Horse Riding to Son-Kol Lake – Into the Heart of Kyrgyz Nomad Life

This is a proper ride into the Kyrgyz mountains — several days on horseback, crossing wide summer pastures, up and over a high pass, and ending up at Son-Kol Lake,

From 990$

Price can vary according to days, number of people and places that you will visit

990 $

Price starts from

3 Day

Duration

June-September

Available

Description

This is a proper ride into the Kyrgyz mountains — several days on horseback, crossing wide summer pastures, up and over a high pass, and ending up at Son-Kol Lake, where shepherd families spend the warm months living in their felt yurts.

The lake sits at 3,016 metres, ringed by peaks well over 4,000 m. You start from the village of Kyzart, head up through valleys and tackle a proper mountain pass before dropping down onto the huge open plateau beside the water. It’s classic high-country riding: endless grassland, fresh wind in your face, the odd herd of sheep or horses wandering in the distance, and not much else around.

You stay in yurts with local families — the real deal, just as they live up there all summer. Expect fresh qaymaq (cream) straight from the churn, warm fresh bread, homemade jam, and if you’re feeling brave, a bowl of kymyz (fermented mare’s milk — sharp, slightly fizzy, definitely an acquired taste).

The pace is dictated by the horses and the land: long hours in the saddle, time to soak up the quiet and the sheer scale of it all, plus proper chats with the herders who’ve been doing this their whole lives. No crowds, no rush, just ride, eat well, sleep warm in a yurt, and do it again the next day.

Horse riding to Son-Kol lake suits people who want to properly feel the highlands: cold mornings that wake you up sharp, endless views, straightforward Kyrgyz hospitality, and the quiet satisfaction of seeing a way of life that isn’t laid on for visitors.

You will love it if:

You fancy getting out of the car and actually feeling the mountains under you — on horseback, at the slow, steady rhythm of the trail.

You’re after real nomadic life: staying with families, eating what they eat, hearing stories around the fire.

You don’t mind a bit of saddle soreness — it’s part of the deal, and the views make up for it.

You want silence: proper quiet, broken only by wind, horses’ hooves, and the occasional bleat from a sheep.

You’re up for trying new things — like kymyz at dawn or galloping across open grassland if the mood strikes.

You like the idea of a trip that feels genuine, not packaged — no fake photo ops, just Kyrgyzstan as it is.

Itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek to Kyzart — Into the Mountains and First Saddle Time

You leave Bishkek after breakfast (around 8–9 am), and it’s a solid 4–5 hour drive south through the Jumgal valley — winding roads, green hills gradually turning into real mountains, the occasional village with kids waving from the roadside.

You pull into Kyzart village by lunchtime. A simple, hearty meal at a local place (probably plov or lagman, straight from the stove), then it’s time to meet the team: your guide, the horsemen, and the horses already saddled and waiting. No fuss — just hop on, adjust the stirrups, and you’re off to horse riding to Son-Kol lake!

The ride heads up into the Kilemche valley — open grassland, a gentle climb, herds of sheep scattered across the hills, the air getting sharper with every step. It’s 3–4 hours in the saddle, enough to settle into the rhythm without wearing you out on day one. You arrive at the shepherd’s summer spot in the late afternoon — yurts tucked into the valley, smoke curling from the stove pipes.

Free time to stretch your legs, watch the family get on with their day (milking, herding, chatting in Kyrgyz), maybe lend a hand fetching water if you feel like it. Dinner around the fire — fresh bread, qaymaq, maybe some beshbarmak or stew — then into a warm yurt for the night. Proper quiet, stars overhead, the occasional horse snort outside.

Kyrgyz Shepherd

Day 2: Up and Over to Son-Kol Lake

Early-ish start after a big breakfast (tea, cream, bread, eggs if they’ve got them). Today’s the main push: you ride up towards the Jalgyz Karagai Pass at about 3,400 metres.

The climb is steady — horses know the way, you just sit back and take it in: grassland giving way to rocky patches, wind picking up, views opening out behind you. At the top, the lake suddenly appears below — huge, blue, ringed by mountains, looking almost too perfect to be real. A quick stop for photos and a breather (the air’s thin, but the view’s worth every bit of effort).

Then it’s downhill to the lakeshore, following the edge to the Tuz-Ashuu area or a similar spot where the families have their yurts set up for summer. You arrive mid-afternoon — time to wander along the water, skip stones, watch birds, or just sit and let the sheer scale of the place sink in.

Dinner with the hosts (kymyz if you’re feeling brave, plenty of tea otherwise), stories around the stove, and another night in a yurt listening to the lake lap and the wind sweep across the plateau. Horse Riding Tour

Day 3: Around the Lake, Back Down, and Home to Bishkek

Sunrise over Son-Kol is worth getting up for — cold, clear, the water turning gold in the light. Breakfast, pack up, then a shorter ride along the shore and up to the next pass (Kara-Kiya, another 3,400m-ish spot). More sweeping views, then the descent back towards Kyzart — easier on the way down, horses keen to get home.

You reach the village by lunchtime — a hot meal at the guesthouse, quick wash if needed, then into the van for the drive back to Bishkek. It’s another 4–5 hours, arriving around 7 pm — tired, saddle-sore in the best possible way, full of stories.

