10 days from £3,450pp
Remoteness ● ● ● Comfort ● ◌ ◌ Physical challenge ● ● ●
Join us to track wildlife alongside local snow leopard rangers in an exclusive Reserve
Journey through one of the most beautiful and remote areas of Kyrgyzstan on this multi-day linear horse trek through mountains, forests, glacial valleys and alpine ridges. Go where others don’t as you find yourself in the wildest reaches of the Tian Shan mountains, home of the snow leopard and the birthplace of nomadic culture.
Reconnect with the wild as you work alongside local snow leopard rangers, place camera traps en route, and learn to track and spot some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard, bears and wolves.
Experience the ancient rhythm of nomadic culture
On this unique blend of horse riding, adventure and wildlife conservation, you’ll ride, live and work alongside our local team of snow leopard experts as you traverse the mountains of the Tian Shan. As you journey, you’ll search for rare wildlife, work with a local team to place critical camera traps, and camp at isolated sites along your journey to reach our snow leopard basecamp.
We work closely with local communities and the Kyrgyz government to give you access to areas normally shut off to visitors. With us, you’ll see the true wilds of Kyrgyzstan and the traditional mountain culture so often missed by other operators as you contribute to the conservation of this vast wilderness.
You’ll be sleeping in tents throughout the expedition and move between beautiful locations in this rugged landscape. No experience needed, but a mindset for adventure is recommended as facilities and provisions are basic in this remote and rarely visited area.
Itinerary
Journey between isolated camp locations in a vast wilderness
Day 01
Journey to the foothills
We’ll meet in the morning in Bishkek before beginning our journey by minibus to a small mountain-side town in the foothills of the Tien-Shan mountain range which will be our launch site for our journey. From this point, all your food, accommodation and logistics are arranged for you by our expert team.
In the afternoon we’ll discuss the expedition, complete kit checks and prepare for our journey ahead. To protect wildlife and maintain the pristine nature of our route, precise locations remain undisclosed until this point.
Day 02
“A horse is a man’s wings” – Kyrgyz proverb
The Kyrgyz have a long history of horsemanship and are expert riders. Today you will learn from the best and have the opportunity to saddle and care for your pony during the expedition. No previous riding experience is necessary and safety equipment will be provided.
As evening falls, you’ll get familiar with your expedition equipment and spend your first night under the stars, at the frontier of some of the best snow leopard territory in Kyrgyzstan.
Days 03 - 06
On the trail of the mountain ghost
Now you are familiar with your equipment and your pony, we’ll begin our journey through some of the most spectacular and least visited scenery in Kyrgyzstan. Meander through ancient glacial valleys, across pristine alpine streams and over mountainous ridges. Move as nomads once did, camping in pristine and rarely visited locations, isolated from the hustle and bustle of modern life. There will be no phone signal out here, just the natural hum of the mountains.
Each morning we’ll break camp together and journey on, searching for signs of wildlife like bears, wolves and snow leopards. You’ll work alongside a grassroots effort to camera trap the region, contributing significantly to the scientific and community-based efforts towards the ecological protection of the region.
This section of the expedition is rugged. You will be camping in a true wilderness and working as a team to overcome the challenges of this mountain environment. You’ll be well looked after by our professional and experienced team, but a mindset for adventure is essential.
Days 07 - 08
The home of the snow leopard
After a truly spectacular journey through the mountains, you’ll reach our snow leopard base camp and home to some of the best snow leopard spotters in the world. You’ll have the opportunity to raise a yurt alongside our team and take some time to absorb the mountain environment in this very remote location.
You’re a pro now and are using your knowledge of mountain wildlife to identify tracks, scat and other signs of life in this vast wilderness. We’ll continue searching for the ghost of the mountain using a strategy of high powered scopes, hides and intimate local knowledge in our quest to spot the ghost of the mountain. Take a refreshing dip in the alpine stream, relax and absorb the environment around you.
Day 09
A journey to Lake Issyk-Kul
After breaking our remote basecamp, we part ways with the local ranger team we’ve lived and worked alongside. Trading saddles for 4×4s, brace for a rugged overland journey as we travel over 4,000m passes and navigate winding glacial valleys. Descending to the vast shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, we’ll check into a locally owned hotel. Here, you can finally enjoy the stark contrast of a hot shower before spending the evening trading stories of the wild over a well-earned drink.
