Sary-Jaz Yak Ranch

Eastern Kyrgyzstan is one of the most beautiful and pristine areas in all of Central Asia. On this tour you will have the opportunity to see this area extensively. This tour is very personal. We only take small groups (3-7 people). We will be hosted by a family of a yak herder, who has lived his entire life in these wild surroundings. The two destinations of the tour are Kara Kol and Sary Jaz. Kara Kol is a Soviet provincial city surrounded by mountains. Before the revolution in 1917 it was an outpost of the Tsarist Russian Empire. Its frontier past is preserved in the architecture of the old houses and churches of the city. From Kara Kol we will go to Jety Oguz, a massive red cliff. As legend has it, this cliff was a herd of charging bulls that God turned into stone when the local people feared for their lives. We will also relax at the AK SUU springs, where water bubbles up from the ground at 50°C (122°F).

When we arrive in Sary Jaz we will stay on a small Kyrgyz ranch at 3,500 meters (11,482 ft) above sea. We will visit the neighboring mountains on horseback. We will have a chance to see Khan Tengri with its pink marble peak rising up to 6,995 meters (22,949 ft) and visit an old mining gallery. Finally, we will make a short trip to the grand Inylcheck glacier which is 62 km (38.5 miles) long. Rumors say that there is a cave with petroglyphs dating back 3,000 years.

We ask that our guests be in good health and bring with them hiking boots, a sleeping bag, sunglasses, and sunscreen. As the weather in the mountains is very unpredictable it is important to bring durable clothing for both cold and warm weather.