one of the numerous things we truly wished to do while on this trip with central Asia was to go on a multi-day equine trek. We had trekked to high altitudes as well as over passes by foot as well as now it was time to install a equine as well as let him do all the work.
We shown up in the little town of Kochkor as well as talked with the friendly as well as useful lady at Shepherd’s Life, a little business which assists with neighborhood based tourism. We arranged for an English-speaking guide, 3 horses, 2 nights sleeping in yurts with regional families, 2 breakfasts as well as 2 dinners. We would trip for 2 days as well as 2 nights leading to our final destination of tune Kol Lake. We scoured the little village for some food for our lunches while on the trip as well as had a great night sleep at our homestay.
The overall expense for our trip was $250 USD, including a taxi trip to the equine pickup point, as well as back to Kochkor from Lake tune Kol. You can get in touch with Shepherd’s Life, or Kochkor CBT, which are both found on the primary road in town.
We had a great experience with our guide, however all trips have mixed evaluations online.
Checking out the market for some food to bring on our trek
The complying with morning when we awoke, the skies were looking rather bleak as well as grey. The common looking weather condition for the Goats On The road had discovered us again! We still chose to go ahead with the trip as well as set off in a vehicle with our guide to the even smaller village of Kyzart, where we would satisfy our horses. during the trip out there, the sky opened up as well as we were totally poured on, not a great sign.
When we shown up in the village, the darkness seemed to lift as well as we had a patch of blue sky as well as sun directly above us! We packed up our horses, Nick’s was a handsome black equine so we named him Denzel Washington as well as mine was a blonde/orangey coloured equine so we named him Mustard. Our guide Scott, Denzel as well as Mustard would be our companions for the next two nights.
Saddle up! Me with my horse, Mustard
We walked along with dry brush, over little creeks as well as towards the towering, snow-capped mountains in the distance. We liked being on our horses, it took a bit of getting utilized to with the saddle, the reigns as well as exactly how to manage the horse, however overall, they were quite tame as well as listened well…until we reached our very first downhill bit of the trip into the valley. Mustard was not moving. He had no wish to go downhill, perhaps he was traumatized from a previous downward slope experience, I don’t know. Scott had to find up behind my equine as well as coerce him down the hill.
Mustard was fine on the flat lands, however not going downhill!
We stopped for lunch after riding for about 3 hours. The little patch of sun was still directly above us as well as we ate lunch near a little river. We got out our stove as well as pot as well as cooked up some immediate noodles with hard-boiled eggs as well as cheese on the side.
Enjoying our lunch break by the river
As we continued trekking we might see the storm starting to completely engulf the mountains in a thick, white fog. all of the sudden, it started to hail! Our time with the sunny patch was up. We were pleased we had the sun for as long as we did though as well as just as I was accepting the rain as well as was going to make the very best of it, we rounded a bend in the hillside as well as Scott stated “there, we will sleep in those yurts”. It was music to our ears.
Our comfortable yurt for the night
A Kyrgyz household lives in two of the yurts as well as they have set up a third one for tourists to sleep in. We ran inside the family’s yurt just as the hail had relied on a total downpour of rain. We sat near the warm stove, spoke with the mom as well as grandma of the household as well as played with two lovable bit grand-daughters. The mom of the home was anxiously sweeping as well as organizing her home, bringing in some dried dung for the terminate as well as cooking up some freshly baked bread for us.
Fresh bread getting prepared to go in the little “oven”
We delighted in the soft, hot bread with some homemade apricot jam as well as butter churned fresh in the yurt. We huddled under a blanket as well as viewed as the rain came down in sheets. We attempted to discover Scott’s complex card game with made-up guidelines as well as we taught him our conventional travel card game, crap head. We likewise tried a few of the Kyrgyz fermented mare’s milk that the household had made…it was similarly as poor as the one we tried in Mongolia!
Trying the Kyrgyz range of fermented mare’s milk, called Kumis
That evening the mom cooked us a tasty spicy soup with rice as well as mutton, together with bread as well as great deals of tea. We snuggled up into our sleeping bags, pulled 3 other blankets over us as well as quickly passed out.
