Alay trek and Sary-Chelek horseback tour
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Alay trek and Sary-Chelek horseback tour Highlights
This 9-day tour from Osh combines the Alai Valley below Lenin Peak with a two-day horseback ride in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve. Along the way you discover the medieval minaret of Uzgen, the walnut forests of Arslanbob and the sacred mountain of Osh, so that mountain scenery, nomadic life and Silk Road history all come together in one trip through southern Kyrgyzstan.
From Osh the road follows the Pamir Highway over the Chiyyrchik Pass (2,400 m) and through the Ayu-Tapan Gorge, where you can watch bread being baked in a cauldron and a shirdak felt carpet being made, before crossing the Taldyk Pass (3,600 m) to Sary-Tash in the Alai Valley, with the Pamir Mountains right outside your window. Next you stay in a yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake at the foot of Lenin Peak (7,134 m) and walk to the Achik-Tash base camp. On the way back to Osh you visit the museum of Kurmanjan Datka, the “Queen of Alai”, and climb Sulaiman-Too, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The second half of the tour heads north to Uzgen, with its mausoleums and minaret from the Karakhanid period, and on to Arslanbob, with walks through the famous wild walnut forest to the big and small waterfalls. Then it is time to saddle up: two riding days lead through the fir-lined Kara-Suu Gorge to a yurt camp at Kara-Suu Lake and over a 2,446 m pass to Iri-Kol Lake and the village of Arkit in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve. On the last morning you visit Sary-Chelek Lake itself before driving back to Osh.
Difficulty: Moderate Two riding days in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve (17 km, about 4 hours, and about 19 km over a 2,446 m pass), walks of about 8 km at Tulpar-Kol Lake and about 13 km to the big waterfall in Arslanbob, two nights at about 3,200–3,500 m in the Alai Valley, and long drives of 220–295 km (4–5 hours) on five days.
Tour Itinerary
Welcome to Osh, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. After the transfer to your hotel and some time to rest, drive out to the Laglan Canyon for a small picnic. Surrounded by picturesque mountains and calm waters, it is a relaxed first taste of Kyrgyzstan’s nature. Afterwards, return to Osh for the night at your hotel. The drive to the canyon and back is about 95 km. Early check-in at the hotel on arrival is not included.
Osh, Laglan Canyon
- Osh → Osh (95 km)
Overnight: Osh (Hotel)
Meals: Lunch (Picnic)
After breakfast, follow the famous Pamir Highway (M41) south from Osh, with a stop at the Chiyyrchik Pass (2,400 m) for the first wide mountain views. In the Ayu-Tapan Gorge, lunch is served in a yurt by the river. Here you can also enjoy a local folklore performance and workshops on baking bread in a cauldron and making a shirdak, the traditional Kyrgyz felt carpet (optional, additional fee). Afterwards, cross the Taldyk Pass (3,600 m) with photo stops along the way and arrive in the evening in Sary-Tash in the Alai Valley, where the snow-capped Pamir Mountains rise right in front of your window. Dinner and overnight in a cosy guesthouse. The drive is about 260 km (about 5 hours).
Chiyirchik Pass, Taldyk Pass, Sary-Tash
- Osh → Sary-Tash (260 km)
Overnight: Sary-Tash (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive to the yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake at the foot of majestic Lenin Peak (7,134 m). From here, walk to Achik-Tash, the international base camp of the Lenin Peak climbers, with unique views of the mountains and glaciers. Back at the camp, enjoy lunch and some rest, and learn about the life of the local herders on their summer pastures. In the evening you can watch a small yak show (optional, additional fee), followed by dinner and a night in traditional yurts under the starry sky. The drive is about 60 km (about 1.5 hours); the walk to Achik-Tash is about 4 km each way.
