By Train to Issyk-Kul: Eagle Hunters, Skazka Canyon & Horse Riding | From Almaty, 5 Days / 4 Nights [No Experience Needed]

• People who love magnificent nature and animals
• People looking for real connections with local people and deep cultural experiences, not just sightseeing
• People who want to see Kyrgyzstan's spectacular scenery with their own eyes
• People who want to get away from everyday life and have an adventure
• People who want to leave the detailed arrangements to a guide and travel smoothly and worry-free

Yes. Solo travelers are very welcome. There is a single-traveler price, but if you'd like to travel for less, after you apply we will also look for other guests who want the same tour to join you on a shared tour.

https://ashu-travel.com/en/news/travel-mate/

Cancellation is free for a certain period after you apply, but cancellation fees apply as the departure date approaches.

From 18:01, 21 days before the tour start, to 18:00, 10 days before: 20% of the tour price

From 18:01, 10 days before the tour start, to 18:00, 3 days before: 30% of the tour price

From 18:01, 3 days before the tour start, until the start time on the day: 50% of the tour price

After the start time on the day of the tour: 100% of the tour price

ASHU TRAVEL basically has no fixed tour dates; we run tours on the dates you choose. However, we also have a “shared tour” system where you join a tour another guest has already booked, and in that case we recruit participants for set dates.

Learn more here:
https://ashu-travel.com/en/news/travel-mate/

Yes. With support in Japanese and a guide who speaks Japanese or English accompanying you, many female guests travel with us. Lots of our guests are women, and some join on their own and find fellow riders through our shared tour matching.

What is a shared tour?
https://ashu-travel.com/en/news/travel-mate/

Of course. Our Japanese staff based in Kyrgyzstan will gladly answer your questions via LINE, email or WhatsApp (Meta's app).

If you'd like to talk by phone, please download WhatsApp and add +996 502 003 600 to your contacts.

(Our Japanese staff member Sugiura will take your call. Our staff are in Kyrgyzstan, so calling through the app means you only pay for mobile data.)

We may not always be able to answer right away, but if so, we will call you back later.

It's a way to travel at a better price: by sharing the vehicle and guide with other guests, the tour price per person goes down.

For more details, see here:

https://ashu-travel.com/en/news/travel-mate/

It varies from person to person and with your physical condition, but some people feel unwell at high altitudes. When our Japanese staff first visited Kaindy and Kolsai, combined with the fatigue of the hilly roads, they felt dizzy even on a light hike.

If you're prone to motion sickness or are traveling with young children, it's a good idea to consult your doctor beforehand and get motion sickness or altitude sickness medication prescribed. On the tour we'll go at a comfortable pace, so don't worry.

Song-Kul Lake is a summer-only tour where you can fully experience nomadic life and horse riding on a high-altitude plateau. Issyk-Kul Lake can be enjoyed year-round depending on the location, and since it covers a large area, each place—such as Jeti-Oguz and Bokonbaevo—offers different experiences. Let us know how much riding you'd like and when you'd like to travel, and we'll suggest the best tour for you.

If you choose a shared tour, you will travel with other guests. If you request a private tour, you will not be grouped with anyone else.

As a rule, we provide about one bottle of water per person per day (this may vary depending on the tour).

If you'd like to drink more, you can buy extra at the guesthouse or a nearby supermarket. ASHU Guesthouse accepts cards, but rural supermarkets are often cash only, so we recommend carrying a small amount of cash (a bottle of water generally costs $1 or less).

On shared tours, sharing meals and travel time together often leads naturally to getting to know each other.

You won't be riding the entire time during the tour; some sections are covered by private vehicle. If you get tired, you can also rest in the vehicle. If you do light physical activity in your daily life, you should be able to enjoy the tour without any problem.

Don't worry — your guide will accompany you and walk you through the procedures.

Tourist areas in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are generally considered relatively safe within Central Asia these days.

In the main cities and tourist sites visited on ASHU TRAVEL tours, there are no major problems as long as you take normal precautions.
In fact, where our local staff live, the sun sets late in summer, and you can see neighborhood children playing outside until around 10 p.m.

In winter, the streets are sometimes lively until late at night with people enjoying the Christmas lights, and in everyday life there are few situations that feel overly tense.

That said, please be aware of the following:

• Some border areas: There have been incidents in the past in some border regions of Kyrgyzstan. ASHU TRAVEL avoids these areas and uses only routes confirmed to be safe.
• Bazaars and crowds: As in other cities around the world, pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur in crowded places such as bazaars. Please keep a close eye on your valuables.

