Truly Nomadic Land Horse Trek

About the Truly Nomadic Land Horse Trek trek

If the Lenin Peak routes sound like too much altitude, this is the Alay without the thin air. Five days and seventy-one kilometres through the Kichi-Alay from Kara-Bulak to Uch-Chat, topping out at the Ak Tor pass at 3,500 m with a route maximum of 3,557 m — high enough to warrant acclimatising, low enough not to dominate the trip. Every night is in a shared yurt rather than a tent, which at these altitudes is the difference between a good night and an endured one. Riders ride; pack horses carry the luggage. The operator grades it light to moderate and states no prior experience is necessary. Day one is the shock: twelve kilometres but 1,218 m of climbing straight out of the trailhead. After that the profile settles into a rhythm of one pass a day. The published per-day elevation figures are unusually precise for this market and worth trusting. Practical points that matter. Helmets are not supplied, so bring your own or accept riding without one. Sleeping bags are not included either, though they rent at US$6 a day. The yurts have no wi-fi, no electricity, no hot shower and outdoor toilets — normal for the Alay, but worth stating plainly. Departures are guaranteed from two travellers, which is unusual and useful if you are a couple rather than a group. No border permit is needed.