As seen on
Kazakhstan horse riding adventure
World Nomad Games
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Challenging
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
7 Nights
4 - 10
Group size
Leaders
Experience a completely wild, nomadic horse riding adventure in the Buyratau National Nature Park in Kazakhstan!
The Buyratau National Nature Park extends over 88,968 hectares of dry steppes, grasslands, and forests with 610 plant species, 55 mammal species, and 160 bird species coexisting in the forest and steppe ecosystems of the Akmola and Karagandy Regions, whose rich flora and fauna, and a variety of ancient historical sites will not leave anyone indifferent.
The park shelters one of the rarest animals in the country – red deer, whose antlers are highly appreciated due to their healing properties. Bisons that can weigh several hundred kilograms are the other stars of the park, as well as mountain sheep, roe deer, wolves, foxes, moose, boars, hares and many birds, including falcons, golden eagles and partridges.
Another well-known spot is the Karaagash tract, where a relic black alder grows and its Kara-Agash spring, also considered to be healing, as its crystal clear water does not freeze even in severe frosts. The reserve received its name Buyratau, which translates as “curly mountains” from Kazakh, due to the sometimes bizarre shapes of its rocky mountains that form a beautiful exotic landscape.
This is truly an adventure along the path less travelled in the Northeastern Region of the natural park from Astana city:
The all-include tour package includes the following:
- - Tickets to the World Nomad Games
- - Transfer from Astana and back
- - Services of guide-instructors (non-English speaking)
- - Services of an English-speaking guide along the entire route
- - Entrance fees to the national park
- - Training, instruction (basic)
- - Horses
- - Accommodation in yurts/tents
- - Equipment: tents, sleeping bags, raincoats, karemats, protective helmet
- - First aid kit
- - Three meals a day
- - Kazakh traditional products/dishes
- - Tea from samovar, marshmallow on fire, seeds
- - Archery
- - Rent a cottage with a bath
- - Photo-video
- - National clothes rent
- - Car escort 7-8 hrs every day
DAY 1. ASTANA-ALGABAS (by car)- 250 km
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
Astana - Buiratau State National Natural Park
Algabas settlement of Olzhabay rural district of Ereimentau.
Day programme:
- Visit to the excavations of Karagaila from the 6th Century
- Falcon Mountains Nature Location
- Regional Museum in the district centre of Ereimentau
Overnight stay in a yurt
DAY 2. ALGABAS
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
Algabas village
- horseback riding
- briefing
- Radial route to Aulie Bulak
30 km by horse / 8 hours
Overnight stay in a yurt
DAY 3. ALGABAS SETTLEMENT - OLZHABAY BATYR SETTLEMENT
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Yurt
- equestrian route
- Tusau Kesu national rite
- memorial complex to Olzhabay Batyr
40 km by horse / 8 hours
Overnight stay in a yurt
DAY 4. OLZHABAY SETTLEMENT - KARAAGASH NATURAL TRACT
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Yurt
- national park area
- - yurt, tents
40 km by horse / 7-8 hours
Overnight stay in a yurt or tents
DAY 5. TRACT KARAAGASH
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Yurt
- maral forest visit
- Climbing the highest mountain 901 meters above sea level.
- Bathhouse
35 km by horse
Overnight stay in a yurt or tents
DAY 6. TRACT KARAAGASH- KARABAY
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Yurt
- equestrian route
- tented camp
- Umbetey Zhyrau burial ground
40 km by horse / 7-8 hours
Overnight stay in a yurt or tents
DAY 7. KARABAY - ALGABAS VILLAGE
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Yurt
- horseback riding route
40 km by horse / 7-8 hours
Overnight stay in a yurt or tents
DAY 8. ALGABAS VILLAGE-ASTANA-250 km
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transfer back to Astana to begin the World Nomad Games
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Contents
Accommodation
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.
Your group will be sleeping in yurts or camps, please see the packing list here for items to pack. The yurts and tents are provided as well as sleeping bags, but you are welcome to bring your own sleeping bag if you wish.
Please note that there is likely to be no mobile signal at the camps. The facilities will be comfortable but basic.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be an experienced English-speaking horse riding guide, who will be with you for the duration of the holiday.
This ensures you the perfect balance of information and support on your trip, offering insight into local life and customs.
Am I fit enough?
Your itinerary involves horse riding over rough terrain, with steep gradients at various times (when you may be leading your horse). To get the most of out of this adventure, you therefore need to be in good physical condition.
As we understand, you are all experienced riders. You will receive a questionnaire to fill out before your arrival which will ask questions about your experience as well as weight, height etc.
Travel & Arrival
Please note international and national flights are not included in this adventure, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, the responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.
You will meet your guide in Astana on the first day of the adventure, meeting place and time is TBC.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
Visas
This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full British Citizen passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Kazakhstan set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Kazakh Embassy.
To enter Kazakhstan, your passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the date you arrive.
You can visit Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 30 days. You can make as many visa-free visits as you like, but you must not stay more than 90 days without a visa in any 180-day period.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Kazakh Government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Kazakh Embassy in the UK. Also see visa information from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For non-British passport holders, please check any entry requirements with the Kazakh Embassy.
Compulsory
Packing List
- No more than 3 pairs of shoes
- Comfortable specialised riding shoes. Ideally, boots are the most comfortable shoes for horseback riding,
- Trainers and/or sandals. If you bring sandals choose comfortable ones with straps so that they do not fall off the foot.
- Shirts
- Long sleeved shirt
- Jodhpurs/breeches
- Athletic trousers/joggers
- Socks (cotton and woolen in case of cool weather)
- Warm trousers in case it gets cold
- Warm jacket for the evenings
- Hat, cap & gloves
- For sleeping - thermal wear, socks and hat
- Sweater
- Torch, preferably headlamp
- Toilet paper, personal hygiene products, towel, slippers
- Medicines, mini first aid kit (painkillers, medicines for stomach upset, allergies, iodine, saline, absorbent cotton, bandages)
- Sleeping bag (if you don't have one, this can be provided)
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners to keep kit dry.
- Insect repellent
- Day Pack
- Mobile charging packs
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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