Daily Life of the Nomads
17 days at the rhythm of the Kyrgyz herders — yurt nights at Song-Kol, horse rides across high pastures, and felt-making with Issyk-Kul artisans.
Who it's for
Travelers genuinely curious about nomadic culture. Comfortable with rustic conditions and outdoor toilets at jailoo camps.
Guides
French-speaking lead plus local horse guides at every jailoo.
Accommodation
Heavily yurt-based: 6+ nights in working herder yurts, plus guesthouses and one or two hotel nights.
Luggage
Soft duffel + daypack. Riding rotation: only essentials in saddle bags on horse-trek days.
Daily Life of the Nomads
17 days at the rhythm of the Kyrgyz herders — yurt nights at Song-Kol, horse rides across high pastures, and felt-making with Issyk-Kul artisans.
Daily Life of the Nomads — 17 days
Live at the rhythm of Kyrgyz nomadic herders. Hands-on shyrdak feltmaking with the Taberik group, multiple jailoo nights with herder families, horseback riding through high pastures. The deepest cultural immersion EcoNomad offers.
19 days, 19 camps
Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata
Drive east along the Boom Gorge to Issyk-Kul Lake. Visit to Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs.
Cholpon-Ata to Karakol
Half-day along the southern shore. Stop at Skazka Canyon. Late afternoon arrival in Karakol.
Karakol — Jeti-Oguz
City tour and afternoon excursion to the Jeti-Oguz Red Rocks. Optional horse-ride into the upper valley.
Karakol to Saruu — felt-making workshop
Morning drive to the village of Saruu in the Jeti-Oguz district. Hands-on felt-making session with the Muras artisan group: laying out wool, rolling, dyeing, stitching.
Saruu to Tosor — quiet lake side
Visit to the Taberik felt group in Zhenish, then transfer to Tosor for an evening on the southern shore.
Tosor to Kochkor
Cross Tosor Pass (3,893 m) by 4×4 toward Kochkor. Stop at the women’s felt cooperative.
Kochkor to Song-Kol on horseback
Saddle up for the 5-hour ride over Kalmak-Ashuu Pass to Lake Song-Kol.
Song-Kol — first full day
Walks and rides along the shore. Help your host family with daily chores: milking, kymyz preparation, butter churning.
Song-Kol — second full day
Sunrise ride to a high pasture. Lunch with another herder family. Optional horse-game demonstration (kok-boru).
Song-Kol to Naryn
Horseback descent then transfer to Naryn for a hot shower and city night.
Naryn to Kamandy Jailoo
Drive south through At-Bashy pasture; final 2h on horseback up to the Kamandy summer camp at 2,800 m.
Kamandy Jailoo — full day
Day with our partner herder family — shepherding, dairy work, optional ride to a viewpoint.
Kamandy to Tash Rabat
Descent and drive to the medieval Tash Rabat caravanserai for an evening at 3,200 m altitude.
Tash Rabat to Naryn to Bishkek
Long return drive across the Naryn highlands. Late arrival in Bishkek.
Bishkek to Ala-Archa
Morning hike in Ala-Archa National Park. Afternoon Bishkek city tour. Farewell dinner.
Departure
Transfer to Manas Airport, return flight.
International return flight
Arrival home.
Notes
- Jailoo nights involve outdoor pit toilets and shared open-air solar showers.
- Itinerary may shift with weather or pasture conditions.
10 stops
Included
- National-park permits and entry fees
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Local guide on each day
- All ground transport during the trip
Not included
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
- La location de horses (à titre indicatif prévoir un coût de 25 euros pour 2 hours de balade, payable sur place en euros)
Where you sleep
City hotels in Bishkek (3*) and Naryn; family homestays in Karakol, Saruu, Tosor and Kochkor; six yurt nights (Song-Kol, Kamandy Jailoo, Tash Rabat). Hot showers in cities and homestays; jailoo camps use shared solar facilities.
Nuraly Turganbaev
Nuraly is a French language professor at the National University and also the director of our tourism company. His love for nature and the environment has inspired him since 1996 to travel across Kyrgyzstan with foreign travelers as a guide and interpreter (Kyrgyz – Russian – French). Over the years, he has worked with several tourism agencies and gained extensive experience in tourism, guiding, and interpretation. Thanks to his deep knowledge of the country, nomadic culture, and local traditions, Nuraly is today the main tour leader and one of the key figures of our company.
See all tours led by this guide →Ulan
Ulan is the co-founder and executive director of our tourism company. Passionate about mountains, nomadic culture, and sustainable tourism, he has been guiding travelers across Kyrgyzstan for many years, sharing both the natural beauty of the country and the daily life of local communities. Specialised in adventure travel, trekking, horseback expeditions, and ski touring, Ulan combines deep field experience with strong organisational skills and a modern vision of responsible tourism. Fluent in Russian, French, and English.
See all tours led by this guide →Things people ask
To book an EcoNomad tour, fill out the contact form with your dates, group size and the tour you have in mind. We send a tailored quote within 48 hours. Your booking is confirmed once a 30% deposit is paid; the balance is due 30 days before departure.
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date is required. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada and Australia travel visa-free for stays of up to 60 days. Some border zones (China, Tajikistan) require a special permit — EcoNomad helps you arrange these.
The main season runs from May to October. June–August is ideal for nomadic tours and high-altitude jailoos (summer pastures). July–August suits the high passes (above 3,500 m). March and April offer quieter spring landscapes. EcoNomad also runs ski-touring trips from December to March.
Our tours come in three grades: Easy (2–4h of walking a day, little elevation gain, family-friendly), Moderate (4–6h of walking or riding a day, passes above 3,000 m) and Demanding (technical hikes of 6–8h a day, passes above 3,500 m). Each tour page states the level required.
Accommodation varies by tour and stage: traditional yurts in the high mountains (summer), guesthouses or homestays in the villages, and 3-star hotels in the cities. This mix is intentional — it brings you closer to local people and the nomadic way of life.
All our tours include full board. Kyrgyz cuisine is generous: soups, grilled meats, fermented dairy and home-baked bread. Vegetarian diets are catered for on request at the time of booking. In the mountains, meals are prepared at camp by our team.
Travel insurance covering medical costs, repatriation and outdoor activities is mandatory. We recommend providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Travel or an equivalent. Make sure your policy covers horse riding and high-altitude trekking.
Several of our tours reach passes or camps above 3,500 m. Altitude sickness (AMS) is rare when acclimatisation is gradual — our itineraries build in gentle ascent days. Your guide explains the symptoms from day one and carries a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek, Karakol and Osh have ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard. In the mountains and remote villages, only cash is accepted. Bring the equivalent of €200–300 in soms for personal expenses.
4G covers Bishkek and most towns. Remote valleys and yurt camps have little or no signal. Your guide carries a satellite phone for emergencies in areas without coverage. Take the chance to truly disconnect.
Bring a day pack (20–25 L) and a soft duffel or travel bag for baggage transfers. A detailed packing list tailored to your tour is sent once your booking is confirmed. Golden rule: walk in already broken-in boots, not new ones.
Standard cancellation terms: 30% non-refundable (deposit), 50% of the total between 60 and 30 days before departure, 100% under 30 days. Free changes before the deposit is paid. In case of force majeure (extreme weather), we offer a postponement or a credit note.