ASHU TRAVEL shares information with local staff, guides and authorities,

adjusts itineraries to the situation at the time, and runs every tour with safety as our top priority.


■ Before you travel
For the latest safety information, please also check the official pages below (from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyzstan; in Japanese).

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Information | Kazakhstan
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pchazardspecificinfo_2025T020.html#ad-image-0

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Information | Kyrgyzstan
 https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcinfectionspothazardinfo_265.html#ad-image-0

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Information | Uzbekistan
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcinfectionspothazardinfo_183.html#ad-image-0

• Kyrgyzstan Safety Guide (Embassy of Japan)

https://www.kg.emb-japan.go.jp/information/anzen_tebiki.pdf

Japanese nationals can enter visa-free for short tourist stays. Visa requirements depend on your nationality, so please check the rules for your passport.

Please give the name and address of your first accommodation, such as the ASHU Guesthouse.

Yes, please be sure to purchase travel insurance before departure. ASHU TRAVEL requires a plan with combined coverage of at least ¥30 million (30,000,000 yen) for medical expenses and rescue/evacuation expenses. If your policy lists "medical and rescue expenses" as a single amount, please check that figure.
Also note that coverage for injuries sustained while horse riding may vary by insurance company and plan, so if you're concerned, please check before you buy. We explain how to choose a policy and what to watch out for in detail in this article:
Travel insurance for horse riding trips in Central Asia

We ask guests to book their own flights, but we're happy to advise on recommended flights and routes.

Roads to remote areas such as Song-Kul Lake include rough, unpaved sections where the vehicle can be bumpy. If you're prone to motion sickness, we recommend bringing a motion-sickness medicine you're used to.

Yes. It fits in the car. However, a smaller bag is handy for getting around during riding.

At the airport or in Bishkek, you can generally buy a SIM card with a credit card.

If you arrive at night and no SIM shops are open in Bishkek, you'll need to buy one somewhere else, and in rural areas you'll need cash. In that case, don't worry—we'll take you to a currency exchange office in Bishkek beforehand.

[Where you can buy a SIM]

Depending on your tour itinerary, the only place to buy a Kyrgyz SIM may be one spot near the border (for example, Song-Kul Lake tours starting and ending in Almaty).

In this case, you'll buy it at an outdoor booth rather than at a store counter. This is a common way of selling SIMs in Kyrgyzstan, and it's handled by vendors authorized by the mobile carrier. Several sellers may gather when foreign customers arrive, but this is also perfectly normal.

[What you need to buy a SIM]

A law that took effect in Kyrgyzstan in April 2024 requires SIM cards to be registered in the buyer's own name. Wherever you buy one, the following steps are required:

• A photo of the front and back of your (physical) passport
• A photo of your face while holding your passport
• An on-the-spot registration application to the mobile carrier

The procedure is carried out by authorized vendors using designated devices and a dedicated app. This is the method set by the government.

[What we do and don't handle]

We will take you to a place where you can buy a SIM. Whether or not to buy one is entirely up to you. If you feel uneasy about having your passport or face photographed, you're welcome not to buy one.

⚠️Because the procedure is done outdoors, occasionally the photos can't be taken properly and the SIM can't be issued. This is especially likely after dark, when the app has a harder time reading your passport and face. Please keep this in mind if your itinerary crosses the border at night.

If you have concerns about the photo data, please ask the vendor on the spot. If you'd rather not ask yourself, just tell your guide and we'll ask for you.

If you'd prefer not to have your passport photographed, another option is to arrange a rental pocket Wi-Fi before you leave home (eSIMs sold online do connect in Kyrgyzstan, but they're far too slow to be practical).

Some bazaars and rural supermarkets accept cash only, so we recommend bringing about $50 to exchange. You can exchange it yourself, or your guide can help you exchange what you need at the airport or in town.

Cards are generally accepted in cities, but some places in rural areas and bazaars are cash only. We recommend bringing about $50. Your guide will help you exchange money.

Tipping isn't mandatory in Central Asia, but there is a culture of tipping as a token of appreciation.

Restaurants & cafes : More and more places now include a service charge, and prices are rising. If you receive excellent service, about 5–10% of the total is a good guideline. Some cafes have a jar for leaving coins. Even just leaving some coins on the table is appreciated.

In Uzbekistan, service charges are often not included at lunch but may already be included at dinner. We recommend checking the receipt when you pay. A translation app comes in handy.

