Kyrgyzstan
Transhumance
Kyrgyzstan
Overview
Our Kyrgyzstan expedition takes us to the far southern reaches of the country near the border with China, a remote region that is not yet on the main tourist trail. Riding between small villages, through sweeping valleys and mountain passes, we arrive at a landscape that feels like the edge of the world. Deep valleys are carved between nearly vertical hillsides peppered with yaks, snow-capped peaks tower over us, while we share camp life and family life through a blend of camping, yurt, and guesthouse stays.
The Transhumance, a bi-annual livestock move, is one of the main features of the expedition and it gives a real look into Kyrgyz culture. We don’t sugarcoat because part of the magic of the trip is truly living in a different landscape with a different mentality, where time and schedules don’t make sense beside the rhythm of livestock and the weather of the mountains.
We ride to a remote lake, globally recognized for the biodiversity it supports with its wetlands and importance migratory birds, and traverse humbling and breathtaking mountains. We finish our trip visiting eagle hunters. Although we return to more populated areas, the experience is all the more rich for the contrast of modernity with the centuries-old tradition of raising and training eagles.
This trip will open you to Kyrgyz culture and allow you to traverse a breathtaking and humbling landscape aboard stocky and incredibly strong Kyrgyz mountain ponies. This is a trip for those with a hunger for adventure and the unexpected, grit, and a sense of humor!
Dates
2027 Spring Transhumance dates and details will be released fall 2026. Dates are typically in late May and the autumn transhumance is in late September. Sign up below to have your name on the waitlist for priority booking when dates are released — no deposit required!
Highlights
Ride alongside local shepherds and guides through mountain passes over 11,000 ft and across vast steppe surrounded on all sides by snow-capped mountains.
Visit a remote lake near the border with China, both beautiful and critical for biodiversity in the region.
Spend a day with the eagle hunters and learn the basics of mounted archery.
Stay in local guesthouses, yurts hosted by local families, and tents while moving livestock.
*Trip price includes transfer to/from Manas airport, accommodation (shared occupancy), meals, and transportation. Able to accommodate some dietary needs though meals may be basic — assessed on an individual basis. Weight limit of 90 kg. Travel and trip cancellation insurance required.
“I do not have the words to adequately explain the vastness of this landscape or the severity of its mountains or how on the back of a horse it felt like you could gallop so far you’d fall off the edge of the earth…. Back in the modern world, it’s an intoxicating flavor I can’t forget.”
— Lauren M. || September 2024
