Our Destinations
Letter Randocheval
Why travelling with Randocheval ?
KIRGIZSTAN : DISCOVER LAST NOMADIC PEOPLE DURING OUR SECRET KIRGIZSTAN RIDE...
Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking
During centuries, caravans coming and going through the Great Silk Road
have crossed Kirgizstan. The Kirgiz people is mainly a nation of nomads
and shepherds, living in the yurta and moving their herds on horseback
for hundreds of kilometers through steppes and mountains.
We suggest you below a 10 days days but if you have time and are an experienced rider, we also suggest a longer ride : the Great Trel (18 days)
More photos ? See the ones we
took during our last trip there... |
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ITINERARY
Day 1 : Bishkek-Biel Saz (night in yurta)
Transfer from Bishkek, to Rot-Front (above 1h45 of road). After
a rest in our guest house we have a lunch. During the afternoon,
we leave for Biel Saz (above 1 hour road) in the Keguety valley,
1800 m high, in a farm where " koumiss " is prepared (fermented
mare's milk). Meet your horses and rest.
Day 2 : Biel Saz - Kegueti valley (night in tent)
We start the ride, going down through Kara-archa forest, and then
we ride alongside the river up to the Kegueti pass.
Day 3 : Kegueti-Jaïloo (night in tent)
We ride through the Kegueti pass, where we will see rocky landscape
with patches of snow, eagles and ibex. We go down along the river,
there begins the Suzamir plateau. As far as the eye can see, the
meadow stretches, eroded by rivers and dotted by yurtas. Camp in
the meadow by 3000 m high.
Day 4 : Jaïloo - Karakol river (night in tent)
We ride through jaïloo, and go down to the Karakol River, up
to a special place where our guide knows we can fish our dinner!
In the background, the Kara Moïnok glacier (Black Hills in
Kirghiz) is shining
Afternoon: rest and gastronomy.
Day 5 : Karakol river - Djon Aliche (night in yurta or tent)
Alongside the river, following a path and then crossing the river,
we go to the yurta of our friend Edil where we spend the night.
Day 6 : Djon Aliche - Shamshi valley (night in tent)
We ride through the jaïloos. The horses are at home can gallop
as much as they want in this wide space. People of the yurtas invite
you to share tea or khoumiss. Some Bactrian camels, a few yaks,
that's another world... Then we go from the Shamshi valley to the
pass. We set up the camp at the bottom of the pass.
Day 7 : Shamshi valley - Djar-Kok mounts (night in tent)
Your path follows the winding river and then skirts around mounts
Djar-Kok. Typical eroded bare mounts, with green clumps in deep
valleys.
Day 8 : Biel Saz (night in yurta)
From east to west; arrival at Biel Saz early in the afternoon and
Kyrgyz people organize their favorite game Ulak Tartish, sort of
polo replacing the ball by a goat (without head).
Day 9 : Bishkek (night in bed and breakfast)
Visit of the town, the museums, the bazaars, the souvenirs and art
crafts. Transfer to the airport for your return flight (very often
taking of during the night).
Day 10 : Transfer to Bishkek airport on time for your return flight (very often early in the morning or during the night).
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
To gone into the depth of your trip, you suggest to you differents extensions
in Kirgizstan or at Moscow (Russia), in the way that your flight will
transit by this town.
EXTENSION ON THE SON KOUL LAKE SHORES
To complete this approache of the Traditions of Kirgizstan trail,
we propose to you the discovery of Asia high plateaux with an additional
stay.
After this trail, stay in Kirgizstan, to discover the mode of life
of Son Koul Lake nomad's !
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Extension in guest hourse yurta (4 days / 3 nights, in full board
with horse at your disposal and assistance of a interpreter guid). You will share the familly's life, stroll by foot or horse riding, about the lac and the height, where we could admire the mountains stretche as far as the eye can see. |
DISCOVERY OF SON KOUL LAC AND TASH RABAT
This additional excursion 5 days / 5 nights is in all ground vehicle.
In the depth Kirgizstan, all a day is organize above the Son Koul Lac
shores. By the night, we find all the poetry of the Kirgizstan's soul
at a 3000m height !
The, we will visit the Tash-Rabat fortress that was Nestorien monastery
during the Xe century, and a caravanserai (where merchants stopped on
the Silk's Road.)
We go horse riding above the Chatyr-Koul Lake, near the china's border,
where we admire breathtaking landscapes !
Day 9 – Rot Front – Lac Son Koul (to replace day 9 on the itinerary)
We take the road to the lake for a 6 hours transfer. We stop in
the small town of Kochkor, famous for her craft. We will visit a
workshop craft of traditional making carpet in coloured felt.
At the evenning, we arrive on the lake shores, where we will be
in yurt.
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Day 10 – Day above the lac
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Day 12 – Tash-Rabat – Lac Chatyr-Koul
This day trip drive us to the Chatyr Koul Lake, at the border of
China. We will admire breathtaking landscapes of high plateaux and
jagged peak.
