Horse trek Itagar to Toktogul

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
 DAY 1: Departure from Bishkek before 9:00 AM, traveling to Chychkan Gorge via the Bishkek-Osh highway (approximately 230 km). En route,
enjoy scenic views of Suusamyr, the Too-Ashuu Pass, and the Chychkan Gorge. Upon arrival, gather for lunch with all tour participants,
including guides, horse handlers, and guests, providing an opportunity to get to know the team. Attend a short briefing on the route and a
safety briefing on horseback riding. Begin the first day of the horseback tour, covering a distance of 10 km into the Itagar Gorge. Experience
the beautiful landscapes and local culture of the gorge. The entrance is dotted with yurt camps where locals come to relax in nature. From
early June to late July, people from nearby regions visit for kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) treatment, a healing process using fresh mare’s
milk, which is popular in the area. Set up a tent camp along the Itagar River. Enjoy dinner and spend the first night surrounded by mountains
and the soothing sounds of the mountain river. (Horse time – 2-3 hours)

 DAY 2: Begin the day with breakfast, accompanied by the singing of mountain birds and a view of the green alpine mountains. After
breakfast, pack up the camp and continue the horseback riding tour up the gorge. By lunchtime, approach the foot of the Besh-Tash Pass
(3300m). During lunch, allow the horses to rest. Refreshed, begin the crossing of the Besh-Tash Pass, which features a trail with a moderate
upward slope. Local shepherds from the Talas region use this pass to drive cattle to the abundant pastures of Itagar, and the well-trampled
trails are easy to navigate on horseback. At the summit, enjoy amazing panoramic views of the snowy mountain ranges of Talas and Alatay.
Descend through rocky trails to the green meadows of Besh-Tash, where you will be greeted by the mountain lake Besh-Tash. The lake is
surrounded by the stalls of local nomads and is a favorite spot for summer pastures. Choose a campsite with the most beautiful view of the
lake and enjoy the solitude of nature. (Horse time – 5-6 hours) (Distance: 20-23 km)

 DAY 3: Explore and learn more about the Besh-Tash area. Spend half the day walking through the hills, yurt camps, and the stalls of local
nomads. “Besh-Tash” translates to “five stones.” You will see a mysterious structure of five stones built in a row, each slightly over a meter
high, located on a hill. According to legend, five robbers once operated here, robbing every wanderer who passed through this land. One day,
they encountered a wandering monk. Despite his modest appearance, the robbers harassed and mocked him. In despair, the monk cursed
them, saying, “May the will of the Creator be done, and you five robbers will turn into five stones, forever rooted in this place, silently forever!”

Passing these mysterious stone monuments, we will gradually climb to the Terek Pass. The old road, built during the Soviet era, has turned
into a horse trail. Following this trail, we will easily reach the top of the Terek Pass and descend into the Toktogul region in the Chat Karagai
gorges. Here, the Alpine landscape changes into a lush environment abundant with vegetation and Tien Shan spruce forests. Descending
from the pass, we will choose a campsite surrounded by forest and Rocky Mountains. At night, we will enjoy an evening by the campfire.
(Horse time – 5-6 hours) (Distance: 22-25 km)
DAY 4: After breakfast, embark on the final day of the route, where the horse trail leads to the Uzun Akmat Gorge. Along the way, we will
encounter some beekeepers. Previously, we saw mountain pastures with herds of horses and sheep tended by nomads. Today, we will meet
beekeepers who spend the summer extracting the most valuable natural mountain honey in harmony with nature. Their efforts make the
Toktogul region renowned for its delicious honey, celebrated not only in Kyrgyzstan but also beyond its borders. We will be welcomed by
local beekeepers, learn about honey production, and taste delicious mountain honey firsthand. After lunch, we will descend along the Uzun-

Akmat River, cross the river over a bridge, and set up camp at the entrance to the Karagai-Tor Gorge. (Horse time – 3-4 hours) (Distance: 10-15
km)

 DAY 5: Today, we explore the Karagai Tor Nature Reserve. The gorge is abundant with wild berries such as raspberries, blueberries,
currants, and wild apple trees. It is also home to various wild animals, and with some luck, we may encounter the Tien Shan brown bear. In
the evening, we will return to the bridge, where a car will be waiting to transfer us to Toktogul. We will spend the night in a cozy guesthouse
and enjoy a delicious dinner.
If we don’t spot brown bears and other wildlife, we can set up camera traps in the area. You’ll receive images captured by the camera traps
via email after some time, giving you a chance to see the local wildlife. (Horse time – 5-6 hours) (Distance: 15-20 km)