A 32 km loop from Osh over three low passes, walk-and-light-trot only, with mare-milking and bread-baking on the way home.
Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride
Three gentle days out of Osh — and they let two-year-olds on it
Alay mountains, Osh region · from Kara-Bulak, transfer from Osh
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Distance
- ~32 km
- Max altitude
- 3,150 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Best months
- May to October
- Riding experience
- none
- Group size
- 1–10
- Price
- US$380-640 pp (~33,250-56,000 som) by group size: solo $640, two $480 each, three $440, four to ten $380. The community-tourism listing of the same loop publishes no price and states age 2+.
- Permit
- No
Chat with a real person — free
Seif and the team reply on WhatsApp 24/7 — trip questions, custom plans and booking help.
Ask Seif on WhatsAppAbout the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek
The softest introduction to Kyrgyz horse trekking, and the one to pick if you are nervous, short on time or travelling with children — it's suitable for children from about age two, which tells you everything about the terrain. Three days and thirty-two kilometres in a loop out of Osh, over the Airy Bell pass at around 2,956 m, the Kum Bell at 3,150 m and the Chyyirchyk at 2,400 m, with both nights in yurt camps. The pace is walk-only or a light trot; no experience is needed and a horseman accompanies any group of more than two. What makes it more than a beginner's ride is the domestic detail. Day two puts you into the hosts' working day rather than past it, and day three spends two hours climbing to Kum Bell watching shepherds bake bread and milk the mares — kymyz season runs roughly the same May to October window, so you can drink it fresh. The loop can be run in either direction, so don't be alarmed if the itinerary you're quoted reads backwards from this one, with slightly different pass heights and totals. Helmets are not included. The yurt camps have no wi-fi, no electricity, no hot shower and no indoor toilets. Total elevation change is 2,111 m up and 2,834 m down, from a low of 1,686 m to a high of 3,150 m.
Day by day
| Day | Route | Hours | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osh via Kara-Bulak → Tepshi yurt camp+1,218 m / -154 m. A dirt road following the Kara-Bulak stream past shepherds' yurts among the junipers. | 4 in the saddle, 12 km | yurt camp at 2,710 m |
| 2 | Tepshi → Sary-Oi campOver the Airy Bell pass, +613 m / -1,087 m. A steep hour to the summit, then down into the Cholo-Kaiyng gorge. Guests join the hosts in the day's work. | 4 in the saddle, 14 km | yurt camp at 2,270 m |
| 3 | Sary-Oi → Osh via the Kum Bell and Chyyirchyk passes+996 m / -795 m. Two hours to Kum Bell watching shepherds bake bread and milk the mares, two hours down to Chyyirchyk, then an hour's drive. | 5 in the saddle, 15 km | hotel in Osh |
Included
- 2 nights shared yurt camp accommodation
- all meals per the itinerary
- private transport from and to Osh
- horses and horseman (a horseman accompanies groups over two)
- English-speaking guide
Not included
- helmet
- tips
- bottled water
- travel and health insurance
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek?
The best time is May to October. Outside the season the high passes are snowbound and the summer yurt camps are packed down, so most operators only run it then.
How long is the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek?
It runs 3 days / 2 nights and roughly 32 km, reaching about 3150 m. Difficulty is easy.
How much does the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek cost?
US$380-640 pp (~33,250-56,000 som) by group size: solo $640, two $480 each, three $440, four to ten $380. The community-tourism listing of the same loop publishes no price and states age 2+. Prices vary by group size, season and operator, so confirm current rates when you enquire.
Do you need riding experience?
No prior riding experience is needed — the Kyrgyz horses are calm and sure-footed and guides keep the pace gentle. You should be reasonably fit and comfortable spending several hours in the saddle.
How do you book the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek?
Enquire on WhatsApp with your dates and group size, and we arrange the guide, horses, yurt nights and transfers. In July and August it's worth booking a day or two ahead.
Book the Be A Nomad — Alay Valley 3-Day Ride trek
Tell us your dates and group, and we’ll arrange the guide, horses and yurt nights, plus the yurt stay at the end.
Chat with a real person — free
Seif and the team reply on WhatsApp 24/7 — trip questions, custom plans and booking help.
Ask Seif on WhatsApp