Dinner and night under tent or yurta (according the nomad's presence)
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Day 13 – Lac Chatyr-Koul – Tash- Rabat Today, we go down near Tash-Rabat, where we will dinner and have a night under the yurta. Day 14 – Tash-Rabat – Bishkek Transfer to Bishkek, the capital, to discover the town, these museums, markets, souvenirs, local craft... This will be unforgettable ! Day 15 - Return flight to Europe Very early transfer to the airport and take-off on regular flight for your return town, where you will arrive at the end of the day. |
STOPOVER IN MOSCOW
If your flying with Aeroflot, enjoy your transit in Russia to spend
some days in Moscow. We suggest you a two or three days stop, in
two kinds of accommadation possible (additional night possible according
the availabilities) :
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* Package 2 nights in 3* hotel at Moscow, with breakfast,
airport-hotel transfer, visa expenses and necessary documents for
his getting included. * Package 3 night in guest house at Moscow, in half-board, airport-hotel transfer, visa expenses and necessary documents for his getting included. |
Attention : The getting russian visa time is long enough. In this case, predict this trip minimum 45 days before.
HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL
Horses
You will ride local horses (Novo-Kirgiz breed and Don and Orlov trotters
crosses), born in mountains, trained for endurance (low rate of heartbeat
and breathing). They are very well balanced (physically and mentally speaking),
sturdy and particularly obedient. They live in herds the rest of the year.
The tack is provided on the spot, following the European standards, with
crupper and breast collar, as the main part of the ride takes place in
the mountains.
5 to 6h-stages on horseback a day.
What you should take :
Your personal riding equipment (waterproof cape, boots, safety helmet
or riding cap), your sleeping bag and sleeping bag sheet. Your personal
effects will be storaged in the saddle bags, so accordingly allow your luggage.
Secret Kirgizstan
Although this ride is not of a very technical level, it is necessary to
be able to manage easily a horse at the 3 paces and to be fit to appreciate
it to the full and to be able to stay several days in succession between
2500 and 3500 m above sea level.
Kids from 9 years old can participate to this trail.
YOUR GUIDES
Our trail rides are accompanied by a guide-interpreter,
and two professional local mountain guides-ostlers who perfectly know
the wildlife.
On the Big Trek, an all-terrain vehicle and a cooker join the team each
time the ground allows them (going through steep passes sometimes implies
more than a 300 km detour for this vehicle).
On the Traditions of Kyrgysztan, pack horses ensure the logistics.
For safety reasons or depending on the ground (mainly of the passes),
the itinerary might be modified but for all that its quality won't be
altered.
Insurance
As the Kirgiz insurance doesn't cover this kind of risks, a personal repatriation
aid insurance is mandatory. The other risks are covered by the RCP "travel
agency" of Randocheval-Absolu Voyages (Generali).
ACCOMMODATION
You will be accommodated as often as possible in yurtas when we will be
in the pastures (great traditional felt tents of the Kirgiz nomads).
Accommodation is whether in guesthouses, tents, or in yurtas when passing
through summer pastures.
As hospitality is a rule for Kirgiz people we have an agreement with a
local organization that tells us which family can accommodate us. This
extra income allows them facing the constant increase in cost of living
and affording school expanses for their children.
During the other nights, you will be accommodated either in a tent (modern
equipment, 2-3 people) or in our partners' guesthouse during the transfers.
At every campsite you'll have water thanks to a river nearby and can take a shower thanks to a mobile shower carried in the van.
Every night, you'll also have a matress !
A local cooker prepares the food.
DATES AND RATES
| Secret Kirgizstan (10 days) | ||
| September 17th to 27th | 1150 € |
available |
Options (per person)
| Extension on the Son Koul Lac shores | |
| 4 days additional stay, in double room |
360 € |
| Day / additional night |
57 € |
| 4 days additional stay, in single room |
510 € |
| Day / additional night |
65 € |
| Discovery of Son-Koul Lac and Tash-Rabat | |
| 5 days additional stay, in double room |
590 € |
| Stopover in Moscou | |
| 2 nights in 3* hotel, in doubler room including breakfast, airport-hotel-airport transfers. |
280 € |
| 3 nights in guest house, in double room including half-board, airport-hotel-airport transfers included |
260 € |
Flights to Bishkek
- Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.
RATE INCLUDING
- the trail ride as it is described, the accommodations, the horses, the mountain guides and the organizer-interpreter, the tents, the kitchen equipment, all the meals- transfers from and to the airport
- the vehicle for luggage for all rides
- the in the botanical and zoological reserves
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval
RATE NOT INCLUDING
- flight to Bishkek,
- the sleeping bag and the personal riding equipment
- the drinks
- visa expenses and the tax for leaving the country (to date, 10USD).
- the organisation of a possible tour through the region before or after
the trail ride (Issyk Koul lake, stay with the nomads…),
- tips (from 30 to 100 € / person),
- insurrance : repatriation aid or multiple-risk (cancellation, luggage,
repatriation) . You can subscribe to these insurrances only if you are
an european resident. If you live outside European Union, please check
with your local insurrance company. More information.
BOOKING - INFORMATION
Contact Claire, the specialist for this destination !
PRATICAL INFORMATIONS
COUNTRY
Kirghizstan
LENGTH
10 days / 9 nights / 8 days on horseback.
LANGUAGE
English, French, Russian.
GROUP SIZE
ACCESS
Bishkek airport.
CLIMATE
From June to September, you will meet the usual characteristics of a mountain
climate of continental type.
The temperatures can vary a lot in the same day and even be cold at night
(0°C), 95% of the tour is situated between 2800 ant 4000m (on average
at latitude 41° North) .
Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.
Vaccines-Health
It is necessary to be up to date concerning your usual vaccinations, in
particular for the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.
REFERENCE :CH84-Kirgizstan
