KYRGYZSTAN HORSE TREKKING – INTO JYRGALAN & THE BOZ ZUCHUK LAKES

Horseback is the only way for the Kyrzak to live. Horses are said to be the wings of the Kyrgyz.

The Kyrzak have relied on horses for mountain transportation for over two thousand years.

It’s like playing hockey in Canada or riding a horse in Kyrgyzstan.

It is something that the Kyrgyz people expect and something that almost everyone can do well.

Kyrgyzstan Horse Trekking Adventure through Jyrgalan

The horse trek started in Jyrgalan in far east Kyrgyzstan.

The small guesthouse was the heart of village life, with many locals stopping by for dinner.

Our highlight accommodation was the Alakol Guesthouse, which Emil and Gulmira, husband and wife, ran.

They were welcoming and friendly to all who came by for a chat.

The room was comfortable, quiet, and well-located. It was a great starting point for our three-day trek into the Jyrgalan Valley.

Horse Trek to Jyrgalan Day 1

Just after breakfast, our team of five headed out on our trek into Jyrgalan Valley with two pack horses and our extra gear.

Although it started easy, our horses followed one another; once we got on the trail, we realized that we needed to be in control.

These horses from Kyrgyzstan had their minds and decided they didn’t want a steep trail or a rough river crossing.

Our guides were able to move our horses from behind, pushing them along and pulling them up with the reins.

We all settled down eventually and moved quickly through the trails together.

It’s a challenging ride. You will encounter many high ridges, steep mountains, and rocky trails.

Horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan requires more than just a touristy trail ride. You need to be attentive and help your horse.

The horse may think that one track is the best, but he might lead you to a mud hole, a narrow cliff, or even a trail covered with trees.

Night One

Our first night on the Kyrygstan Trek was spent in the Jyrgalan Valley, with stunning views.

We were awestruck by the beauty of the landscape before us as wild horses ran across it.

Horses can roam the mountains when they’re not used in Kyrgyzstan.

Our little camp was spotted by a semi-wild pack of horses that ran through the valley, taking an interest in us.

Even in the middle of the night, they visited our horses.

Dave and I laughed that the wild horses wanted to get in our horses’ faces, even though they were tied to stakes or had their knees hampered.

Surprisingly the lowest valley was our coldest night on the trek.

It could be the open spaces or the wind blowing through the valley. But this night was hard, and we were eager to leave the bed the following day.

We listened to the wolves howl from a distance. Our Russian-speaking guide asked through our translator whether we could fly the drone up to search for the pack.

We didn’t want to disturb the wildlife, so we used the legitimate excuse that we needed to conserve batteries.

Seeing a pack wolf in Kyrgyzstan’s wild would have been fantastic.

Day 2 – Horseback trekking in Kyrgyzstan

After hours of riding on horseback, we woke up tired and achy. We weren’t keen to get back in the saddle.

As we approached our first pass, the Terim Tor Bulak Pass at 3467m (11,375ft) was a steep climb.

Dave and Dave got off their horses at one point and began to hike on their own while our guides led them up the trail.

We beat them up the hill, which was steep and slow. This allowed us to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views.

It was challenging going down once we reached the pass’s top.

The guides suggested we follow the horses on foot, so we walked down.

Cholkum, our English Speaking guide, said that Cholkum was anxious throughout the whole experience. She feared they would attack her as she led two horses on foot.

Their experience was invaluable as we needed more confidence to take a 1000-pound animal down a mountainside slope.

We all got back on our horses and continued our journey after the trail had slowed down a little.

Lunch was taken at the Tiorgei Ak-Suu River, where our horses took a long rest, and we enjoyed a picnic overlooking the river.

Horse Trekking vs. Trekking in Kyrgyzstan

Although getting information from our Russian guides took a lot of work, we learned that riding horses is more efficient than walking in the mountains.

Horses must do many switchbacks and slow down when going downhill. Horses also require frequent breaks.

Although we didn’t know why we got up so late each morning, it became clear to us once we learned.

Horse Safety

Horses cannot walk on wet trails or rocks. We had to wait until the morning to leave camp so the sun could dry the dew.

Dave and I thought our skills kept us so far behind schedule.

We had heard of previous trekkers who covered more terrain per day but traveled on foot.

Both horses needed to rest and be safe, and the slower experience of our expert guides made us feel so much better.

We were on the right track and decided to enjoy the ride and relax. It was okay if it took us days to complete the task.

Boz Uchuk-Ashuu Pass

It was an entertaining afternoon.

A local informed us that it was closed as we were heading to the Boz Uchuk Ashuu Pass, which takes us to 3300m.

He took us to another trail out of our way, which was much better than trying to climb through another pass.

Horses with sure feet

The trail was narrow and steep, with a vertical drop into the abyss sometimes, and the course was sometimes rocky. However, our horses were stable and confident riding these well-planned switchbacks.

This was the best time we had riding our horses. It was exciting to be on a trail.

Since the morning of day 1, we had yet to see one. So, it was a relief to return to a path and not zig-zagging through mountains.

Both the horse and rider had to endure another long day. The horses were exhausted.

It was quite a shock but a fun one! My horse decided to lie down while I was still riding him.

When discussing how long to ride before setting camp, it was almost as if nothing had happened.

I fell to the ground. (Don’t worry. I was able to stay upright on the saddle.

We knew that this campsite would be a great spot. My little boy was fed up.

Boz Uchuk Lake

We had planned to camp next to Boz Uchuk Lake, but instead, we set up camp in the valley.

These long days, altitude, and steep hills took their toll. While the horses relaxed and ate at camp, we explored the area on foot.

Boz Uchuk Lake was less spectacular than we had hoped. However, we discovered that we had hiked to the wrong place.

It was a lake that looked even more spectacular to the right.