Snow, Saunas and Yurts in Kyrgyzstan

So glad I booked onto this trip!! One of my favourite MBA experiences. This trip was carefully thought out to highlight some fascinating places of Kyrgyzstan. Fabien's pre arrival information was great and set the scene of being very well looked after throughout the tour The guides were just brilliant, going above and beyond! Victor, Mirsaid and Slava were caring, knowledgeable, and totally brought the vibe!! They added lots of surprise additions to the experience along the way. Yes the journeys were long but was always worth it once arrived with every accommodation comfortable and cosy with the hosts kind and generous. Choosing the winter edition tour in the snow added atmosphere to the journeys, places to stay and made the horse riding even more epic! (Hand warmers and feet warmers for the horse ride was useful) Enjoying the natural hot springs was a highlight for me and learning about Nomadic traditions.

The food was delicious of breads, dumplings, salads and stews. There was copious amount of it, you will never go hungry and I really enjoyed shared dinners in the company of my top fellow travellers.

I cannot recommend this trip or company enough! Come see why everyone is talking about Kyrgyzstan.

We had no idea what to expect going into this experience, but we had a really great time. There were some pretty long driving days, but it really felt like the locations we visited were unique and very intentionally selected, and they did their best to break it up as much as possible, and the scenery along the way was incredible, and the driver’s skill was pretty impressive. The food was really good, even for the vegetarians- I feel like I need to go back when pumpkin dumplings are in season- and we felt really cared for in all of the guest houses. The only downsides for us were the long car rides, but I wouldn’t change any of the stops, just be prepared with a book- Fabien has great book recommendations! Also Victor and Мир-Саид were absolutely incredible guides!

We visited some stunning remote places and I really felt I could see where my money was going. Victor, Fabien and Messaid were always so helpful, kind and knowledgeable about the areas and just questions about the country generally. Slava was a fabulous driver and I always felt safe with him driving the van. It was also great that MBA sorted our airport transport which was a nice extra touch- the guides went above and beyond! I really appreciated making accommodations like offering a hike/ snow shoeing instead of horse riding. I want to back and do a Summer trip now!

Even though we moved accommodation each night and covered a lot of miles the trip still felt like a total recharge/reset!

The scenery was incredible from the first day; snow capped mountains and blue sky.

All of the activities were well paced and inclusive from horse riding to canyon walking. Particular highlights of the trip included staying in a cozy yurts in 1. 5 meters of snow, enjoying cold lake plunges from a sauna boat and delicious homemade dumplings!

This review will be very similar to all of the others. This trip is just epic, the itinerary is very well planned considering the distances that are travelled over the short time. There are so many memorable highlights throughout the 10 days. The scenery is jaw-dropping. Victor and Adyl, along with our driver, Slava deserve a shout out. They are truly proud and passionate about the country and sharing this with the group. I will be back in the near future. Thank you.

Had an Amazing time with MBA. Such a beautiful country and people. Both Victor and Adyl were brilliant guides, so helpful, fun and kind. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone considering visiting Kyrgyzstan

A most wonderful jam packed week. Every day was such a treat, with non-stop jaw droppingly magnificent landscapes everywhere, literally everywhere, even the long road journeys were a delight.

We saw and did so much it’s hard to believe it was only a week. I cannot recommend this trip enough.

The guide was fabulous and fun, the driver was excellent and very safe (the road journeys are long but the van is comfortable and there are stunning views every minute of each hour). Every place we stayed we were welcomed very warmly and treated to SO MUCH delicious food. You will not go hungry!

The listed itinerary is accurate, it’s hard to pick a highlight, there is nothing not to like. I’m not sure there’s many places a complete beginner can ride a horse through snowy mountains for 4-5 hours! It really was epic.

Practically… I took 100USD for tips and the few places we could buy a beer or a souvenir generally accepted card. I do wish I’d had some SOM though to tip the eagle hunter family. I found disposable foot warmers useful - even in winter boots my feet were cold at times. A pillow can aid comfort on some of the longer drives if you fancy a snooze (blankets are provided). I packed plenty of toilet paper but didn’t need any. One yurt was roasting, the other I found chilly so slept in my thermals. It’s communal sleeping but we each had plenty of personal space. Flying back a lot of us had only an hour connection between flights to various places - some missed their flight, and some only just made them by running but their bags didn’t join the flight (mine got to me 48hrs later). Istanbul airport is huge, an hour isn’t long enough.

Book the trip. It’s full of moments which will stay with you a long long time.

