On horse to Chatkal lost valleys

Last updated: 11. 03. 2010

Duration: 15 nights/16 days

Tour Program:
This trekking program is designed for those fans of horse-back riding who are keen on visiting of picturesque, intact corners of the Nature. The trek takes place in the mountains of Western Tien Shan and covers a vast area including the Kyrgyz State Natural sanctuary "Sarychelek".

We start trekking from the orchard-drown Fergana valley, a pearl of Central Asia, through which the Great Silk Road once passed. We head towards unique lengthy mountain valley of the Chatkal river. We will be crossing the Chatkal Range twice over simple passes. We will be riding along in the vicinity of the dominant peak of the area - the Chatkal Peak (4503 m), meeting with warm-hearted local Kyrgyz people, learning about their simple semi-nomadic way of life and tasting their local bread and yogurt and drinking their aroma tea. We will be traveling along the mountain streams towards high-land passes, seeing Kyrgyz horses grazing at the alpine meadows, enjoying views of majestic ice-covered peaks and passing through sheer-walled canyons.

The best time for trekking is: June - September

Days	Program
1	Arrival in Tashkentand check in to the hotel.
2	Drive from Tashkent via Kamchik pass (2285m) to Fergana valley - to Aflatun village (1300 m) (440 km; 8h). The long day of driving along the "Road of life" connecting Fergana with the mainland Uzbekistan allows seeing diversity of landscapes and gives a close-up look at local life of Uzbek people.
3	Preparation for the trek. The beginning of active part of the trek.Today we get acquainted with our supporting party and horses and make a trial breaking-in upstream the Aflatun river to the confluence with Uyalma river where we set up our first camp at the altitude of 1800 m (16 km is the distance left behind; 5 h is the total time en route; +500 m is the height difference between the start and the end of the day). The first day is always difficult by the novelty of sensations. A good tarmac road takes us to the canyon of the Aflatun river richly covered in Tien Shan spruces. The green of the grassland is in contrast with a stern beauty of the mountains. The camp is on a large forest glade.
4	Riding upstream Ashuutor, we cross over the Ashuutor pass (3336 m) and descend to the valley of Northern Aflatun. Camp (3000 m) (12 km; 7 h; +600 m; -400 m). The continuous and lengthy ascent rewards us with wonderful views that we gain from the saddle. By a good path we quickly go downhill to alpine zone in the upper part of the Northern Aflotun river where on a cozy grass meadow we set a camp.
5	Ride down the Northern Aflatun valley towards the Chatkal river valley. Camp (2500 m) (18 km; -500 m; 5 h). Just past the canyon of the Northern Aflotun river the valley widens up. From confluence we make a short incursion to the Aflotun lake. The canyon strikes everybody by the scale of its sheer vertical walls. A good path leads us to the wide valley of the Chatkal river where we camp amidst grassy hills.
6	Ride from the Tereksai river to Karatokoy river. Camp (2700 m). (8 km; +200 m;-200 m; 3h). During this short ride from the Tereksai to Karatokoy rivers we get acquainted with a majestic nature and an amazing beauty of the Chatkal canyon.
7	A quick excursion up the valley to the Karatokoy lake. Back to the camp. Cross over the Kokuy-Bel pass (3037 m) to Aksu river valley. Camp (2600 m). (14 km, +400 m, -500 m, 5 h).
8	Ride up valley from the Aksu river to Karakuldja river. Camp (3000 m). (12 km; +400 m; 4-5 h). Our way up lies in the vicinity of the Talas Peak towering over neighbouring peaks of 4000 m high.
9	Cross the Karakuldja pass (3161 m) we descend to North Karakuldja river valley. Camp (2000 m) (16 km; +1500 m; -1100 m; 6 h). A good path quickly takes us to the pass lying right at the junction point of the two mountain ranges - Chalkal Range and Talas Range. The mountain panoramic view from the pass is really good.
10	Ride upstream Okun river and over simple Okun pass (2649 m), descend to the valley of Karasu river. Camp (1900 m) (16 km; +700 m; -700 m; 6 h). Ascending to the pass we enjoy awesome views of the Talas Range with its pointed snowy summits and sheer walls.
11	Round trip to the Karasu lake. Back to the same camp (1900 m).
12	Cross over the Makmal pass (2654 m) (18 km; +750 m; -750 m; 7 h) and camp on the Sarichelek lake shore (1900 m). This long, demanding and most interesting day ends up at the Sarichelek lake boasting its unrivalled beauty.
13	Ascend to the Ashuu pass (2551 m) from which descend along the Kechkol river and, past river fork, further on downhill along the Arkitsai river. Camp near Arkit village (1300 m) (12 km; +750 m; -1100 m; 6 h). A simple pass connects Sarichelek Lake and Arkit River valley. Our eyes are pleased to see from the saddle the emerald blue crystal water of the lake imbedded, like a gemstone, in the setting of rocky sides covered in Tien Shan spruces.
14	Day of rest. Optional excursion to the Irekel lake. A motorboat cruise around the lake is possible. Camp (1300 m). Visit Kyrgyz national house. Farewell dinner.
15	Drive Arkit village to Tashkent (420 km = 8h).
16	Transfer to Tashkent airport, departure.
There is a possibility to sign up for an short extension tour to visit ancient cities Samarkand and Bukhara:
16	Tashkent - Samarkand (330 km = 5 h)Departure for Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand and check in to the hotel. Half day sightseeing in Samarkand including Registan, Ulugbeg madrassah, Sher Dor madrasah, Tilla Kori mosque (1646-1659), mausoleum Gur Emir or “ruler’s tomb”, where Tamerlane was buried in 1405.
17	Samarkand - Bukhara (280 km = 5 h) Half day sightseeing in Samarkand including Rukhabad necropolis (XV c), Bibi-Khanum mosque (XV c), Ulugbek observatory (1420), Shakhi-Zinda (“The Living King”) necropolis of Samarkand rulers and nobles, oriental bazaar “Siab”. Departure for Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara, check in to the hotel.
18	Bukhara Full day sightseeinginBukhara including Kalon ensemble, madrassah Miri-Arab, Magoki-Attori mosque, madrassah Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi Hauz complex (XVI-XVII), madrassah Chor-Minor.
19	Bukhara Full day sightseeing in Bukhara including Samanid‘s Mausoleum (IX-X), Arc Fortress (VI-VII), Chashma Ayub Mazar (graveyard) (XIV-XIX), summer residence of Bukhara Emir “Sitorai-Mokhikhosa”.
20	Bukhara - Tashkent (610 km = 9h) Drive to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent and check in to the hotel.
21	Tashkent - departure Transfer to the airport, departure.

Send us a letter with your requirements, and we shall calculate the tour price.

Book a tour

To continue reservation the tour, please complete and submit the form below.
* - Obligatory fields.

Who make the booking

First name *		Email *
Last name *		Phone # *

Birth day Prefix: Mr. Ms. Mrs.

Reservation details

Arriving from (city, country): *
Start date (from): *
End date (until): *

Total travellers *		Citizenship *
Hotel category		Meals

Guide

Additional options

Visa support:
Airtickets:	departure from:
Services of security agency:	reed more...

Comments / Additonal Requests:

Enter the number that you see in the picture *