9 Days
Multi-Activity
Highlights
Learn to hunt with 4th generation eagle handlers in the foothills of the Teresky Ala Too Mountains.
Ride horses to Song Kol Lake, hidden high in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
Spend your evenings by the woodstove in traditional yurt camps on the banks of Issyk-Kul and Song-Kol.
Hunting with eagles in Kyrgyzstan is a time-honored tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. Each hunting season these hunters venture out into the mountains and pastures of Kyrgyzstan to let their birds practice hunting in a natural environment. This is an important aspect of the eagle hunting tradition because all eagles are re-released into the wild when they are fifteen years old. Additionally, these practices help local authorities keep the rising wolf and jackal populations in check. These trips provide us with the perfect opportunity to join the berkutchi (eagle handlers). During this trip, experience elements of the nomadic lifestyle of our ancestors. Ride through the hills and snow covered peaks of the Issyk-Kul and Song Kol regions with eagle handlers and horsemen as your guides. See Kyrgyzstan like few other travelers do on this 9-day winter horseback riding adventure. Let’s Wander!
Dates | Price | Status | MORE INFORMATION | |||
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Oct 23, 2019 | Available | Book now | ||||
Dec. 1, 2019 | Available | Book now | ||||
Feb. 29, 2020 | Available | Book now | ||||
March 26, 2020 | Available | Book now | ||||
Person | Economy | Comfort | More information |
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Dates don’t fit your plans? Travelling alone? Don’t worry, we’re flexible! We can arrange this tour just for you. Just contact us with your preferred dates and we’ll put together a quote just for you. Our personalized service lets you design the perfect vacation for you. Best part: When you choose your own dates your departure is guaranteed! Plan your trip for friends and family, with the peace of mind that everything is pre-arranged by our experts at Tenti.
Your flight lands early in the morning. Once you clear customs your driver will be waiting to bring you to your accommodations in the city. Rest up and prepare for your trip before reuniting with your group for an excursion to Osh Bazaar. Meet and greet drinks in the evening.
After breakfast depart for Bokonbaeva village. Arrive in the early afternoon and settle into your yurt. Meet the eagle handlers over a traditional Kyrgyz dinner and discuss the action plan for the next two days. Enjoy a folk concert performed by a local family of musicians.
Today your eagle hunting adventure begins. After breakfast, saddle-up your horses and head into the hills with the eagle handlers. Spend the evening with a local shepherd.
Continue your hunting with eagles adventure. In the evening return to your yurt camp to spend the night.
Depart in the morning for Kyzart village. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing in the guesthouse or exploring the village.
In the morning, saddle up your horse for a trek to the picturesque Song-Kol Lake. Upon your arrival get settled in to your yurt then spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the fire with some drinks and shisha.
Spend the day relaxing in Song-Kol with optional activities.
Return to Kyzart village and relax.
Transfer back to Bishkek. Enjoy a free evening. Your return flight departs early in the morning on day ten.
This tour is a great way for you to immerse yourself in the ancestral lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people. During peak season (January and February) the trails can be very icy and covered by deep snow drifts. Additionally temperatures during this time can dip to -20 degrees Celsius. (-22 Fahrenheit), as such we recommend anyone considering this tour have previous extreme temperature and horseback riding experience. Experienced guides and coaching will be included, but you should be able to ride for a maximum of 6 hours each day. Please note, your safety is important to us, if extreme weather conditions arise alternative arrangements for the tour will be made.
During the tour meals will be provided per the itinerary. Most meals will be prepared specially for the group by each destination's host.
Please inform Tenti of any food allerigies or dietary restrictions when booking your tour, so we can ensure your meal is prepared properly.
All accommodations outside of Bishkek will be provided. (3 night in guesthouse, 4 nights yurt camp)
Accommodations in Bishkek are not included in the price of this tour. For recommendations of where to stay in Bishkek contact your Tenti representative.
During this tour you will spend 3 nights on Issyk-Kul’s South Shore, 2 nights in Kyzart Village and 2 nights in Song-Kol. All of the provided accommodations for this tour are best described as rustic and in the yurt camps you will sleep on the ground on traditional mattresses. We recommend, if possible, packing a minimum -20 degree rated sleeping bag to ensure your warmth and comfort throughout the tour. Accommodations are based on multiple occupancy sharing. Single occupancy accommodations are not available on this tour.
Gear
Clothing & Footwear Packing List
During this tour a large number of transfers will happen on horseback, therefore we strongly recommend luggage that is conducive to this type of travel. Large travel backpacks or softshell duffel bags are ideal. There is no way to transport hard shell suitcase and they should not be brought on this tour.
We recommend carrying the equivalent of $100 in Som with you on your tour to cover miscellaneous expenses, including drinks other than water and souvenirs. Along the route there are several ATMs if needed. Please remember to inform your bank you are travelling internationally before you depart or you may be unable to use your cards.
South Shore: Temperatures in South Shore can be extremely cold during peak winter months (January and February) dropping to -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) aided by the sudden and harsh winds that come off Lake Issyk-Kul. Snow storms are rare but do happen a few times each season.
Song Kol: Located 3000 meters above sea level, Song Kol’s average winter temperature in -20 degrees Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit). During the winter, ice on the lake can get up to 1.2 meters thick. Sudden snow storms with heavy accumulation and strong winds are common.