Kyrgyzstan—a country I honestly didn’t know much about before my trip. When I think back on the
trip today, I have to say: It was definitely an adventure with few comforts, but with an incredible number of
beautiful and special moments.
I’m 20 years old and made a conscious decision to go on this somewhat extraordinary trip. Of course, I
was a little apprehensive about it beforehand. A foreign country, several days traveling on horseback, sleeping in a tent, no
internet, and on top of that, a language I don’t speak myself. Especially as a young woman, you naturally wonder whether
you’ll feel safe along the way. But I can tell you right off the bat: I felt
very safe and well taken care of throughout the entire trip. Our guides were very friendly, attentive, and helpful, and I also
felt right at home in the group from the very beginning.
We made a stop along the way at a small canyon. Although we weren’t there very long, it was
truly impressive to see how different the landscape is here. Everything seemed much more vast, unspoiled, and somehow
also wilder than back home.
Preparation and Travel
First of all, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Pegasus Travel Agency. Before the trip, I naturally had a few
questions and was also a bit unsure at times about exactly what to expect. But my questions were always
answered patiently, and I never felt like I was bothering anyone with them.
From Bishkek, we continued by car toward Karakol. We had about an eight-hour drive ahead of us. That
sounds like quite a long time at first, but even during the drive I was able to get my first impressions of Kyrgyzstan.
Once we arrived in Bishkek, the airport pickup went off without a hitch. There, we were picked up by our
tour guide, Milan. He was really very nice and made a great effort to communicate with us in English.
His English wasn’t perfect, but you could tell he was really trying, and with a little
gesturing, we were actually able to communicate just fine.
We received a very warm welcome there. Milan’s wife took care of us the next morning and made a
really good breakfast and even lunch for us. I especially loved those kinds of personal encounters.
We were given our tents and sleeping pads and had to pack our things so that everything would fit into the saddlebags.
That was quite a challenge, because, of course, we couldn’t just bring a huge suitcase with us.
After that, we finally headed to the horses.
Together with two guides, a translator, and my two fellow riders, we set off on our adventure.
I have to admit that I was a little nervous at first. After all, spending several days on horseback
is quite different from a normal ride lasting just a few hours. But I got used to everything very
quickly and had complete confidence in our guides.
They knew exactly what they were doing and were always there to help us whenever we had questions or
something wasn’t entirely clear.
And as far as my personal safety was concerned, I really felt safe. At no
point did I feel afraid or like I was on my own. Precisely because we were traveling as a group
and the guides were always with us, I was able to truly enjoy the trip.
Over the next few days, I really managed to unplug—completely.
No internet.
No cell service.
No messages.
No Instagram.
But after a short while, I realized just how good that actually felt.
You’re not constantly looking at your phone—you’re just looking ahead. You talk more
with each other, take in the scenery, and somehow live much more in the moment.
And the scenery was truly incredible.
We rode through nature that, at times, seemed so vast and untouched that I often could do nothing but marvel
at it. Mountains, vast landscapes, and this incredible tranquility.
There were moments when I just sat on my horse and thought, “Wow, where am I
actually?”
Moments like these are probably exactly why people take trips like this. But to be honest: you shouldn’t expect any comforts on this trip.
We slept in tents and on sleeping mats. We also had to
make do without showers and other amenities.
But for me, that’s exactly what makes a trip like this special.
When you’re on the move every day, spend many hours on horseback, and pitch your tent in the evening, you’re
tired anyway. Then you’re actually just glad to have a place to sleep and be able to lie down.
You also can’t be too picky about food.
We mostly ate simple one-pot meals.
What really stuck with me was all the black tea we drank during the trip.
It was sort of part of everyday life and was offered time and again. Especially when it was a bit cooler outside,
a warm cup of tea was truly pleasant.
We also had a special experience because we were guests in the homes of locals twice and were able to
try traditional dishes there. I found that really exciting because it allowed us to get to know not only the landscape but also the
culture and the lives of the people.
You couldn’t be too picky, though. We had the chance to try traditional specialties that were
pretty unfamiliar to us at first. Among other things, we got to try fermented mare’s milk. That was definitely
an experience I won’t forget anytime soon. Taste-wise, it was something completely new to me and, to be honest,
it took some getting used to.
But for me, it’s exactly moments like these that make a trip worthwhile.
If someone were to ask me today how I’d describe my trip to Kyrgyzstan,
my answer would probably be: An adventure with few comforts, but all the more experiences to make up for it.
You should be aware that this isn’t a typical vacation. Anyone expecting a comfortable bed, daily showers,
good Wi-Fi, and restaurant meals probably won’t be happy.
But for anyone who wants to try something new, enjoys being outdoors, and isn’t afraid to
do without comfort every now and then, I can really recommend a trip like this.
For me, as a 20-year-old girl, it was a very special experience. Above all, I realized
that I can feel safe even far away from home and embrace new situations.
I saw beautiful landscapes, met new people, spent a lot of time on horseback, and at the same time learned how little you actually need to be happy.
Horses in Kyrgyzstan
Before embarking on a trip like this, you should also learn a bit about the treatment and status
of horses in Kyrgyzstan. Traditionally, horses there aren’t kept as pets but primarily as working animals
and draft animals. This, of course, differs from the way many of us in Europe are accustomed to treating them.
In my opinion, this has both advantages and disadvantages. The horses are incredibly sure-footed, experienced in rough terrain, and
usually very well-behaved and calm. You can tell they’re used to covering long distances over difficult terrain
. At the same time, however, they aren’t necessarily “pampered” and coddled the way we might
be accustomed to with our own horses. The relationship with the animals is simply different and more strongly shaped by
their practical utility.
I think you should research this beforehand and approach the trip with an open mind
. It’s a different culture and, therefore, a different way of interacting with horses. For me, it was
interesting to experience this difference firsthand and, in doing so, broaden my own perspective a bit