Horse Riding in Altyn Arashan

Kyrgyz herders move horses, cattle and sheep up to summer pastures, and Altyn Arashan is one of those pastures. Many of the families who run guesthouses and yurt camps in the valley also keep horses. Renting one for an hour or two is a common way to see the upper valley without walking it.

How it works

• No office, no list. Ask at your guesthouse or at any camp with horses outside.
• Agree on the spot. Price, time and route are agreed in person, in cash som. There is no standard rate, so agree before you get on, not after.
• Cash only. There is no ATM or card terminal in the valley. Bring som from Karakol.
• Availability varies. On a busy summer day, horses may already be out, or the owner may be up the valley. Ask soon after you arrive.

Our part is the ride up and down. The horse is arranged directly with the owner in the valley.

First time on a horse

Kyrgyz horses are short, sure-footed and used to the path. For a first ride:

• Tell the owner you have not ridden. You will get a quiet horse and someone walking beside it.
• Start with an hour. Two hours in the saddle is a lot for untrained legs.
• Wear long trousers. Shorts rub badly within minutes.
• Closed shoes with a small heel are best. Sandals are a bad idea.
• Ask for a helmet. Not every owner has one.
• Bring sun cream and a jacket. Wind picks up quickly above the meadow.

Where you can ride

Along the valley. The usual ride follows the river upstream from the meadow and back, through pasture and spruce forest under the Palatka massif. An hour or two out and back fits easily into the five hours of a day trip.

Towards the Ala-Kul pass. Some trekkers ride up towards the pass with a horseman leading, then walk over. It is a long, steep day at altitude and is arranged with the owner in advance, usually the night before. See Ala-Kul for the trek itself.

Riding up from Ak-Suu. Some visitors arrange horses for the whole 16–17 km from the bottom of the valley. That is a multi-hour ride and is organised in Ak-Suu or Karakol, not by us.

On a day trip

1. 07:50
   Meet at Giraffe Coffee

   Zhusaeva St, central Karakol

2. 08:00
   Depart

   16 km of riverbed track with fords, 2–2.5 hours

3. ~10:30
   In the valley, about 5 hours

   Hot springs, walks, lunch at a guesthouse. The driver waits.

4. 16:00
   Back down
5. ~18:00
   Karakol

The jeep reaches the valley around 10:30 and heads back at 16:00. A good plan: ask about a horse as soon as you arrive, ride for one to two hours before lunch, then soak in the hot springs in the afternoon. A return seat costs 3,750 som; the horse, park fee (about 300 som) and bath (about 250 som) are paid in cash in the valley.

Staying overnight for a longer ride

If you want a longer ride, or to go towards the pass, stay a night. Arrange the horse with your guesthouse in the evening and ride early, when the valley is quiet. Book a one-way seat up and another one-way seat down on a later date. See where to stay.

In winter

Fewer horses are around in winter and the paths are icy. Rides are possible by arrangement but not something to plan a trip around. See winter.