Day 10
Master of the sky and farewells
On our final morning we’ll experience the lost tradition of eagle hunting alongside the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Witness an ancient relationship between man and bird which has long been forgotten. Put your newly acquired riding skills to the test while feeling the immense weight of a golden eagle gripping your leather gauntlet.
After an adventure to remember, we'll return to Bishkek, arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll be dropped in a central location, say your goodbyes, leaving you with stories that belong only to those who venture beyond the map.
Dates & Pricing
Enjoy a small group experience of no more than 8 guests
£3,450 per person
2026 bookings now closed
16 - 25 August 2027
30 Aug - 08 Sept 2027
Payment in other currencies available at checkout. All payments are non-refundable. See our T&Cs for more info.
Our payment platform charges a service fee of 1.5% for paying by card. To avoid this charge select payment by ‘Bank Account’.
Balance due no less than 60 days before departure. If you would like to pay in instalments, be in touch.
The price excludes international flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, tips for staff and any costs outside the expedition dates.
Minimum number of guests: 4, max 8. Min age 18, 16 with a responsible adult.
FAQS
If you have any further questions, please contact us
-
Your chances of seeing a snow leopard in the summer are around 50%.
The wildlife in the Reserve are completely unhabituated and wild - this is very different to other snow leopard destinations where the wildlife has become habituated to vehicles and the presence of humans. This makes our location completely unique and special, and previous guests are always blown away by how remote and wild we actually are.
You will be an integral part of the spotting team, working hard to spot wildlife and track snow leopards wherever we encounter tracks as a small group. The locations you’ll travel to rarely see tourists and the wildlife you'll see are truly wild.
You should expect to view snow leopards predominantly through scopes or high-powered focal lenses as sightings can easily be 1km away, likely more in the summer. This is also true of snow leopards trips to habituated groups in India, for example. You will be provided with top-end scoping equipment during the expedition and we recommend everyone brings a good pair of binoculars.
For more detailed information on sightings you can see our annual trip reports here.
-
Aside from snow leopards, Kyrgyzstan is full of other fascinating wildlife. You’re likely to see wolves, Tian Shan brown bears, golden eagles, ibex, argali, marmots, Himalayan vultures, bearded vultures and mountain hares.
There is also a beautiful array of flora to be seen in the summer months.
-
You don’t need to be super fit to enjoy our expeditions. You will need to be fit enough and able to ride on horseback for up to 4-5 hours (with breaks), or trek for up to an hour. We’ll be at altitude for much of the expedition - around 3,000m. No experience of altitude is necessary and serious altitude sickness is very rare at this height. If you have any concerns, please talk to us.
As this expedition is extremely remote, we are unable to accommodate people with existing conditions requiring regular medical attention.
-
Your health and safety are our top priorities. Because we operate in true wilderness environments, we have rigorous, regularly reviewed protocols in place:
Expert Leadership: You will be guided by a highly trained Expedition Leader who is responsible for your safety and well-being.
Medical Equipment & Comms: We carry a comprehensive medical kit and an emergency satellite communication device at all times.
Remote Medical Support: We have dedicated remote access to a British medical doctor throughout the entire expedition.
Evacuation Plans: For extreme emergencies, we have pre-specified landing sites for helicopter medical evacuation (this is why your required travel insurance must cover air evacuation).
-
You don’t need any horse riding experience to enjoy our expeditions. Many of our guests have never ridden before, some have horses at home.
No matter your experience riding horses, we do not allow for riding at speed (cantering or galloping). This is for the safety of guests and the welfare of the horses. You will be provided with a British safety standard riding helmet for the duration of the expedition, which must be worn.
In order for us to meet our obligations under our company insurance, you will also be required to sign a helmet disclaimer form. This is required by all guests and will be sent to you before the expedition begins.
-
Our campsites are basic, but comfortable. You will sleep privately in tents and have access to either a communal tent, or a small ranger cabin for eating. Our sites have no running water, but there will be a handwashing station to maintain hand hygiene at our main base camp, along with a simple dry toilet. Many guests choose to take a dunk in the alpine streams surrounding us to fully freshen up.
