Horse adventures in the footsteps of the Kyrgyz shepherds.

The Dusty Shepherd takes you on an all-in outdoor adventure through the Kyrgyz mountains. No worries, it won’t be just dusty. There will be wind, sun, rain, snow, mud and hail too. Get ready for a thirteen-day journey on the rhythm of the semi-nomadic shepherds.

The trail

For this trekking we follow the trail of the kyrgyz semi-nomadic shepherds by horse. Every year in June they move from their farm in the mountains to a yurt higher up the summer pasture, also called jailoo. A big move, as they take all their animals and belongings with them to get through the summer months. 

While following their trail we take some extra sideroads along mountains with incredible views to finally arrive on the jailoo. Here the shepherds will welcome us in their yurts where we will spend our last nights.

Horse riding

The best - and often only - way to get through the kyrgyz mountains is by horse. These strong mountain animals will get you literally anywhere and give you the ultimate feeling of freedom!

But horse riding in the kyrgyz mountains ain’t no pony camp. Having previous experience or taking some riding lessons at home is a must to make this a successful and joyful horse trek.

Adventure

Go to www.clubmed.com if you are looking for a 5 star all-in holiday. If you decide to join The Dusty Shepherd, prepare yourself for an adventure that includes wild camping, rough mountains, basic comfort, unpredictable weather conditions and working with horses.

The horse trek is a demanding adventure that asks for everyone’s participation, but you will go home with the skills - and smell - of a real Kyrgyz shepherd!

The Dusty Shepherds

Photographer Frederik Buyckx visited Kyrgyzstan several times to work on his project ‘Horse Head’. There he got to know Aman and Talgat who became his friends and local mountain guides. 

After his project he returned to visit his Kyrgyz friends and to further explore the endless landscapes. During one of the many tea-breaks Aman and Talgat expressed their hope to one day organise their own local horse trekking.

After this first seed was planted, Esther Hoedemakers was asked to join the team. With a shared passion and vision they brought the idea alive. The Dusty Shepherd was born!

Local economy

We work on a small, personal scale. Our trekking adventures can only exist through the collaboration with local people. You will meet them as our horsemen, guides and hosts. Together we create opportunities for people to get involved in tourism. By reinvesting this income in their own community they support the local economy.

The Dusty Shepherd also donates 5% of each participant’s registration fee to a local Kyrgyz NGO.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is set at the heart of central Asia. The horse trekking takes place in Naryn province. This is the largest province of Kyrgyzstan but it also has the lowest population density of the country. The mountainous terrain has its lowest point at 1400m above sea level and its highest at almost 5000m. The local economy is dominated by animal herding: mostly sheep but also horses, cattle and yaks. It is for sure one of the best places to discover the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the shepherds.

Kyrgyzstan has an astonishing scenery that will keep on amazing you. Be sure to bring your binoculars because in these vast landscapes you’re more likely to spot Himalayan vultures than people.

Accommodation and food

We spend most of the nights in small tents and cook our own meals. The last days of the trekking we stay in yurts with the semi-nomadic shepherds and their families.

Although we strongly support any vegetarian or vegan principles you might have, it is important to know that the shepherd food culture is animal-oriented. They are mostly self-sufficient and with the greatest respect for animals and nature. Being their guests, we ask you to adapt as much as possible to their culture and cuisine and you should realize that providing vegetarian or other alternatives on a daily basis won't be possible.

Program

The Dusty Shepherd takes you on a 13-day journey, including 11 days of horse riding and 2 days of overland traveling by car. The first 6 days we camp in the wild by ourselves and then we arrive at the yurts of our befriended shepherds. On day 7 God took a break, and so do we. But more importantly, so do our horses. Time to wash ourselves in the river, chill at the yurt, help herding the sheep, do a little hike, read a book,… The last 4 days are all about the highest mountain passes, dipping in a gigantic lake, spotting wild mountain goats or himalayan vultures, and secretly looking forward to a real shower back home.

Equipment

Dusty adventures ask for good preparations. Some equipment will be provided by the organization but everyone needs to bring their own decent outdoor-clothing, sleeping bag and mattress. A detailed checklist will be provided to all participants.

Respectful traveling

It’s difficult to be completely sustainable when traveling, even for a small scale travel initiative. But we act with the greatest respect for the nature and the culture we immerse ourselves into. We try to find a positive balance between the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of our travels.

This is a constant work in progress, for ourselves and for the locals we work with. Whether it concerns preserving nature, learning from local culture or contributing to animal welfare.

Our treks for the summer of 2024 are fully booked! Send us an e-mail or leave us a message to stay up to date of our future plans.