Meals are generally included on ASHU TRAVEL tours, so you don't need to worry about this individually.

Hotels : For a porter carrying your luggage or for room service, about $1–2 is a good guideline.

Guides & drivers : Many guests give a tip at the end of the tour as thanks. About $10 per day is a guideline, but the thought counts more than the amount.

Taxis : With Yandex Go, you can choose a tip in the app right before getting out (10 som, 20 som, etc.). Tipping isn't customary in shared taxis.

As a guide, about $50 is enough if you plan to buy a few souvenirs and snacks, and about $100 if you enjoy shopping (for food and drinks, tips, and souvenirs). Cards are accepted in the city and at hotels, but bazaars, small shops in rural areas, and supermarkets are cash only, so please bring US dollars in cash.

You can exchange money in Almaty and Bishkek.

You can exchange it yourself at the airport or during your stay, or we can stop at an exchange office while traveling.

Please note that since you'll be traveling with other guests on the tour, we can't take individual guests to exchange offices with the best rates.

Unfortunately, exchange offices near the Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan borders generally don't exchange Japanese yen.

It's difficult not only near the border but in town as well…. Once, when I forgot to bring dollars from Japan, I managed to exchange yen after a lot of pleading, but the rate was so bad that I lost quite a bit.

When you come to Central Asia, be sure to bring US dollars! You can exchange Kyrgyz som and Kazakh tenge at exchange offices near the border too.

Yes. You can switch to a yurt on the guesthouse grounds ($200 per group; advance reservation required). You can also enjoy the experience of putting up the yurt yourself. A yurt sleeps about 3 people.

Type C (two round pins). Please bring a plug adapter.

Toilets are basically “nature” toilets outdoors. When a group includes both women and men, we make sure everyone can go a fair distance apart for privacy.

Some places allow it, but you may not be able to use one if there isn't enough power. It's best to assume that you "may not be able to use one."

Some accommodations have hair dryers and some don't.

Hotels in Bishkek usually have them, but yurts may or may not.

There isn't one inside the yurt, but shared toilets are within walking distance. The type varies: at Song-Kul there are flush toilets or pit toilets (a dug pit with a simple enclosure), while nomad families use pit toilets.

It depends on the location.

[Tourist yurt camps at Song-Kul, Issyk-Kul, etc.]

Inside, there are basically just beds, but shared hot showers, toilets and a restaurant are usually set up outside. In colder places such as Jeti-Oguz, yurts sometimes have a stove.

In most cases the toilets are about a one-minute walk from the yurt.

In all cases the showers are simple ones. During peak season there are many travelers, so when lots of people shower, the water pressure can be weak and the water lukewarm.

Also, on days when we arrive late because of traffic or vehicle trouble, the hot water in the tank may have run out and the showers may be unavailable. The hot water sometimes comes back after a while, so please don't hesitate to ask your guide. Bringing body wipes is a good idea, just in case.

[Nomad yurts]

In yurts that nomads actually live in, there is often no shower outside, and the toilet is usually a “nature” toilet or a pit toilet.

Yurts are covered with sheep's wool felt, so they are well insulated.

Think of a yurt as a much more luxurious version of a camping tent. The real charm of staying in one is experiencing local life just as it is.

Yes, absolutely. On days with shared rooms, such as yurt stays, we'll arrange for you to share a room with the friend or companion you booked with.

If you'd like this, please let us know when you book or in advance. We're also happy to discuss requests for a private (single) room at hotels or guesthouses.

Yes, we lend half chaps free of charge.

Tours marked as open to riders with no experience can be booked by anyone, from complete beginners to advanced riders.

In addition to a Japanese-speaking or English-speaking guide, a local riding instructor (a horse handler or horse owner) always accompanies you to ensure your safety.

It depends on the tour. Some tours are open to beginners and people with no experience, while others are for experienced riders. Please check the required level on each tour page.

Shared tours are also advertised with the required level clearly stated.

Every tour starts with a riding lesson for all participants. Riding in Kyrgyzstan differs in some ways from the Japanese style, so experienced riders are required to take it too.

If you're a beginner and not confident, our staff will lead your horse by the reins or ride alongside to support you, so you can join with peace of mind.

It depends on the tour and the location. Cantering is possible in open areas.

On beginner tours, you'll first get used to riding slowly, and once you're comfortable, you can choose to try a canter while we keep an eye on everyone. The speed is roughly 20–30 km/h.