Victor, Adyl, Slava and Fabien did an amazing job creating an exciting itinerary and doing their part to make this an unforgettable experience. Each day was a 10/10. The other travelers in the group were great as well and really made it special. One thing I was unprepared for was how good the food was, each meal was a feast. I think I have to go on a diet now that I have returned. Thank you MBA for a wonderful trip.

I feel truly privileged to have been part of this amazing adventure. It felt like a personal tour by friends rather than strangers, who have clearly fallen in love with Kyrgyzstan. Stunningly beautiful, culturally rich, we ate amazing food in restaurants with no other tourists. We trekked, traversed and climbed remote, uninhabited dramatic landscapes, in the silence of wilderness. Kyrgyzstan is a melting pot of Middle Eastern, Turkish and Asian cultures, who have invaded and settled. Nomadic traditions of fermenting, produce delicious winter slaws which are both fragrant with dill and punchy with spice. Yaks milk cheese which when hardened, is shaved like a hard Feta - salty and tangy. Steamed dumplings 🥟 (Manty’s) that you pick up by hand, have an unctuous, silky, beef filling with beautifully soft casings, which you dunk in chilli and garlic sauce. The deep fried aubergine drizzled with sweet chilli was meltingly moreish. Piles of donut style pillow parcels and scallion pancakes (Kattama) with sour cream - as thick and creamy as Cornish Clotted. Our Last Supper was Plov rice (like a Pilaf, which tastes like it is boiled in a gelatinous bone broth) with sliced meat, baked garlic bulbs and quails eggs - a truly fitting feast to a fascinating week. This adventure was a digital and physical, emotional and spiritual detox away from the craziness of modern, Western life. Humbled by the kindness of hard working and proud people, life seemed simpler and more honest. Yurt living, sauna bathing, horse riding through thick snow and hot tubs over wood fires in crisp mountain air, that’s what life is about. Book now. Before everybody else does.

Having not done a group tour before I was a bit apprehensive of how I’d find it all. That apprehensiveness was soon to put to bed. From the guides and the locals to the other 11 adventurers and everyone in between the feeling was a happy mixture of welcome and excitement for what was to come.

The trip itself exceeded expectations, constantly surrounded by mountains that wouldn’t look out of place of any fantasy film. The itinerary has been crafted incredibly well, plenty to do and see without it feeling too crammed or rushed.

I honestly couldn’t recommend this trip enough. Thank you Fabien, Victor and Adyl!

I’ve just been on the Snow, Saunas and Yurts trip to Kyrgyzstan. This was my first experience of an organised, group trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kyrgyzstan is an amazing and stunningly beautiful country, and was the perfect picture in the winter snows. We were a group of 12 with two guides, Victor and Aidai and our driver, Slava. I cannot commend our guides and drivers enough! Victor and Aidai had expert knowledge of the country and our routes both on road and off and also knew how to look after us well. They were always cheerful, positive and enthusiastic. Slava was a superlative driver considering the mountainous terrain and the distances covered.

Our trip took in the mountainous region in the west of the country around Lake Issykul and up into the Tien Shan range. We had a couple of days pony trekking - which was just marvellous - these days we’re led by local horsemen and the horses were well trained and clearly used to carrying inexperienced riders. Travelling on horseback is a great way to see the snowy hills which would have been difficult to walk given the conditions. We also did a couple of walks, the best being along a gorge to the red rocks at Konorchok. I’m not particularly fit, but these were very manageable, and like the horse riding they enabled us to get off the beaten track.

Accommodation was variable, but all the places we stayed were welcoming and cosy although basic (for example, access to lavatories could be a bit challenging, but if you’ve been camping, it was no worse than is normal). They were a combination of family run guest houses, small hotels plus two nights in yurts. The latter require some communal sleeping arrangements. All these places also provided us with great, home cooked food - and the food was delicious! Wholesome soups and stews and some of the best winter salads and slaws I’ve ever had. Kimchi is a key ingredient in these and they were delicious! It’s also worth adding that I have severe intolerance to one of the key ingredients of Kyrgyz cuisine, but this was perfectly managed - for which I thank the organisers and all the cooks along our journey.

Highlights of the trip were visiting the high Tien Shan around the old Russian mining town of Enilchek and pony trekking at Jety Oguz, but I enjoyed every day. The weather was pretty good too. Apparently Kyrgyzstan has 300 days of sunshine per year and the weather did not fail us!

I am so glad I made this trip and recommend it without hesitation to anyone who enjoys the outdoors, loved mountains and wants to visit somewhere just a little bit different.

