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Kyrgyzstan is quickly emerging as one of Central Asia’s most exciting destinations, and this 10-day women-only group trip takes you on a wild adventure. From luxury train rides and eagle hunting traditions to canyon hikes, alpine lakes, felt-making workshops, and a multi-day horseback trek to Song Kul Lake, this itinerary blends adventure with authentic cultural experiences you won’t find elsewhere.
Trip highlights
3-day horse riding trek
Cross mountain passes on horseback, sleep in local yurts, and cool off in Song-Kul Lake at 3,016m.
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Hike to Ala Kul
Take on the challenge to Ala Kul pass at 3,920m or explore Altyn Arashan Valley.
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Cultural masterclasses
Learn to cook Ashlan-Fu and try your hand at felt making with a women’s cooperative.
Ride a scenic VIP train
Experience a scenic train ride through the dramatic peaks of Kyrgyzstan.
What's included
Daily itinerary
Day 1: City tour & folklore concert
Most flights arrive in Bishkek early, so we’ll arrange your airport pick-up and include accommodation for the night before the trip officially begins.
The trip kicks off in the afternoon with a city tour and a wander through Osh Bazaar, a lively maze of dried fruits, nuts, souvenirs and pretty much anything else you could imagine. In the evening, we’ll get to know each other over dinner while enjoying a traditional folklore concert.
Breakfast & dinner
Day 2: VIP train ride & eagle hunting
Travel from Bishkek to Issyk-Kul Lake in style aboard a luxury train, winding through the mountains with incredible views along the way.
After lunch in Balychky, we’ll head into the mountains to witness the centuries-old tradition of eagle hunting before continuing to a women-owned guesthouse in Bokonbayevo. Here, your hosts will welcome you like family and give you a taste of genuine Kyrgyz hospitality.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Fairytale Canyon & Jeti Oguz
You'll bid farewell to our Kyrgyz hosts and step into another world at Fairytale Canyon, where Mars-like red rock formations create a truly magical landscape.
After a short hike, we'll continue to Jeti Oguz for lunch before making your way to Karakol. Tonight, you’ll experience your first Wild Women Moment: an Ashlan-Fu cooking class with local Dungan women. Learn how to make this refreshing cold noodle soup, a much-loved Karakol speciality, while hearing more about the women and their traditions.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: City tour & Soviet GAZ 66 ride to Altyn Arashan
Today starts by climbing aboard a Soviet GAZ 66 military truck bound for the stunning Altyn Arashan Valley. It's a bumpy ride, but we promise it's worth it!
Known for its natural hot springs, alpine meadows, and views of snow-capped peaks, it’s the perfect place to disconnect. We’ll soak in the hot springs and end the day with dinner in our cosy guesthouse.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 5: Hike to Ala Kul
Today, you can choose your own adventure. Opt for a more relaxed route through the Altyn Arashan Valley, following the river and soaking up the mountain scenery, or take on the challenging 9–12 hour trek to Ala-Kul Pass at 3,920m.
The hike isn’t for everyone – you’ll gain around 1,400m and cover 24km – but those who do it are rewarded with sweeping views from Ala-Kul Pass, where a turquoise lake sits beneath snow-capped peaks. If you’d still like to see Ala-Kul but don’t fancy the full hike, you can hire a horse for an additional cost to help you reach the pass.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll spend the day surrounded by some of Kyrgyzstan’s best mountain scenery.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Felt-making masterclass
You'll ride the Soviet UAZ back to Karakol before continuing to Kochkor. Here, we’ll experience the trip’s second Wild Women Moment with a felt-making workshop hosted by a local women’s cooperative. You'll learn the stories behind traditional Kyrgyz patterns, symbols, and colours, explore their sewing techniques, and have a go yourself.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 7: Begin the horse riding trek
After a short drive to Kyzart, you begin your journey on horseback through the mountains toward Song Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most beautiful alpine lakes.
Your first day in the saddle takes you on a three-hour ride to a traditional yurt camp, where you'll spend the night. Take a dip in the river, play games with your awesome horse guides, or climb the nearby hill for panoramic views of Kilemche Valley. No riding experience is required – you’ll quickly get to know your horse along the way.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Ride to Song Kul
Today you'll ride to Song Kul, a high-altitude lake at 3,016m. The journey takes another 4-5 hours on horseback, with breathtaking scenery all around.
Once you arrive, you can settle into camp, take a refreshing swim in the lake, and learn about the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the families who call this place home.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Final day of horse riding
We begin a steep descent as we leave Song Kul behind and ride back toward our starting point. By now, you’ll probably be feeling the hours in the saddle, but the endless, breathtaking views should distract you from that.
After saying goodbye to your horses, you'll board the bus back to Bishkek for the final dinner together.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Time to say goodbye
It’s time to say goodbye to your awesome tour guide, fellow travellers turned new friends, and the wonderful country of Kyrgyzstan. We’ll drop you off at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, ready for your flight home.
