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Chong-Kemin National Park Ride - Day Trip
A riding day with a Silk Road start. We visit Burana Tower, stop in Boom Gorge for kattama and samovar tea, then head into Chong-Kemin National Park. There you ride 3 to 4 hours through forest, along rivers and over open meadows. The day ends at a Kyrgyz family's table with a homemade meal. Good for first-timers and experienced riders alike.
Why you'll love this tour
Good to know
- Activities: horse riding - 1 day
- Departures from: Bishkek
- Best time to go: All year round
- Local certified English-speaking guide
- Private transport & airport transfers
- Small group or fully private
- 24/7 support team in Bishkek
What to pack
- Comfortable shoes with good grip for uneven ground
- A refillable water bottle
- Sun protection: a hat or cap, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
- A light jacket: the mountains are cooler than Bishkek even in summer
- Some cash in Kyrgyz som for small purchases where cards are not accepted
Full packing list and arrival tips: Easy from abroad: visas, arrival and logistics
Before you go
- Visa: most Western and East-Asian passports enter visa-free for up to 30 days within any 60-day period (the rule changed at the end of 2025), so check your own nationality on evisa.e-gov.kg
- Money: the local currency is the Kyrgyz som; carry cash for villages and camps, as card payments mostly work only in towns
- The gorges above Bishkek are higher and cooler than the city, so bring a layer and drink plenty of water
- Drinking water: stick to bottled or boiled water, and bring enough for stretches where none is available
Day-by-day itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Every itinerary can be tailored to your dates, pace and fitness.
Your guide meets you at your hotel in Bishkek and drives you to Burana Tower. This is where Balasagun stood, a Silk Road town of the 9th to 11th centuries. You see petroglyphs and balbals, and a small museum of coins, ceramics and jewellery. Climb the tower for a view of the Tien Shan.
On the road through Boom Gorge we stop at a small place locals love and few visitors find. You try kattama with tea brewed in a samovar.
In Chong-Kemin National Park you meet your horseman and horse. First comes a short lesson on how to sit, steer, stop and stay safe. Your guide picks a calm trail or a livelier one based on your experience. Then you ride for 3 to 4 hours through forest, across rivers and over open slopes, passing small villages.
After the ride, a Kyrgyz family welcomes you into their home for a homemade meal. It is a slow, warm end to the day. Then we drive back to Bishkek and drop you at your hotel.
Sights visited on this tour
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan's leafy, Soviet-planned capital and the gateway to the mountains.
Chong-Kemin
A long river valley and national park threaded with forest and meadow.Burana Tower
Gallery
Common questions
It runs 1 day, starting and ending in Bishkek.
The season runs All year round. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open.
It's moderately paced, with 1 days horse riding. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing.
No. Our guides match each horse to your level and keep the first day gentle, so complete beginners ride this route every season.
From $160 per person. The exact price depends on group size and season, and we confirm it for your group within 24 hours.
Tell us about your trip
Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours. Free to enquire, no prepayment.
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