Tulpar-Kol Lake, Lenin peak, Achyk-Tash Base Camp
- Sary-Tash → Tulpar-Kol Lake (60 km)
- Tulpar-Kol Lake → Tulpar-Kol Lake (8 km)
Overnight: Tulpar-Kol Lake (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you drive back to Osh. On the way, visit the museum of Kurmanjan Datka, the legendary “Queen of Alai”, and stop for lunch. After arriving in Osh and a rest, walk up the sacred Sulaiman-Too mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The excursion on the mountain and the museum visit give a fine insight into the cultural importance of Osh. The evening is free. The drive is about 240 km (about 4 hours).
Gulcha (Kurmanjan Datka Museum), Sulaiman Too, Osh
- Tulpar-Kol Lake → Osh (240 km)
Overnight: Osh (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, drive to the ancient town of Uzgen and visit its historical and architectural complex, famous for the medieval mausoleums and the minaret from the Karakhanid period. Continue to the village of Arslanbob, known for its vast walnut forests. Walk to the big waterfall and through the famous forest, breathe in the scent of century-old trees and see how wild walnuts grow. Dinner and overnight in a cosy guesthouse surrounded by greenery. The drive is about 220 km (about 4.5 hours); the walk to the big waterfall and back is about 13 km.
Uzgen, Arslanbob, Arslanbob Big Waterfall
- Osh → Arslanbob (220 km)
- Arslanbob → Arslanbob (13 km)
Overnight: Arslanbob (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, take a walk to the small Arslanbob waterfall, one of the most popular natural sights of the region. Then drive on to Kara-Suu, a small village at the edge of the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve known for its hospitality and peaceful atmosphere. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. The walk to the small waterfall and back is about 3 km, and the drive about 230 km.
Arslanbob Small Waterfall
- Arslanbob → Arslanbob (3 km)
- Arslanbob → Kara-Suu village (Sary-Chelek) (230 km)
Overnight: Kara-Suu village (Sary-Chelek) (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast and a briefing, choose your horse and ride north into the Kara-Suu Gorge, crossing a rushing mountain river on a wooden bridge. The gorge soon narrows, its slopes covered with beautiful fir forest, and the trail passes beneath a waterfall before climbing to Kara-Suu Lake (1,800 m). After lunch, relax on the mountain pasture (jailoo). Dinner by the campfire and overnight in yurts. The ride is about 17 km (about 4 hours).
Kara-Suu Lake (Sary-Chelek)
- Kara-Suu village (Sary-Chelek) → Kara-Suu Lake (Sary-Chelek) (17 km)
Overnight: Kara-Suu Lake (Sary-Chelek) (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue on horseback over a pass at 2,446 m. On the other side, stop at Iri-Kol Lake for free time to walk and rest by the water – a great chance to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of Sary-Chelek. After lunch, descend to the village of Arkit, the gateway to the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, where dinner and a night in a guesthouse let you recover from the ride. The ride is about 19 km.
Iri-Kol Lake, Arkit
- Kara-Suu Lake (Sary-Chelek) → Arkit (19 km)
Overnight: Arkit (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, visit Sary-Chelek Lake, the high mountain lake surrounded by forests and peaks that gives the reserve its name, and enjoy a picnic on its shore. Then drive back to Osh. On arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax or for last-minute sightseeing in the city. The drive from Arkit to the lake is about 20 km, and from Sary-Chelek to Osh about 295 km (about 5 hours). The tour ends in Osh; accommodation tonight is not included.
