Three easy days from the Juuku gorge over the Suttu Bulak pass to the Kök-Jaiyk jailoo, finishing at the Seven Bulls rocks of Jeti-Ögüz.
Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo
Red sandstone, two yurt nights, and the gentlest ride on this list
Jeti-Ögüz, Juuku and Kyzyl-Suu valleys, Issyk-Köl south shore, Terskey Ala-Too · from Karakol (transfer to the Juuku gorge), or Kyzyl-Suu village on the operator's own loop
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Distance
- ~18 km
- Max altitude
- 3,200 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Best months
- May to October — a longer season than the high routes, because the altitudes are lower. One operator runs its Jeti-Ögüz ride year-round.
- Riding experience
- none
- Group size
- 2–?
- Price
- No price published by the community-tourism operator — enquire directly. A comparable 2-day commercial ride over the same ground is sold from US$200 pp for groups of 8+, rising to US$330 pp for two, covering transport, transfers, accommodation, meals, water, guide, horses, pack animals, equipment and entry fees (~17,500-29,000 som). Confirm on the day.
- 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 Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo trek
If you want to ride in Kyrgyzstan without committing to a week at 3,800 m, this is the one. Three days, eighteen kilometres of riding, a maximum of 3,200 m, both nights in yurts rather than tents, and a season that runs May to October rather than the tight midsummer window the high routes are stuck with. Day one climbs the forested Kyzyl-Suu valley past nomadic families to the Ak-Tash yurt camp, day two crosses the Suttu Bulak pass into the Kök-Jaiyk jailoo, and day three descends the Jeti-Ögüz canyon past the Seven Bulls — a wall of red sandstone fins that is one of the most photographed landscapes in the country — and the Broken Heart rock. No riding experience is assumed; a short horsemanship briefing is given at the start. There is a two-day alternative over overlapping ground, a 48 km loop from Kyzyl-Suu to the Jeti-Ögüz sanatorium and back through the Chong Kyzyl-Suu valley, rated easy and explicitly aimed at amateurs. One caution on naming: the Telety pass, which links the Karakol valley to Jeti-Ögüz at around 3,800 m, appears in some Jeti-Ögüz itineraries — but it is sold as a walking stage rather than a ridden one, and this route does not cross it. Price is on enquiry.
Day by day
| Day | Route | Hours | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karakol, then a 45 km transfer to the Juuku gorge → Ak-Tash yurt camp in the Kyzyl-Suu valleyA short horsemanship briefing before setting off, then the forested Kyzyl-Suu valley past nomadic families. | 4-5 in the saddle, 18 km | yurt camp |
| 2 | Ak-Tash yurt camp → Kök-Jaiyk valley over the Suttu Bulak passOver the pass into the Kök-Jaiyk jailoo. | 4-5 in the saddle | yurt camp |
| 3 | Kök-Jaiyk valley → The Jeti-Ögüz red rocksDown the Jeti-Ögüz canyon past the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart formations. | — | tour ends |
Included
- guide
- short horsemanship instruction
- yurt accommodation
- horses
Not included
- not itemised by the community-tourism operator
A route track for planning only — treat it as an approximate line, and always ride with a local guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for the Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo trek?
The best time is May to October — a longer season than the high routes, because the altitudes are lower. One operator runs its Jeti-Ögüz ride year-round.. 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 Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo trek?
It runs 3 days / 2 nights and roughly 18 km, reaching about 3200 m. Difficulty is easy.
How much does the Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo trek cost?
No price published by the community-tourism operator — enquire directly. A comparable 2-day commercial ride over the same ground is sold from US$200 pp for groups of 8+, rising to US$330 pp for two, covering transport, transfers, accommodation, meals, water, guide, horses, pack animals, equipment and entry fees (~17,500-29,000 som). Confirm on the day. 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 Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo 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 Jeti-Ögüz and the Kök-Jaiyk Jailoo 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