Our trip to Kyrgyzstan was an unforgettable experience thanks to the incredible team who organized and guided us throughout. We started in Jyrgalan, went on to Boz Uchuk lakes, and then to stunning Almaluu, to Altyn Arashan, traveling much of the way by horseback with the wonderful horse guides, Sunjar and and his young cousin (and Nomad Games professional in-the-making), Aryet. Bakyt served as both our horseback and trekking guide, leading us through breathtaking routes on foot to Ala Kul, Karakol Gorge, Telety Gorge and Jeti Oguz on foot. He went above and beyond to ensure our comfort at every step—whether helping to get us situated in our yurts (which are Spartan, but clean and fit for purpose) or taking the time to engage in meaningful conversation. We had a solid breakfast each morning, a packed lunch for the journey, and arrived each day at the next camp to a hefty afternoon tea followed later by a delicious dinner.
Coming back to our guide: my wife and I have done a lot of trekking around different parts of the world and can comfortably say Bakyt is the best guide we've ever had. We're not as fit as we once were, but we have lived and traveled in many countries and would have been comfortable doing this trek without a guide. However, we cannot more highly recommend going with a guide like Bakyt. We knew immediately that we were in considerate and capable hands and that we could relax and enjoy our vacation. His love for Kyrgyzstan and sharing the culture, language, food, history, and nature with guests is palatable. We also admired his helpfulness to other camp staff members (collecting dishes at meals) and to other trekkers (ushering down two trekkers from a pass who would likely have not made it down without his help). He completely made the trip!
Daniyar, one of the owner-operators of Kyrgyz Life, did a fantastic job organizing the entire trip, ensuring everything ran smoothly from start to finish, and answering all of our questions beforehand. And Ali, our porter, brought such positive energy, trekking tips and support that made the journey even more enjoyable. And lastly, we had the wonderful, prompt, and professional Alisher who drove us from Bishkek to Karakol and later from Issyk Kul to Bishkek. We are deeply grateful to the whole team for making this adventure so seamless, memorable, and special.