KYRGYZSTAN
A LOKA JOURNEY
SUMMER 2027
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Kyrgyzstan's Moving Villages: Mountains, Yurts & Horse Trekking.
About the trip
Kyrgyzstan’s Moving Villages is our eight-day horse riding tour through the Tian Shan mountains, June 2027. There’ll be 6 to 12 of us, starting and finishing in Bishkek. Between the two: wide-open grassland, nights in yurts, and a turquoise lake at the end of a canyon. We ride through the Naryn region, over Kynda Pass (3,398 m), and out to Kel-Suu Lake.
Four days in the saddle, two to four hours a day, with plenty of time to stop and take it all in. We spend three nights in yurts, including a stay with a Kyrgyz family. You don’t need to be a pro, horses are matched to your level, and local guides ride with us every riding day. The trip starts from US$2,990 per person, with accommodation, all meals, guides, permits, and ground transfers included.
We handle the practical stuff. You bring your curiosity and a willingness to get to know the people you’re traveling with. Like every Loka journey, it’s filmed, so you’ll have something to look back on long after the last ride.
About the host
Host
Amanda Draper
Amanda has spent six years living nomadically, and the whole time she's been collecting people rather than places. That's the actual skill: she can walk into a valley and find the family worth eating with, the guide who knows why the route matters, the person whose obsession is contagious.
Kyrgyzstan is a country that rewards exactly that approach. Go alone and you'll see mountains. Go with Amanda and you'll end up in someone's yurt at midnight, being handed tea by a man who has ridden these pastures his whole life. Amanda will be hosting the first week, the following weeks will be hosted by our local guides.
Itinerary
*Itinerary subject to change due to weather and other conditions outside our control.
Activities
Everything from your airport pickup in Bishkek to the farewell lunch on Day 8: seven nights’ accommodation, every meal, horses and local guides for four days of riding, all ground transport, and the border zone permit for Kel-Suu Lake.
Your host and guides
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Week 1: Hosted by Amanda Draper for the whole trip, weeks 2 and 3 are hosted by our local guides.
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English-speaking local guides throughout
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Local guides riding with you on every riding day
Accommodation: 7 nights
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2 nights in Bishkek, including a good hotel with a spa on the final night
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2 nights in Naryn
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3 nights in yurts on the trek: Uzun-Bulak, a Kyrgyz family’s yurts at Chatyr-Tash, and Kok-Kyia camp (with showers)
Meals
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All meals, from the welcome dinner on Day 1 to the farewell lunch on Day 8
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A traditional dinner with a Kyrgyz family at Chatyr-Tash
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A barbecue picnic on the shore of Kel-Suu
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Georgian dinner on the last night in Bishkek
Riding and experiences
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Horses for every riding day, matched to your ability
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A three-hour ride to Shar Waterfall
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A three-day horse trek from Sary-Tal through the Ak-Sai Valley and over Kynda Pass (3,398 m) to Kel-Suu Lake
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A boat ride on Kel-Suu Lake
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Eagle hunting or another local tradition in Naryn
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Spa time at the hotel in Bishkek
Transport and logistics
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Airport pickup at Manas International Airport (FRU)
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All private ground transport between stops
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Your main bag moved between stops by vehicle
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Luggage storage in Bishkek for anything you don’t need on the trip
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All permits, including the border zone permit for Kel-Suu
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International flights
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Travel insurance, which is required and must cover riding and hiking
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Visa, if applicable to your nationality
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Alcoholic drinks
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Personal tipping
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Personal gear and equipment
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Anything not listed above
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This trip suits you if:
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You're comfortable being active for several days in a row: riding, long drives, long days outside
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You're happy without wifi, reliable hot showers, or a fixed plan for every hour
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You'd rather eat in someone's yurt than in a hotel restaurant
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You travel to be changed, not to be entertained
No riding experience needed. Horses are matched to ability and local guides ride with you the whole way. If you've never sat on a horse, you'll learn on the first ride.
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You'll cross a pass at 3,398 m, ride on four days, sleep three nights in yurts, and be far from anywhere to buy what you forgot. Pack light, but pack warm.
The essentials
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Long trousers you can ride in. Not jeans. Riding tights, hiking trousers, or similar.
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Broken-in hiking boots with a small heel. Trail runners are fine for walking but poor in a stirrup.
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Base layers, merino if you have it
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A proper insulated jacket. Nights in the mountains get cold, even in June.
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Waterproof shell, top and bottom
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Warm hat, gloves, and a sun hat. You'll want all three in the same day.
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Sunglasses and high factor sun cream. The altitude burns you faster than you expect.
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Refillable water bottle
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Small daypack for riding days
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Personal first aid: blister plasters, painkillers, anything you take regularly
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Power bank. Charging is limited to non-existent in the yurts.
Worth bringing
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A riding helmet if you own one. Ask us about availability if not.
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Padded shorts or a gel seat cover. Your third day will thank you.
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Wet wipes and hand sanitiser
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Earplugs for shared yurts
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Swimwear for the spa in Bishkek
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Snacks you like. Kyrgyz food is meat and dairy heavy.
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A book, and something to write in
Leave at home
Hard suitcases. Your main bag travels between stops by vehicle, so bring a soft duffel or backpack, plus a small daypack for what you need during the day. Luggage storage is available in Bishkek for anything you want to leave behind for the trip.-
Horses can feel your heart from more than a meter away, they know who you are, even when you do not.” - by unknown
To connect with a horse is to connect with yourself. This is how horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan felt to me. So wild and free. Not only are you exploring one of the most beautiful countries in Central Asia, but also partaking in a unique nomadic culture on horseback. Join me on this journey with your horse, their world, and yourself.
I can't wait to travel with you.
- MandaGetting there
Fly into Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU). A driver will be waiting for you, and we handle everything from there.
Visas
Many nationalities enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free for up to 60 days. Check your own before booking.
Altitude
The trek crosses Kynda Pass at 3,398 m and reaches Kel-Suu Lake at around 3,500 m. Nothing to be nervous about, but arrive rested.
Long drivesDays 2 and 7 each include around five hours on the road between Bishkek and Naryn.
Border permit
Kel-Suu sits close to the Chinese border, so every guest needs a border zone permit. We arrange it for you; we just need your passport details well before departure.
SignalExpect little or no phone signal on the trek.
Insurance
Travel insurance is required for this trip and must cover riding and hiking activities.
Choose your dates
Three departures. Same route, same horses, same families. What changes is who you ride with.
Frequently asked questions
ENTER KYRGYZSTAN