A week in the saddle
For riders and anyone who loves horses. Ulak at the State Hippodrome, the stud farm, then four days riding Chongtor horses up the Besh-Tash valley and sleeping in herders' yurts.
Riders in the Besh-Tash valley.
Ride between June and early September, when the herds are up on the summer pastures. After the Feast of the Cross on 14 September, the yurts come down. Our member operators in Talas provide the horses, the guide and the camp, and they handle your permits at the Besh-Tash ranger headquarters. You'll need to be comfortable in the saddle for five or six hours a day.
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Day 1: Talas and the Hippodrome
Arrive in Talas. If it's a match night, go to ulak tartysh at the Irad State Hippodrome. Fixtures and Ulak Nights tickets are on Jarysh.
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Day 2: The State Stud Farm
Visit the State Stud Farm of Talas, 15 km east of the city, to see Akyel stallions and the farm's Chongtor herd. In the afternoon, visit the saddlers of the Old City and the horse gear in the National Historical Museum. Horse country.
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Day 3: Into Besh-Tash
Drive 20 km south to the park entrance, meet your horses and ride up through juniper and spruce woods. Spend the first night in a herders' yurt on the lower pastures.
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Days 4 and 5: The high meadows
Two days on the alpine meadows of the upper valley, with snow peaks above, ibex on the slopes and eagles overhead. Ask your hosts for kymyz, and drink it slowly the first time. The lake at the head of the valley is on the tribal side of the line, and you can ride up to it only with permission arranged through UN liaison channels. Your operator will tell you whether it has come through.
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Day 6: Down the valley
Ride back down to the park entrance, say goodbye to your horse, and return to Talas for a bath and a plate of plov.
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Day 7: Talas
A free day: the Old City, Bazar-i Kalan, or a last ride. Leave from Talas.