I booked the 28/12/2025 - 4/1/2026 trip dates with the aim to escape the hot Aussie summer and spend the end of 2025 somewhere completely different to gain new experiences. I had zero knowledge of Kyrgyzstan apart from what I saw on social media, the itinerary and reviews on the MBA website, so I came into this trip with no expectations! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip, the country and those that I travelled with, so much that I’m considering coming back in summer! Our group were all solo travellers and had similar mindsets of what we were expecting of this trip. I still remember our first lunch together where we went around the table saying why we came here and we said similar things: ‘I wanted to go somewhere different’, ‘I know nothing of Kyrgyzstan and want to know more’, ‘I don’t even know how to spell Kyrgyzstan so I figured this trip may help’ etc. My top experiences/memories of the trip:

1. NYE day – the whole day was magic and one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I don’t think I could have pictured a better NYE day in a different country other than my own. We stayed at an abandoned mining town called Enilchek near the border to China where only about 130 people still live to this day. Before the NYE celebrations started, we went to a natural hot spring in the nearby mountains where it’s only accessible during winter when the river water levels are low. There was no one else was there apart from us and the weather was perfect, we saw the most of amazing sunset colours ripping through layers of clouds while we floated in super warm waters. To cool off, we jumped in the nearby icy river for a cold plunge, never did that before but it was exhilarating! In the evening there was a NYE party planned for us at a local hall where a group of the locals surprised us with a disco night of dancing for hours to Kyrgyz music. We capped off the night to ring in the new year with a feast with our host family and lots of photos and videos. One for the books!

2. Kyrgyz food – I had no idea what kind of food was going to be served during this trip but everything I ate was incredibly delicious and filling!

3. Bus trip chats and our group – we spent quite a bit in the bus travelling between places with no mobile reception, so lots of conversations about anything and everything were made. It was nice and refreshing to disconnect from the online world and just spend time being in the moment and getting to know your fellow travellers. I loved our group, everyone was on the same mindset and vibes which made the experiences even better.

4. Saunas, saunas, saunas – if you love saunas, this is the trip for you! After a long day of travelling, it was amazing to jump into a sauna to relax. My favourite one had to be the one on the boat on Issky Kul lake!

5. Watching a game of Kok Boru – this wasn’t on the MBA itinerary but something our guide organised. One of the coolest things I watched!

A few tips:

*Money – I brought $150 USD in cash and had extra on a travel card. You won’t need much cash on this trip as most things are catered for, and given this trip was over NYE a lot of shops were closed, so trying to buy souvenirs may be difficult. Unfortunately, my travel card got eaten at one airport ATMs, so I recommend having cash on hand to exchange at a bank. In addition, bring notes that are new and crisp as the bank will unlikely accept used notes. I still had a digital travel card which I used a couple of times at shops that accepted cards.

*Horse riding – I’ve never ridden a horse before, but I managed to go both the 3-hour and 4. 5-hour riding days unscathed and full of pride that I rode a horse! So, if this is you, let your guide know and they will allocate a horse suitable for your experience. The last and longest horse-riding trip had the best views but note, it’s a quite a long journey and can be tiring, so if you feel you had your dip in horse riding there was an option to do some snow shoeing instead. Also, if you do this trip during winter, wear warm clothes particularly for your feet and hands, I found my feet were first to get cold. Some of the girls had feet warmers in their shoes, which in hindsight I thought was a brilliant idea.

*Clothing – I brought mainly hiking gear suitable for winter, but I could have gotten away with bringing a pair of jeans and casual t-shirts. This trip isn’t a proper hiking trip so you can get away with some casual wear, although I would recommend still have one merino base layers to keep you warm. Also, if you go in winter, you could get away with wearing snow boots instead of hiking boots as there wasn’t much hiking.

*Toilets/restrooms – a lot of toilets were squat toilets or drop holes. So, be prepared for that! I always carried in a zip-loc bag which included wet wipes, hand sanitiser, tissue paper and a head torch (if it was at night).

*Weather – the climate is quite dry, so my lips cracked. I recommend bringing some Lucas pawpaw ointment to help with this.

*Yurts – our first night in the yurt was incredibly hot and difficult to sleep in. If this happens to yours, just leave one of the yurt doors open to circulate the cool air outside.