Sary Chelek, Osh
- Arkit → Sary Chelek (20 km)
- Sary Chelek → Osh (295 km)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic)
Share this tour privately
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What's included
Included
- English-, German- or Russian-speaking guide for the whole tour
- All transfers as listed in the itinerary
- Horses for the two riding days in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (8 nights: hotel and guesthouses, 2 nights in yurts)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- 1 liter of drinking water per person per day
- Entrance fees for the museums and sights in the itinerary
Not included
- Flights
- Medical insurance and medical expenses
- Early hotel check-in on the arrival day
- Accommodation in Osh after the tour (night of day 9)
- Folklore show and bread-making and shirdak workshops in the Ayu-Tapan Gorge on day 2 (optional, additional fee)
- Yak show at Tulpar-Kol Lake on day 3 (optional, additional fee)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses
- Services outside the itinerary
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Where you'll stay
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Night 1
Osh
Hotel in Osh or similar
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Night 2
Sary-Tash
Guesthouse in Sary-Tash or similar
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Night 3
Tulpar-Kol Lake
Yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake or similar
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Night 4
Osh
Guesthouse in Osh or similar
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Night 5
Arslanbob
Guesthouse in Arslanbob or similar
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Night 6
Kara-Suu village (Sary-Chelek)
Guesthouse in Kara-Suu village or similar
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Night 7
Kara-Suu Lake (Sary-Chelek)
Yurt camp at Kara-Suu Lake or similar
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Night 8
Arkit
Guesthouse in Arkyt or similar
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- A personal first aid kit
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- A hat or other headwear
- A water bottle
Kyrgyzstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kyrgyzstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan before booking.
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek has plenty of ATMs, but outside the larger towns and the northern shore of Issyk-Kul cash is how almost everything is paid.
ATMs and cards
Some ATMs in Bishkek dispense US dollars as well as som. Beyond the capital, ATMs are found in the few largest towns but mostly not in smaller ones, except on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Mastercard works in all ATMs, but Visa is still the more widely accepted card. Demirbank's red ATMs have lately been the best option for foreign cards, with moderate fees.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices in the major cities change US dollars, euros and roubles into som. Notes must be clean, fresh and without any signs of wear. Exchange offices prefer larger notes from 50 USD and 50 EUR, and sometimes give a better rate for them.
Paying by card
Cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, large supermarkets and some museums in Bishkek and Osh, and occasionally even in taxis. Elsewhere, apart from the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, paying by card is not practical.
Kyrgyzstan is generally safe for travellers and tourism is growing fast, but the usual precautions matter.
Documents
Always carry your passport or a notarised copy. Without proper identification you can be detained by the police.
In towns
- Robberies, some of them violent, and thefts happen especially in crowded places such as the bazaars. Take care after dark.
- Sexual harassment has been reported on public transport. Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night.
- Book taxis in advance from established services.
- Stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
- Watch where you step: some streets have large holes and pavements are often uneven.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious practices.
- Possessing or using narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Do not photograph anything related to the armed forces or security services.
- Same-sex relationships are legal but not widely discussed or publicly recognised.
Border areas
Smuggling makes the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan unstable and best avoided.
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for travellers from many countries. Others can apply for an electronic visa or through an embassy.
Visas
For a tourist visa, most passport holders need an invitation letter from a tourism company. Kyrgyzstan has had an electronic visa system since 1 September 2017.
Border regions
Visiting border regions requires a special permit.
The best times to visit Kyrgyzstan's lower areas are May–June and September. In the high mountains, July and August are best.
Lower areas: May–June and September
In late spring and early autumn the valleys, Issyk-Kul's shores and the towns are green or golden, days are pleasant rather than hot and there are fewer visitors.
High mountains: July and August
This is when the high pastures, yurt camps and mountain passes are open, and trekking and horse-riding routes that are under snow the rest of the year can be reached. Days in the valleys can reach about 30°C, and nights at altitude can still be close to freezing. Summer is also the time of festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
Winter
Winters in the highlands are long and close the high passes, but it is still a captivating season. Hiking, horse riding and skiing are all possible, and yurt stays are available too.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is basic and medical facilities are scarce, so comprehensive medical and travel insurance is essential.
Medicines
If you rely on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip: it can be hard or expensive to find locally.
Insurance
Arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before you arrive. A serious accident or illness may mean emergency air evacuation to a neighbouring country.
Food and water
Treat tap water and other local water as contaminated and boil it before drinking; bottled water is the safest choice throughout your stay. Be careful with unpasteurised dairy and other animal products.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis are recommended before entering the country, and others may also be advisable. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.
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