1): Enjoy a leisurely ride through Arslanbob village with its traditional clay houses, blooming gardens and tree branch fences. The trail continues through a dense juniper forest up to Chakmak Tash pass (3,270 meters) where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding gorges and grazing livestock in the green valleys for as far as the eye can see. After crossing the smaller Onotomo Pass we descend into the Sere Valley for the night.
- Tash Koro Canyon and Kolkupan Lake (Day 2): Ride from the grassy meadowland to rocky Tash Koro canyon where stunning views of the Babash Ata Range begin to appear and open up. You’ll have panoramic views of turquoise alpine lakes and craggy mountains before descending deep into the rocky canyon. The trail is steep and can get dangerous so we’ll walk the horses until we get to the canyon’s end. After dropping our stuff at the campsite, we’ll continue on horseback to Kolkupan Lake where we’ll have time to walk or ride around the lake. Admire how the lake changes colours and reflects the surrounding mountains.
- Arslanbob Valley and Village (Day 3): Riding back via a similar route allows us to take in all the different landscapes with different light and perspective. As we cross over Chakmak Tash pass the expanding Arslanbob Valley with its different forests and fields opens up to you. Enjoy the relaxing ride back through the village.
Horse Trek Adventure from Arslanbob to Toktogul (4 days)
Take in all the diverse landscapes of this region on horseback by riding along a winding mountainous trail through inspiring red rocks, green valleys, canyons and jailoos (high pastures) filled with grazing animals. This easy-moderate 4-day horse trek takes you from Arslanbob to Kara-Suu Lake where you’ll have many opportunities to learn about local nomadic culture and meet local shepherds and their families along the way. Overnights in tents.
Highlights:
- Kyzyl-Unkur and Otuz Art Gorge (Day 1): After a brief horseback orientation in Arslanbob, enjoy a relaxing ride through the village filled with traditional clay houses, blossoming gardens, and fruit orchards. The trail continues through the walnut forest towards Kyzyl-Unkur village. Then the landscape changes to dramatic red rock formations as we enter Kyzyl-Unkur Canyon and Otuz Art Gorge. Quite an impressive site and unique to this area.
- Juniper Forest and Otuz Art Jailoo (Day 2): Begin the day by following the Otuz Art river through the gorge until reaching a steep trail through a juniper and apple tree forest. We return again to the valley where we will meet local shepherds on horseback looking after their sheep, cows and other animals. This ride continues through more unique red rock formations and wild landscapes.
- Belmonchok Pass to Kapka Tash Lake (Day 3): Take a steep trail toward Belmonchok Pass (3,185 meters), used often by local shepherds to move their livestock to the jailoo (high pasture) in the summer months. Some parts of the trail are be a bit tricky and steep, so we’ll walk the horses for part of the way up to Belmonchok Pass. There, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding mountain ranges and lush valleys below. Descend through a mountain stream to the vibrantly colored Kapka Tash Lake where we’ll set up the campsite for the night.
- Kara-Suu Lake (Day 4): This last day is the day of alpine lakes. We leave Kapka Tash Lake behind and continue through Alatai National Park until reaching Kara-Suu Lake (6.5 km long). We ride from one end of the lake to the other, taking in the beauty of the juniper and spruce trees and meeting local shepherds along the way. After lunch on the shore the transport will meet you to take you to Toktogul.
Our Most Popular Horse Trek Tours Around Saimaluu-Tash
Saimaluu-Tash Petroglyphs Heritage Horse Trek (2-Days)
This 2-day horse trek combines adventure, history and exploration. Enjoy horseback riding in the mountains out to the scenic and remote Saimaluu-Tash and exploring the biggest petroglyph collection in Central Asia. Meaning "embroidered" or "carved stones", Saimaluu-Tash is located high in the mountains with over 10,000 carved black and white rock paintings scattered around. These carved images are the sacred displays of offerings of the ancient people and nomadic tribes that came through this area between 3,000 - 2,000 BC and up to the Middle Ages (8th century BC). On this tour you'll have an opportunity to go out to Saimaluu-Tash on horseback, camp overnight in the mountains, and enjoy sunrise over the thousands of petroglyphs around you. A truly unique experience. Overnight in tents.
Highlights:
- Jalal-Abad City - Kazarman Village - Saimaluu-Tash Petroglyphs (Day 1): Drive from Jalal-Abad city over the Kaldama Pass (2,779 meters) to Kazarman village (around 4 hours) where you will be met with a hearty home cooked lunch. Transfer to the trailhead, meet your horse for the next day and receive some basic horse riding instruction. For the next three hours we'll ride deep into the mountains following the stream. Your guide will share information and legends about the petroglyphs and the early nomads that roamed this land. Hike around the area to take a photos of the panoramic mountain views.
- Saimaluu-Tash Petroglyphs - Kazarman Village - Jalal-Abad City (Day 2): Wake up early for a morning hike to explore the petroglyphs that include tens of thousands of drawings scattered around this valley. At around 11:00 AM we'll leave camp and ride about 2-3 hours downhill, using the same trail from the day before. Our transport will meet us there and then we'll drive to Kazarman village for lunch, and then back to Jalal-Abad city.