I've been on several group trips before, but none compare to this one – it was truly an incredible experience. The itinerary was brilliantly planned, maintaining a nice pace with some fun surprises along the way. Our guides, Victor and Adyl, along with our driver, Slava, were exceptional in keeping us on track and running smoothly. Celebrating New Year's Eve in an abandoned Soviet mining town, soaking in natural hot springs, trying horse riding (even for me who isn’t great with horses, they were so easy to handle), enjoying saunas in unique spots – all amidst stunning scenery with the most amazing group of people – was unforgettable. I feel so fortunate to have been part of it. Thank you, MBA!

An incredible journey filled with variety and unforgettable experiences! It's amazing how much we managed to pack into just one week. The tour was thoughtfully designed, offering a perfect mix of sights, activities, and accommodations each day. The landscapes were truly breathtaking, ranging from snow-capped mountains to striking red sandstone formations.

If you're looking to escape the crowds and explore off the beaten path, this trip is ideal—we didn’t encounter a single other tourist throughout the entire week. The guides were exceptional, bringing boundless enthusiasm and making every moment enjoyable. Their passion for the country was evident, and they went above and beyond to ensure we had an amazing time.

The trip offers excellent value for money, with comfortable transportation. To top it all off, there was always plenty of delicious food to keep us energized. Truly a remarkable experience!

This tour was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The guides handled the logistics smoothly, which meant we could just focus on enjoying the trip. The itinerary was well-paced with a nice variety of activities without feeling rushed.

The natural scenery is breathtaking, and the tour did a great job showcasing different parts of the country. Each stop offered something interesting, whether it was the landscapes or learning about the local culture. Accommodations varied throughout the trip but were all cozy and comfortable, which was really appreciated after full days of exploring.

The trekking and horse riding were definite highlights. Both activities gave us authentic ways to experience the terrain and really get out into nature. The food was consistently good and genuinely local, which added a lot to the overall cultural experience.

One heads up: there’s a fair amount of bus travel between destinations, so bring whatever helps you stay comfortable on longer drives (neck pillow, music, etc. ).

Special mention to Viktor, our guide. His energy elevated the experience and his passion for Kyrgyzstan really comes through. He knows his stuff (and if he doesn’t, he’ll find out), and most importantly he keeps things fun and engaging.

I think this tour strikes a really nice balance between outdoor adventure and comfort. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-organised way to see Kyrgyzstan’s beautiful landscapes and experience the culture firsthand. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Can only highly recommend this trip. The pictures on the website don't do it justice - would say the actual experience was even better than the trip description suggested. Great country, amazing guides and a fantastic group. Would recommend to everyone to do this trip.

This trip was superb and exceeded all of my expectations. Kyrgyzstan’s landscapes and scenery are unmatched. Our guides and driver were top tier and really tried to take care of us - Victor is such a lovely human and is excellent at taking city-dwellers out into the wild! The group was also fantastic. The horseback riding felt like taking a trip through a spectacular movie set, the snowy mountain passes were beautiful, and the yurts were super cozy and (surprisingly) the warmest parts of the trip.

You don’t need to be a mountaineer or even a serious hiker to enjoy this trip. The entire day is planned out for you, so really you just need to show up. There is a fair bit of driving (unavoidable) and the horseback riding is real riding (i. e. not just taking a horse for a casual stroll around a pasture), so be prepared for that. Otherwise, make sure you pack plenty of warm layers, and bring some hand warmers.

The guide Victor was a top man and really made you feel at home. Absolutely off the beaten track experience going to the abandoned mining town, (optional) dip in the frozen river after warming up in the hot spring, gorgeous scenery while riding on horseback across the most stark and majestic landscape, and delicious Plov cooked by a Babushka in a yurt.

I recently returned from an incredible adventure with Much Better Adventures in Kyrgyzstan, and I can confidently say it was one of the most memorable trips of my life!

From the moment we arrived, the stunning landscapes took my breath away. The Tien Shan mountains are truly majestic, and riding horses through the snow-covered valleys was an unforgettable experience that added a magical touch to our journey.

This was my first time on a group tour, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The great group of people I traveled with made every experience even more enjoyable. We shared laughter, stories, and unforgettable moments.

Overall, I highly recommend the Much Better Adventures Kyrgyzstan trip.

Good trip overall. Beautiful landscapes and interesting, remote and isolated places. Accommodation was good and food acceptable. Lots of time spent on the road though. Fun and knowledgeable guides.

