Scenic Winter Riding in Kyrgyzstan: Snow-White Chon-Kemin | Departing Locally, 4 Days / 3 Nights and Up [For Riders Who Have Cantered]

• 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/

First, please submit a booking request from the tour page. Next, arrange your own flights, and once your flights are booked, proceed to the confirmed booking. If you plan to arrive the night before, you can book your own hotel or have us arrange it, and it's fine to decide on the hotel after your booking is confirmed. Your final price is then fixed about 3 weeks before departure.

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.

Changes may be unavoidable due to weather, road conditions or safety reasons.

Here are the operational rules we ask you to follow during the tour.

No exchanging contact details with guides or drivers

To prevent problems during and after the tour, exchanging personal contact details with guides or drivers is not allowed. For any inquiries, please contact our director Nuriya or our Japanese staff member Sugi, whose details are in your email.

Drinking with staff: one beer at most

You're welcome to drink during the tour, but for your own health, please limit drinking with local staff to about one beer.

Return transfers

For early-morning transfers to Bishkek or the airport, there may be only a driver and no guide. Please confirm your drop-off location and time with your guide or staff by the day before.

Central Asian food is oilier than Japanese food, so avoid drinking cold water after eating meat dishes and drink plenty of hot tea instead.

The food in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is especially oily.

Yes. We have tours featuring frozen winter lakes, winter sports, and experiencing the unique way of life in winter.

Of course. From airport transfers to support throughout the entire trip, everything is set up so that even first-time visitors can relax and enjoy themselves.

You can enjoy local home cooking and traditional dishes such as lagman (noodles), plov (rice pilaf) and shashlik (grilled skewers).

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

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

It is generally safe, but watch out for pickpockets in bazaars and other crowded places. Please avoid going out alone at night.

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

The voltage in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is 220V (50Hz). Japan uses 100V, so the voltage is different.

Most smartphone and laptop chargers support "100–240V" (check the label on the device or AC adapter). In that case, you can use them without a transformer—you'll only need a plug adapter.

On the other hand, 100V-only appliances (such as some hair dryers and hair straighteners) may break or overheat if plugged in directly, so you'll need a transformer.

Type C and Type F plugs are standard, so please bring a plug adapter as well.

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

There are three things.

First, you need a phone number to register for Yandex. Please buy a SIM card that comes with a phone number—you can't register with a data-only SIM.

Second, when entering your destination, it's best to copy and paste the place name in Russian. Once, we typed a destination in English, chose one of the suggested results, and called a taxi—only to be taken somewhere completely different.

Finally, when traveling to another city, book through "City to city" rather than the usual "Where to go." For example, Almaty and Korday (at the border) are different cities, so if you're heading to Almaty, the ride may not be available unless you use "City to city."

It depends on whether the same guide accompanies you in both countries or the guide changes between the two. Either way, we'll support you through the border crossing, so there's nothing to worry about.

If the same guide accompanies you

Your guide will accompany you all the way: Kyrgyzstan → Ak-Zhol → border crossing → Korday → Almaty. No need to worry about the language at all.

If the guide changes partway

On some tours, the guide changes between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

On the Kyrgyz side, our private vehicle will take you to the Kyrgyz border post at Ak-Zhol. Once you've crossed, a Kazakh driver will meet you at the Kazakh border post at Korday and take you to Almaty.

You'll walk through the border crossing itself on your own, but with private vehicles on both sides, it goes smoothly!

We track your flight information, so we will wait for you according to the delay.

Yes. We're flexible, so please let us know as soon as you find out.

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.

Yes. We'll pick you up wherever you specify.

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.

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).

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.

Credit cards can't be used to pay the tour price, but you can use them for shopping locally. However, many bazaars and rural supermarkets accept cash only. We recommend bringing about $50 in cash for souvenirs and water (we'll help you exchange it into local currency).

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.

Please bring US dollar bills that are crisp and clean, with no wrinkles or stains!

Light folds are fine, but badly wrinkled or dirty bills may be refused for exchange locally (how strict they are varies a lot from shop to shop). We appreciate your cooperation.

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.

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

If you're concerned about snoring, one option is to bring anti-snoring products such as nasal strips.

We also recommend saying a quick word to your roommates in advance when you enter the room.

Every private room has its own flush toilet and hot shower.

There is also a pool in a separate building, which has showers as well. In winter it becomes a heated pool.

At busy times the water can get lukewarm. Showering a little earlier or later usually solves this, so if it bothers you, just let your guide know.

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.

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 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.

As a rule, we don't rent out warm outerwear such as down jackets or heavy coats. Sizes vary so much from person to person that we can't guarantee something that will fit you properly. We lend half chaps and helmets free of charge, but we recommend bringing your own warm jacket.

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

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

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.

You can buy them at TSUM department store and Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, and at workshops in various regions.

Kyrgyz and Russian.

In many places you can't flush toilet paper (please put it in the bin provided), so please be careful.

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

It works in some countries, but if you want a reliable connection, we recommend buying a local SIM.

Here's what we've found based on our staff's actual experience (updated May 2026).

[Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan]

In cities such as Almaty and Tashkent, major eSIMs bought online in Japan worked.

In rural mountain areas and on some stretches between Almaty and the border, there is simply no signal in places.

[Kyrgyzstan]

We've tried eSIMs bought in Japan (such as povo and Holafly) in many places, and many times, even when the phone showed a connection, the speed was so slow that pages wouldn't load.

A local SIM connects without problems, although there are places in rural mountain areas with no signal at all.

Song-Kul has had mobile coverage since 2025, and you can now connect there with a local SIM.

[Things to note when buying a SIM]

• eSIMs differ by country, so if you're touring several countries over a long period, you'll need to buy one in each country. Alternatively, you can buy a global eSIM for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and buy a local SIM in Kyrgyzstan.

• Yandex Go requires a SIM with a phone number; you can't register with a data-only SIM.

Yes, you can buy one at the airport or at SIM shops in town.

At the airport, every country has SIM booths right after immigration, and the staff will set it up on the spot, so you can use the internet as soon as you leave the airport. Prices are around $10–20 depending on the plan. At the airport in Kyrgyzstan, staff will approach you in English.

In town, you'll find shops such as “O!”, “MEGA” and “Beeline” in shopping malls and department stores. They can be a little cheaper than at the airport.

Wherever you buy, you'll need your passport, and the process takes about 15 minutes.

On independent trips or private tours, your guide can help. However, on tours with several guests, if many people want to buy a SIM it can squeeze the itinerary, so we recommend buying one yourself at the airport.

Note that if you plan to use Yandex Go, you can't register with a data-only SIM. Please buy a SIM that comes with a phone number.

Nuriya, our local representative, is available on WhatsApp and can assist you in Japanese (we'll share her contact details after you book). We recommend setting up WhatsApp before you leave.