However, even on tours where cantering is allowed, we may skip it or stop partway depending on the horses' condition, the weather, or how well you and your horse get along. We always put safety first, so thank you for your understanding.

It varies greatly by location and altitude.

Summers in Bishkek (about 800 m above sea level) are dry, and last year temperatures rose to nearly 40℃. There's little of the muggy humidity you get in Japan, so even when it's hot it's relatively comfortable.

On the other hand, Song-Kul Lake, at over 3,000 m, gets quite cold even in summer. Here's a guide for August:

• Daytime: around 16–18℃
• Mornings and evenings: below 10℃ (sometimes dropping close to freezing)

For reference, on April 10, when Bishkek's high was 19℃, it was only 1℃ at Song-Kul Lake.

When our staff visited last July, a single thin down jacket wasn't enough against the morning and evening cold. We recommend gear you can layer, such as a light outdoor down jacket, a fleece and an inner down layer.

Please bring comfortable long pants and shoes that won't easily catch in the stirrups. Sneakers are fine. In winter, snow boots with smooth soles are recommended. Please avoid shoes with high heels or hiking boots, as they can catch in the stirrups and are dangerous.

Please also bring gloves. Work gloves are fine.

Half chaps (leg covers for riding) and helmets are available to rent. You're also welcome to bring your own.

In summer (mainly July–August), there can be mosquitoes (though not as many as in Japan). There are also flies, so bringing an insect repellent spray you're used to will make your trip more comfortable.

Basic packing checklist

• Warm clothes: Mornings and evenings get cold in the highlands
• Rain gear: A poncho, a folding umbrella, etc.
• Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
• Riding gear: Long pants, sneakers, gloves
• Personal medications: Altitude sickness medication, motion sickness medication, pain-relief patches, etc.
• Power bank (carry-on recommended)
• Insect repellent (July–August)
• Body wipes: Handy because the shower water may be lukewarm or unavailable at busy times or on days when you arrive late
• Swimsuit: You can use the pool at ASHU Guesthouse for free. You'll also need one if your stay includes hot springs.

*The sauna equipment is currently being repaired, so it may not be available during your stay. Thank you for your understanding

What to wear

It depends on when and where you go, but layering is the key. Temperatures differ greatly between the highlands and lowlands, so be ready to adjust by adding or removing layers.

Spring T-shirt + an outer layer such as a hoodie; in the highlands, add a light down jacket or fleece

Summer T-shirt + an outer layer such as a hoodie; in the highlands, add a light down jacket or fleece

Fall Long-sleeve shirt + an outer layer such as a hoodie; in the highlands, add a down jacket or fleece

Winter Long-sleeve shirt + thermal underwear + a sweater or jacket + a down jacket or equivalent outerwear

Bottoms Long pants for riding or hiking; in winter, thick hiking pants with thermal underwear underneath

Footwear Sneakers are generally fine. In winter, snow boots with smooth soles are recommended. Please avoid shoes with high heels or hiking boots, as they can catch in the stirrups and are dangerous

*A thick down jacket can make it hard to move while riding. If so, we can keep it in the car for you

The air is very dry and the sun is strong, so we recommend bringing moisturizer, lip balm, sunglasses and a hat.

It's also a good idea to prepare the following:

• Altitude sickness / motion sickness medication: The tour passes through high-altitude areas, so if you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor in advance
• Power bank: There are few places to charge in highland areas such as Song-Kul Lake. Please bring one that can be taken in carry-on luggage
• Translation app: In shared taxis or when exploring on your own, sometimes only the local language is spoken
• Personal medications: Pain-relief patches and painkillers also help with sore muscles after riding
• Insect repellent: July and August are the buggiest months
• Cash (US dollars): Tour prices are generally paid in US dollars cash locally. You can exchange money at the airports and in town in Almaty and Bishkek
• Check your passport's remaining validity: At least 6 months of validity is required for entry

It depends on the tour.

On tours to remote areas (such as Kol-Ukok Lake), there is often no signal in the mountains even with a local SIM, and once you come down you can use the Wi-Fi at guesthouses and hotels, so many guests don't buy one.

On tours to Song-Kul Lake, a local Kyrgyz SIM usually gets a signal even around the lake, so more guests tend to buy one.

You can buy a local SIM at the airports or shops in Bishkek and Almaty. You'll need your passport, and setup takes about 15 minutes.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

Yes. There's no need to force yourself to finish. Simply saying “I'm full” is not considered rude.

The main streets are well lit, but many side streets are dark. We don't recommend walking alone at night.