Highland Hikes & Horse Trails:
Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan
22 May - 2 June 2026
4 - 15 September 2026 (Females-Only)
.jpg)
Description:
From Kazakhstan’s Singing Dunes and red canyons to Kyrgyzstan’s alpine lakes and high pastures, Central Asia unfolds in striking contrasts. Vast steppes, painted mountains, and glacier-fed lakes frame a land where nomadic traditions endure and hospitality runs deep.
Our Highland Hikes & Horse Trails: Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan journey takes you beyond the ordinary. Over 12 days, hike surreal canyons, ride horses through valleys, soak in hot springs, and cross borders where Silk Road legacies remain. Nights are spent camping beneath canyon walls, resting in family guesthouses, or warming inside yurts on remote pastures.
This is more than sightseeing — it’s living the rhythm of Central Asia.
​
Country: Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan
Trip length: 12 days, 11 nights
Cost: USD 2080 (Approximately SGD 2670, MYR 8760, EUR 1770)
Start city: Almaty, Kazakhstan
End city: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Max. Capacity: 6 travelers
What's included in the price:
Accommodation (Twin sharing)
Transportation (Private-hire vehicle, Buses, Intra-city transport)
International flight (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Guide Fee
Tickets to places of interest (Historical sites, national parks)
Homestay experience in Shabdan, Kyrgyzstan
Yurt Stay experience in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast at accommodations
Horse riding in Altyn Arashan National Park, Kyrgyzstan
​
What's not included in the price:
Travel insurance
Meals (Lunch & Dinner on most days)
Visa (If applicable)
Flight tickets to and from home country
​
Ng Xinyu Beth (Singapore)
-TUD has designed the perfect itinerary for us to experience local culture, get a glimpse of the Soviet times and take in the beautiful sights spanning across all seasons... As the name of the tour suggests, we got to enjoy (almost always) complete privacy from the rest of the world, as though the magnificent views were designed to take our breath away.
Fabian Seow (Singapore)
I recently returned from a two-week trip to Kyrgyzstan with TUD, and it was a truly remarkable experience. The entire experience was highly engaging, offering many breathtaking moments. From crossing high snow passes to discovering desert canyons, each day brought unique adventures and breathtaking scenery. The fresh water lakes and elevated lookout points provided unforgettable views that showcased the natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan. We also had the chance to have multiple homestays and of course a night in a Yurt. Each homestay gave us a glimpse into the local lives and also showcased great hospitality
Day 1: Singing Dunes & Steppe Silence
Journey from Almaty to Altyn Emel National Park. Climb the Singing Dunes, hear their haunting hum, explore the Ili River basin, and spend your first night in a Kazakh yurt beneath a starry desert sky.
Day 2: Painted Mountains & Red Rock Wonders
Discover Katutau and Aktau’s colorful rock formations in Altyn Emel National Park.
Then travel to the Charyn Canyon.
Hike through its dramatic “Valley of Castles,” build a campfire, and camp overnight surrounded by towering red cliffs under the vast Kazakh night sky.
Day 3: Canyon Sunrise &
Alpine Lakes
Awake to a golden sunrise over Charyn Canyon before hiking out along its dramatic cliffs.
Travel to Saty village, then board a rugged Soviet-era 4x4 to reach Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes.
Hike through forests and along turquoise waters with submerged trees, framed by snow-capped peaks, before returning to Saty for dinner and rest in a welcoming guesthouse.
Day 4 : Crossing Borders & Cultures
Travel along the southern shores of Lake Issy Kul, one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world.
Then we'll hike at the Skazka Fairy and Ak Sai Canyons, two otherworldly landscapes that are a labyrinth of vibrant, red sandstone formations sculpted by wind and water over millennia. The canyons' unique shapes and vivid colors resemble scenes from a fairy tale, hence its name.
​​
We'll also be exploring the abandoned town of Kaji-Say, a town home to numerous industrial Soviet-era facilities and sanatoriums, which have since fallen into disrepair. These abandoned structures now stand as silent monuments to a bygone era, offering a haunting yet fascinating glimpse into the past.
Days 5 - 7: Horseback
Adventures in the Tian Shan
Set out from Karakol on horseback, riding for 3 days through alpine valleys and rivers to reach Altyn Arashan’s hot springs and mountain yurts.
Trek to the turquoise waters of Ala-Kul Lake at 3,300m, picnic by glaciers, then return along scenic trails.
Evenings are spent in traditional yurts, surrounded by Kyrgyz hospitality and awe-inspiring nature.
Day 8: Fairytale Canyon & Forgotten Towns
Travel along Issyk-Kul’s southern shore to Skazka Canyon, where colorful cliffs twist into shapes resembling dragons, castles, and mythical beasts.
Hike among whimsical formations before continuing to Kaji-Say, a once-thriving Soviet mining and spa town, now semi-abandoned.
End the day in Tong village, where mountains descend dramatically to the lake’s edge.
Day 9: Lake Shores & Song-Kul Arrival
Swim or stroll along Issyk-Kul’s pristine southern shores, then hike to a panoramic hilltop near Bokonbaevo for sweeping lake views.
Continue into Ak-Sai Canyon, where red cliffs glow under shifting light. By evening, journey into the alpine plateau of Song-Kul Lake, surrounded by nomadic yurts and open skies. Overnight in a traditional yurt camp.
Day 10: Nomadic Rhythms at Song-Kul
Immerse yourself in life on the jailoo (summer pastures), where horses graze freely and yurts dot the landscape.
Spend the day exploring Song-Kul’s alpine expanse, ride horses across sweeping meadows, and learn about nomadic traditions like dairy-making and seasonal migrations.
End the day with sunset over the lake, gathering around a yurt stove for warmth.
Day 11: Canyons, Towers & Return to Almaty
Descend from Song-Kul across valleys toward Bishkek, pausing at Kok-Moynok Canyon for a short hike through Martian-like red terrain. Visit the Burana Tower, an 11th-century Silk Road minaret and archaeological site near Tokmok.
Arrive in Bishkek, then take a one-hour flight across the border to Almaty, checking into a guesthouse for your final night.
Day 12: Big Almaty Lake
& Farewell
Depart Almaty early for the Tian Shan Mountains, where the turquoise waters of Big Almaty Lake shimmer at 2,500m.
Hike around its alpine shores, framed by snow-capped ridges and pine forests. Return to Almaty by afternoon, where your Central Asian adventure concludes by 4 pm.
