Join Alexandra for the adventure of a lifetime, riding horses in the magnificent Tien Shan Mountains, home to the nomadic Kyrgyz people and some of the most beautiful and untouched scenery in the world.
A relative of Leo Tolstoy and fluent Russian speaker, with decades of experience of living and travelling (much of it by horse!) all over the former Russian Empire, Alexandra can offer unrivalled access to this historically, culturally and geographically fascinating region. Scheduled riding trips are run in conjunction with Ampersand Travel to Sary Chelek, Kyrgyzstan in June and September, but bespoke trips can also be commissioned, including family trips.
This ride takes place in Sary Chelek Reserve in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Translated as ‘golden hollow’, Sary Chelek is considered a charmed land, and a destination that even the Kyrgyz dream of visiting.
Nestled in the western Tien Shan Mountains, this magnificent nature reserve is home to seven mountain lakes, meadows of the most exquisite wildflowers and the largest walnut forest in the world. It is also home to the most wonderful people – nomadic Kyrgyz shepherds and their families who spend the winters in picturesque villages and the summers in yurts high up in the alpine pastures or jailoo. There is no more restful holiday; time spent doing something so invigorating and disconnected from the stresses of the modern world is invaluable – this slice of simplicity and proximity to nature is restoration for the soul.
Riders need to be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering but the horses, bred for the mountains, are impeccably behaved and the group is accompanied by up to seven guides on horseback so an advanced level is not required.
Download here itinerary for 10th – 19th June, 2022.
Download here itinerary for 16th – 25th September, 2022.
“There is no better holiday in our eyes; time spent together doing something so invigorating and disconnected from the stresses of the modern world is invaluable… Life is complicated but these slices of simplicity and proximity to nature are restoration for the soul, and we look forward to sharing our precious experiences with others”