Horse riding to Son-Kol lake

How It All Works

Accommodation
Proper Kyrgyz yurts — felt walls, stove in the middle, shared with the family or small group (usually 4–6 people). Mattresses and blankets on the floor, no electricity after dark, outside long-drop toilets, basin with warm water for washing. It's basic but cosy — and the stars at night make up for it.

Horses & Riding
Calm, sure-footed local horses — one per person. No experience needed; we'll give basic instructions before you set off. Helmets available (just ask). Rough weight limit around 95 kg — if you're bigger, let us know in advance and we'll sort a stronger horse.

What to Bring

Warm layers (it gets cold at night, even in summer)
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Sturdy shoes/boots for riding and walking
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (high altitude sun is fierce)
Small daypack for essentials
Power bank (no charging in yurts)
Personal meds, lip balm, wet wipes
Sleeping bag liner or your own bag if you're a light sleeper

Weather
Summer days: +10°C to +25°C (sunny, but wind can chill you). Nights: 0°C to +8°C (bring layers — it drops fast). Mountain weather flips quickly — pack for both sun and rain.

Safety
Route well-trodden by locals every summer. Experienced horsemen, first-aid kit always carried. We keep groups small and take it steady.

FAQ Quick Hits
- Riding experience? None needed — beginners do fine.
- Cold at night? Yes — warm clothes are key.
- Phone charging? Rarely — power bank is your friend.
- Private tour? Absolutely, just say the word.
- Vegetarian? Easy — let us know ahead.
Why book with us?
We're a local team, small groups only, fair pay for our horsemen, carefully chosen spots away from crowds. No mass-tourism fluff — just real Kyrgyzstan.

Gallery

Covered Places

These places you will love it in this tour

Son-Kol Lake

Kyrgyz Guide

Trip Video

    
 
 
         
   Ville Siilanen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really friendly and helpful guy, organized a very special and unique tour and gave huge help with my travels in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
  
 
        
   PR 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Javlon (a great local guy and perfect English speaker) organised a fantastic tour for us with the best guide and driver one could possibly hope for. He built a packed itinerary around our requests and was able to flex on this as we asked. We visited so many beautiful places, Jeti-Oguz, Song-Kol, Tash-Rabat, Kel-Suu to name but a few, and experienced Eagle hunting and trekking, on foot and horseback, and much much more. Nothing was too much trouble and i would highly recommend to anyone wanting the best experience of a beautiful country.
  
 
        
   Ivor Gasa 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This country is truly a gem, and our hearts are full. Many thanks to Java and his team—we had our hesitations at first, but they proved to be reliable and trustworthy. Anything you need just ask them, they will gladly help. They’re the best!
  
 
        
   peiyu chung 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Responsible, reliable, resourceful. Java has gotten us to fall in love with Krygyzstan with his delivery of top class service.

Knowledgeable in the history, culture and geography of his homeland, he shared stories generously and was a great source of entertainment throughout our trip. Long drives were never boring, always safe, filled with laughter and picturesque. It really helps that he's into photography and takes lovely photos.

If there was a Guide Award, Java deserves one. 🏆
  
 
        
   LW Tai 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. my friends and i had such a wonderful trip in kyrgyzstan thanks to our driver-guide, Java. he really went the extra mile to make sure we were comfortable, even though he didnt have to - always flexible with plans, not calculative about small things, helping us with logistics like cash, camping and accommodation, bringing us to the best photography spots at the best timing (at the expense of his own sleep), picking us up and dropping us off at the airport despite all of us having different flight timings, sharing all the history and traditions of his wonderful country and more. over the week, we also bonded over various jokes and random discussion topics. it was like travelling with a local friend. for our hiking trip days at ala-kul, he got an experienced mountain guide to bring us there, and it was a great experience as well.

highly recommended local expert to show you the best of kyrgyzstan. i understand they also offer other types of tours like cycling, multiday hiking, etc. rest assured all arrangements are made in advance, plans were well thought out. for us, there wasnt any down time where we had to sit around and wait (which i had experienced before with other tours elsewhere!)
  
 
        
   Ugyen Tsezomla Lama 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Javlon’s 5-day tour in Kyrgyzstan was incredible! His English is perfect, and his deep knowledge and passion for the country's culture and history is incredible. He was thoughtful, preparing snack bags and water for us for the hikes and long drives. On top of being accommodating, he had a great sense of humor, making the trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone wanting an unforgettable experience in Kyrgyzstan!
  
 
        
   Majid 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Javlon truly made our trip special. He is extremely knowledgeable about everything under the sky, and he's happy to pass on the knowledge. He made our life so easy because he's so accommodating.... Most recommended tour I can ever recommend
  
 
        
   Emil Jose 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you Javlon providing an amazing tour in Kyrgyzstan. I contacted Javlon from Dubai. I found his contact from Google, without any advance payment he confirmed my booking. He contacted me exactly the day before my tour. He was very professional, responsive and provided tailor made tour as per my requirement.

I should also appreciate Javlon for providing the best English speaking guide Ramil and a fantastic vehicle. Ramil was on time. I cannot express in words. Driving was excellent, best time management, took us to all places and also stopped as per our requirements. He lead us in all our activities. Played excellent music. Ramil was an excellent photographer.

Thank you for a memorable trip.
  
 
        
   jakub_420 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks for arranging apron access at Bishkek airport.
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 42 reviews 
 
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