Breakfast
Where you'll be staying
Mix of hotels, homestays & yurts
You'll stay in a mix of hotels, cosy homestays, and yurt camps. Rooms are shared with your fellow travellers.
Meet your guide
Azhar, Aidana, Aim & Beka
We work with some of the best female guides in Kyrgyzstan, hand-picked by us and trusted to lead our trips time and time again. They’re the kind of guides who go far beyond simply showing you around. By the end of the trip, you’ll probably feel more like you’ve made a friend than met a guide.
And while their personalities are a big part of what makes them so brilliant, what we love most is how much they genuinely love their country. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and pride in Kyrgyzstan is infectious, and they’re often a huge part of what makes this trip special.
Wild women moment
Felt-making workshop & cooking class
Discover the history of shyrdak, the traditional felt rug renowned for its intricate mosaic patterns and recognized as a cultural symbol of Kyrgyzstan. With a local women’s cooperative, you’ll learn about the ancient craft of making these vibrant textiles, using wool, natural dyes, and techniques handed down through generations. For your other Wild Women Moment of the trip, you'll learn how to make Ashlan-Fu with local Dungan women in Karakol.
What travellers are saying
What an unforgettable trip I just had with the Stay Wild. This was my first group trip and I can’t have asked for a better time thanks to the exciting and adventurous itinerary Stay Wild offered!
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Delving us into the proper culture of the country, Stay Wild shows more than the surface attractions and gets you to actually experience the cultures and traditions and beautiful things that make a place what it is. Don't think, just go and experience a Stay Wild trip. You will not regret it!
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This was much more than just a trip for me. Being able to connect to such amazing woman, learning from each other, helping each other, has touch parts of my soul deeply. We have lived adventures that I will never forget.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
Many countries, including the UK, the US, EU countries, Australia, Canada, and more, can visit Kyrgyzstan for up to 30 days visa-free.
We always recommend checking your home country's government website for up-to-date and essential travel advice, including passport and visa information.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
We make every effort to accommodate dietary requirements, including vegetarian and vegan options. Please inform us of any food restrictions or special dietary needs when booking so we can plan accordingly.
What airport do I need to fly in and out of?
The trip starts and ends in Bishkek, home to Manas International Airport.
Need a hand with your flights? We’re experts at finding cheap flight deals!
Will I be picked up from the airport?
We include airport transfers in the trip price to keep things stress-free: pick-up (the day before or on the trip start date) and drop-off on departure day.
What’s not included?
While most expenses in Kyrgyzstan are covered in the trip price, there are a few exclusions, including:
- International flights to and from Kyrgyzstan
- Visa fees
- Personal travel insurance (mandatory)
- Tips
- Snacks
- Lunch on day 1
Do I need to know how to ride a horse?
No previous riding experience is needed, but horses are a big part of this trip, so it's important you feel comfortable around them. If you're a little nervous, we'd recommend taking a few riding lessons beforehand, so you can enjoy being in the saddle.
During the 3-day horse trek, we'll have several fantastic horse guides on hand so that you can go at your own pace and feel safe. We'll also do a briefing where we run through how to ride a horse.
Is there a weight limit for the horse riding?
Yes, the rider weight limit is 95kg .
How fit do I need to be?
Before joining the trip, it’s important to consider whether you’ll feel comfortable taking part in the activities.
Horse riding doesn’t require previous experience or a high level of fitness, but spending three days in the saddle can still be physically demanding.
The hike to Ala Kul is a challenging 9-12 hour trek with around 1,400m of elevation gain. This is optional, and not a hike for everyone. If you'd prefer something gentler, you can follow the river and explore the beautiful Altyn Arashan valley instead. For those that would still like to get to Ala Kul pass, horses are available upon request for an additional cost, shortening the hike to a still steep, but shorter hike.
Who is Stay Wild Travel?
Stay Wild organises group trips for women to adventurous destinations – places you may have thought were too challenging to explore solo or too complicated to plan.
Our tours are all about authentic local experiences, empowering women, and building meaningful connections with the people, culture, and traditional cuisines of each destination.
You’ll share these unforgettable moments with a group of like-minded women, completely stress-free.
Is there a payment plan?
Upon booking, a non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on the trip. At this time, you can also pay for the trip in full.
Otherwise, the remaining trip balance will be spread across two payments, paid 120 days and 60 days before the trip departure date. Unless you opt out of automatic payments, your remaining instalments will be automatically charged to the same payment method on the instalment due dates.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to remember these dates, you'll receive reminders of when the payments are due.
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Ready for your Kyrgyzstan adventure?
Experience Kyrgyzstan’s wild side through its mountains, yurts, trains, and traditions.