Kyrgyzstan’s summers can get very hot during the day, somewhere around 16 – 30+ °C. UV-exposure is high and precautions should be taken. Nights generally hover around 5°C, so very comfortable in a tent with a standard sleeping bag.
Weather in the summer months can be changeable and, rather like the UK, we can experience all the seasons in a single 12-hour period. You should therefore be prepared for mixed conditions throughout the expedition. You can find out more about what kit to bring here.
-
All water that we consume will be purified by one of three means: boiling, chlorine tablets or water purifying pumps and is therefore safe to consume.
-
Food will be provided by local chefs for the duration of the expedition. They will cook a mixture of delicious Kyrgyz, Central Asian, and Western dishes. Veggies and vegans catered for, however, meat is an essential part of Central Asian cuisine. If you are a flexible veggie or vegan, we recommend you take this approach to make the most of the food on offer. Vegans in particular can expect a lack of variety on the expedition itself, but also in major cities and towns.
Nonetheless, whatever your preferences, you’ll be well fed!
-
Absolutely. Many of our guests join us as individuals.
Individual bookers will have their own room in hotels. In the Reserve everyone will have individual tents. These tents are large enough for two people to share if you wish to do this.
-
You will be offline for the majority of the expedition. SIM cards can be easily purchased at the airport and this will provide some connection on the way to the Reserve, but in the Reserve you will not be able to get signal.
We will hold an emergency comms device for the duration of the expedition. This is strictly for emergency use only.
-
You can take a look at the full expedition kit list here.
We’re always happy to provide further advice and recommendations.
-
You will need to be ready to depart Bishkek on the morning of Day 01 of the expedition. Most people will arrive in Bishkek the day before. Please note that a hotel or airport transfers are not provided as part of this expedition. We can provide advice on suitable hotels, through which you can arrange an airport transfer.
You can depart any time after 11pm on the last day of the expedition (Day 10). However, we do advise you fly the following day in case of delays.
Those travelling from Europe and the US will find flying via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines to be a reliable and affordable option. Those coming from Australia have options such as China Southern Airlines and Emirates.
-
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for most passports: simply arrive at the border with your passport. However, you must check the requirements yourself before departure.
Please ensure you also check vaccination information carefully before departure as these can be subject to change.
-
You are required to have travel insurance covering you for the duration of the expedition and for all the activities you will be undertaking. This includes horse trekking and trekking/hiking up to 4,000m, as well as helicopter medical evacuation.
You will be asked to provide your insurance information closer to departure.
We strongly recommend that you take out cancellation and curtailment insurance as part of your cover as soon as you have booked one of our expeditions to protect against cancellations.
Previous guests have noted World Nomad, BMC and Endsleigh as providing sufficient cover.
-
While same-sex relationships are technically legal in Kyrgyzstan, the country remains highly socially conservative, and LGBTQ+ identities are heavily stigmatised. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon for all couples, but we strongly advise LGBTQ+ travellers to exercise a high degree of discretion regarding their sexual orientation and gender identity while in the country.
Because our expeditions take you deep into isolated regions to live and work alongside traditional nomadic communities and local park rangers, the cultural environment you will experience is more traditional. Wild Expeditions is a welcoming, fully inclusive company, and our Expedition Leaders will always prioritise your safety, comfort, and well-being above all else.
We are always happy to have a confidential chat if you'd like to discuss this further before booking.
-
We have included some guidance on what photography equipment you might want to bring on our kit list. You can find that here.
You're free to bring a drone on our expedition, however, we do have strict controls on flying drones near wildlife.
We do not permit guests to fly drones near wildlife, including both predators and prey. You are free to fly drones for landscape photography purposes but take off must be approved by the Expedition Leader.
-
Tips for local staff are completely at your discretion. All our staff are paid fairly for their work. Tips are welcomed in either Kyrgyz SOM or USD, with a preference for SOM.
Giving tips at the end of your trip is a wonderful way of showing your gratitude for their hard work. If you plan to give tips, we can provide guidance on this, just get in touch.