Between the Ears: Transhumance

12 Days from $3360 per person | Trip Type: Field School | Activity Level: Advanced | Group Size: 5+ + 2 Instructors

Trip Overview

• Explore the culture of rural Kyrgyzstan

• Learn to herd from horseback in the Kyrgyz countryside

• Stay with locals and see the real heart of Central Asia's nomadic culture

  
  

Trip Itinerary

• Day 1: Bishkek

  • Pick-up from Manas Airport and transfer to hotel in Bishkek. Tour the city with stops at the Ash bazaar, the Ala Too Square, and the State History Museum. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants for our first taste of Central Asian cuisine.

  • Accommodations: Local Hotels

• Day 2: Birlik

  • After breakfast, depart Bishkek and begin the drive south to Naryn region. Drive time approximately 6 hours. Visit the livestock bazaar in Kochkor and have lunch at a local guesthouse. Continue the drive to the small village of Birlik where we meet the shepherd, Meder, and his family. We will have a masterclass on horsehair braiding from a local artisan before having dinner and sleeping at Meder’s home.

  • Accommodations: Local Homestay

• Day 3: Transhumance

  • After breakfast, meet the horses for a briefing from Meder that includes Kyrgyz-specific protocol for how to take care of them, how to behave with them, how to tack up and how to ride them. From there we begin the Transhumance! We will have lunch and dinner served outside and camp (2 people per tent).

  • Accommodations: Camping Tents

• Days 4-6: Transhumance

  • The Transhumance continues! The pace is slow, but we ride past diverse and breathtaking scenery — vast valleys, high mountain passes, pine-covered slopes, snowcapped peaks, river gorges, and small villages. We stop for a picnic lunch and each evening, we build a camp, share dinner together, and sleep in tents. There’s time for pictures and to chat to learn more about the local culture and each other. We ride around 70 miles during the Transhumance. Anticipate long days. On the afternoon of the sixth day, we arrive at the high yurt camp near Köl Suu Lake and the Chinese border. Sleep in shared yurts.

  • Accommodations: Camping Tents

• Day 7: Transhumance

  • Day ride to Köl Suu Lake and to explore the beautiful valley around the yurt camp. A chance for some faster riding! Return to the yurts for a home-cooked meal and spend the night in a shared yurts.

  • Accommodations: Camping Tents

• Day 8: Issyk Kul

  • Say goodbye to Meder and his family and depart to Issyk Kul. Drive time approximately 8 hours. We’ll break it up with stops for snacks and to stretch our legs! Dinner and a brief introduction to the history of eagle hunting with the family. Sleep in a shared yurt and the family home.

  • Accommodations: Local Homestay

• Day 9: Issyk Kul

  • After breakfast, we will ride to the mountains (around 1.5 hours ride each way) for a demonstration of how eagles are trained. From here, we ride back to the edge of town for an afternoon of mounted archery. Return to the house for dinner and sleep in shared yurt and family home.

  • Accommodations: Local Homestay

• Days 10-11: Bishkek

  • Depart after breakfast to return to Bishkek. Around 5 hours drive with a stop for lunch on the way. Arrive in Bishkek in the afternoon with time to check into your hotel room and shower. Farewell dinner in the city.

  • Accommodations: Local Hotels

• Day 12: Bishkek

  • Transfer to Manas Airport after breakfast at the hotel.

About Between the Ears

The Transhumance takes place in the rugged mountains and remote valleys of southern Kyrgyzstan. In addition to five days spent riding and helping drive livestock between winter pasture and high summer grazing, the itinerary includes a visit to the eagle hunters, a mounted archery lesson, and cultural stops and “masterclasses” along the way.

Due to the mountainous terrain and livestock, the ride consists of primarily slower riding with a few opportunities for faster riding sprinkled in. Riders should be comfortable spending up to nine hours riding per day, potentially in the dark or cold! There is the option to ride in a support vehicle for a half or whole day (depending on the route) if someone needs a break.

This trip is not a luxury trip! It is for people who want an intense, off-the-beaten-path experience. You will be immersed in the landscape and culture. Riding at high elevations, we may (and probably will) experience weather ranging from sun to snow and hail. Accommodation is shared and basic. With an expedition-mindset, this trip is incredibly fun and an unforgettable adventure start to finish!

This ride requires a minimum of five riders. Once we receive this form, we will reach out with the next steps for completing your booking. Check out the full itinerary for trip details and what is included in the cost. Please take a minute to look over our Booking Terms and Conditions and note that travel insurance covering horseback riding and trip cancellation insurance is required.

Age Requirements: 18+

What can you expect when you travel on an Anthro Tours trip?

• Dedicated Anthro Tours instructors and knowledgeable guides

• A small group of 6-10 guests

• Comfortable and convenient accommodations in each destination

• Included activities as indicated in itineraries

• Optional activities may be available for an additional cost as indicated in itineraries

• Opportunities for on-your-own exploration as indicated in itineraries

• Included meals as per itineraries

• Tent partners match for solo travelers at no additional fee

Dates & Prices

2025 Dates & Prices

10-20 September 2025

$3360 per person

All trip prices are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted, are subject to change without notice and do not include airfare. Optional activities are at an additional cost. All prices and fares are quoted in US dollars.

Travel Insurance

A minimum level of medical and emergency travel insurance is required in order to travel with Anthro International Field Schools. Details are outlined in our Terms and Conditions and you will not be permitted to join the group until you have provided evidence of adequate travel insurance.

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