Discover the extraordinary landscapes of Kyrgyzstan on a horse riding adventure curated by Alexandra Tolstoy. These authentic, immersive experiences take in the wild, untamed beauty of the Tien Shan Mountains, passing along rugged mountain paths, through ancient walnut forests and across wildflower-strewn valleys dotted with alpine lakes.
About
Alexandra Tolstoy’s love of Kyrgyzstan began when she spent nine months in 1999 travelling along the Silk Road by horse and camel. A fluent Russian speaker, she has since explored Mongolia, Siberia, Russia and Central Asia, writing a book and presenting a BBC documentary series, and now shares her passion and knowledge of the region on curated horse riding holidays.
Trips
Adventurous, immersive and deeply rewarding, Alexandra’s trips to Kyrgyzstan take in the country’s most captivating landscapes, home to semi-nomadic peoples. She offers three annual itineraries that cover the best of Kyrgyzstan by horse, and these can be booked through The Ultimate Travel Company. She can also arrange bespoke private trips.
“Alexandra Tolstoy’s trips offer unrivalled access to this historically, culturally and geographically fascinating region.”
“We were on a scimitar of a ridge, thousands of feet in the air. Snowcapped mountains loomed, but they loomed below us. We could see rivers, in extremely small scale, threads of blue monofilament. Mile-wide turquoise lakes glinted minutely, beads lost in a shag rug. We were at the top of the Chatkal Range of the Tian Shan, above everything.”
“Kyrgyzstan is breathtakingly beautiful, and with Alexandra, we saw it in the best possible way. She knows the country and culture so well, and her eye for detail is unsurpassed. To be so comfortable in such a wild and remote landscape was amazing. We are dreaming of going back with the children, it’s the trip of a lifetime.”
“Having been on many riding adventures around the world, this was, without doubt, the best. Alexandra Tolstoy’s knowledge of Kyrgyzstan and her fluent Russian ensured that it was a brilliant trip for our group. This was a trip of a lifetime, and it did not disappoint.”
“It is very difficult to pinpoint my favourite parts of our Kyrgyzstan adventure because it was all so wonderful. Arriving at our breathtakingly beautiful lakeside camp and plunging into the water. Eating home-cooked pumpkin dumplings under the milky way. Learning new card games with new friends, cocktail in hand. Or watching our brilliant guides play a very competitive game of Kyrgyz goat polo. I loved every minute.”
“Alexandra said she chose Sary Chelek as she felt like she’d landed in paradise on her Silk Road riding adventure. It did indeed feel like paradise, with waist height flowers of purple alliums, yellow fennel, pink lilies and irises. Riding through the walnut forest, plucking ripe mulberries from trees as we rode past, we heard a nightingale sing. With spectacular waterfalls and turquoise lakes, it was truly a paradise.”