The next morning I woke up at 6:30 as well as looked outside – it was snowing. I went back to bed, believing we wouldn’t be moving over the pass today. however around 9:00 all of us got up, had breakfast, saddled up the horses as well as set off. The sun had come out once again as well as we were able to take off.
Getting the horses saddled up for the long trip ahead of us
The views on the second day were otherworldly. It was nothing however blue skies ahead of us. We climbed up as well as up, zigging as well as zagging towards the 3,700m pass. Our horses huffed as well as puffed as well as skidded over the rocks as well as slushy snow that blanket the ground. Hawks soared high above us as well as the only seems were those of our horses hooves as well as their breath.
Nick as well as Denzel heading up the steep hill to the pass
We had just done a 2 day trip around Karakol as well as our muscles were still sore, it was good to have the equine groaning going up the pass as well as not us!
Me as well as Mustard making the trip as much as the pass, much better him walking than me!
The jagged peaks surrounding us were breathtaking as well as just when we believed it couldn’t get any type of better, we shown up at the top of the pass as well as saw the view of tune Kol Lake down below. just stunning.
Us with Scott as well as our horses at the top of the pass, we made it!
At the top of the pass, we satisfied a guy on horseback bring a rifle who told us a pack of wolves had killed one of his horses as well as he was now on the search for the murderous predators. since of the snow in the lower lying mountains, the wolves can search under the white camouflage as well as therefore, they ended up being braver. They leave the high peaks of the hills they typically roam as well as make their method down to the valley in browse of livestock to feed on.
On the search for the wolves that killed his horse
After our chat with the hunter, we made our descent into the valley below. Again, Mustard wasn’t as well pleased about going downhill, however this time around I might sympathize with him. The ground was muddy, wet as well as slushy. The horses had a difficult time going down the mountain, slipping as well as moving the whole way. So, to make it simpler for my horse, I got off as well as walked with him instead. After a minute, he stopped, laid down as well as started rolling around in the mud, covering my saddle as well as blanket with dirt.
It was official, he didn’t want me riding him!
After awhile I attempted to get back on, as well as once again he didn’t want to move. Scott as well as Nick whipped him in the butt as well as he lastly set off. We concerned a muddy hill where I just understood Mustard couldn’t deal with it. His legs buckled beneath him as well as he fell on his side into the hill. fortunately I had been planning my program of action in situation this happened. I whipped my left leg out as soon as I felt Mustard waver so it wouldn’t get crushed between him as well as the hill, dropped my hands to the ground as well as just type of rolled off.
Mustard as well as I were not getting along!
Mustard as well as I both laid against the mountain for a few moments before getting up. For the next couple of hours, I walked him. We were certainly not getting along anymore. I believe I provided him as well much leeway at the beginning as well as he understood he might get what he wanted!
After riding for about 3 hours, we reached the end of the valley as well as shown up on the shores of glistening Lake tune Kol. The sun was sparkling on the water, the ground we were walking on was lastly dry as well as the towering snowy mountains as a backdrop were the icing on the cake.
The mountain backdrop at tune Kol Lake was stunning
The final 2 hour trip to our yurt stay was beautiful as well as when we shown up we didn’t want to leave. We wandered along the lakeshore as well as couldn’t assist however look in awe of the mountains surrounding us. having the mix of snow as well as sun against the blue lake as well as our white yurt was really magical.
The shores of Lake tune Kol
Our yurt for the night – what a view!
We delighted in our final evening playing cards with Scott, drinking some beers as well as devouring a house cooked meal. Scott was an outstanding guide as well as our very first equine trekking experience was one to remember.
Having beers as well as dinner with our guide, Scott
Don’t miss The new equine Trekking choices in Jyrgalan!
Located just a 45 minute drive from Karakol is the village of Jyrgalan. In June, 2017, we marked out the new Keskenkija path which can be done on foot, or horse. There are likewise numerous other day, or multi-day equine treks in the area. get in touch with Destination Jyrgalan at: destination.jyrgalan@gmail.com for much more information. Or, send us an email as well as we’ll be pleased to help!
Have you ever been equine trekking? What was your experience like? tell us about it below!
Check Out Our Song-Kol equine trip Video!
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