This is an absolutely stunning trip that I highly recommend to anyone interested in Kyrgyzstan. The best guided trip I have been on. It was an incredible journey with insane views of the Tien Shan mountains, phenomenal tour guides, beautiful places to stay, and lovely experiences with the warmth of Kyrgyz culture and hospitality. The beauty of Kyrgyz nature is mind-blowing, everyday we were provided with spectacular surrounding landscapes. Wow and the food was absolutely terrific. Stas and Victor, our fearless leaders, as well as Askhad, the amazing driver, are fantastic. I cannot speak highly enough of them. Stas and Victor provide a great balance of interesting Kyrgyz cultural information, humor, and take serious care of everyone on the trip 24/7. They are both highly motivated guides with such warm personalities. It was clear that our experience was their absolute priority and they were very attentive to the groups needs, ensuring we had a beautiful journey, while providing a lot of laughter along the way. Thank you Stas for teaching me about the Kyrgyz presidents. And thank you Victor for helping me and GangsterGranny with our hiking. But Askhad may be the sweetest. Askhad is a skilled driver who navigated the cold roads of Kyrgyzstan seamlessly and had the ability to always make us smile. Thank you also to the other travelers who made this trip so much fun! Staying in guesthouses and yurts along the way was an absolute pleasure, all of the accommodations are lovely and be prepared for many delicious feasts. The saunas and hot springs were an added delight to this trips excellent itinerary and are extremely special when you are spending time in the cold winter weather. If you are looking to spend time in exquisite natural beauty, meet other cool travelers, and have a genuinely amazing time in the beautiful nation of Kyrgyzstan do not miss out on this trip!!!!!

This is the trip that just keeps on giving. To sum up, the scenery, activities, the food, variety of experiences and accommodation plus the absolutely brilliant team of guides is just outstanding! Prepare for an exciting adventure and if you’re lucky enough to travel with Victor Stas & the Godfather, you are in for a treat. Victor is one of the most beautiful young men I’ve ever met. A true young gentleman who will look after you 100% ensuring you don’t get anxious and will fully enjoy the experience. Stas too will make sure you’re safe and having lots of fun but in his own unique way with sarcasm in abundance!! And the Godfather… our pet name for our wonderful driver. This man has unmatched driving skills and you will feel completely confident on the long and short journeys. Although his English is limited he communicates effectively and is always checking you’re ok. This is an adventure not to be missed. Kyrgyzstan is truly beautiful and MBA has designed a brilliant trip. Thanks to my fellow travellers too. You made this epic xxx

This was my 8th MBA trip and without a doubt one of my favourite.

Everything about the trip was perfect. The scenery was beautiful, the activities varied and enjoyable, the guides and driver were caring, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the food was amazing.

A few highlights of the trip include exploring the abandoned buildings of Enilcheck, horse riding in deep snow among breathtaking snow covered mountains, relaxing in saunas most evenings, and visiting some natural hot springs.

A few recommendations for the trip, explore in the evenings- go outside and search for some spots for stargazing. Be prepared that you may feel quite warm during some of the activities, I’d recommend plenty of T-shirts and at least one pair of thinner trousers. For one night we slept in sleeping bags in a yurt, I would recommend bringing a sleeping bag liner for this. You will get fed lots of tasty food, often there will be more than one course so do not fill up too early!

Looking for a holiday that matched a week off work I already had booked, I came across this trip. Deciding to book last minute, I feel incredibly lucky to have accidentally booked one of the best holidays of my life. There was no part of the trip that was a disappointment. The guides, Stas and Victor, kept the trip running smoothly and kept the laughs coming. We were in safe hands with our driver, Godfather, as he navigated high passes. The content of the trip was well paced and the scenery was some of the most stunning and breath taking I have ever scene, regularly questioning whether it was in fact CGI and we were in the Truman show. There is no one highlight that can be picked out as each day had one, whether it was horse riding over passes and through valleys, hot and cold between saunas and diving in snow, sitting in hot springs with an eagle circling above, exploring an abandoned soviet mining town or eating some of the best food I have ever eaten. I cannot recommend this trip enough.

Of the nearly-40 countries I’ve visited, Kyrgyzstan was a standout. The scenery was jaw-dropping. We hiked to untampered hot springs hidden beside frozen rivers as the night settled in; we rode horses through powdery snow, stunned by vistas of mountains that kept unfolding; we watched massive eagles train to hunt - and later caught the bus with them back into the town; we scrambled up a frozen creek through a steep red canyon.

A few people mentioned their concerns for my safety before the tour. Rest assured, you are in good hands! Victor and Stas were our enthusiastic guides who, in addition to sharing their expansive knowledge of Kyrgyzstan (both personal and historic), were entertaining and immensely helpful.

This tour is thoughtfully prepared, supports locals, is sustainably minded… and a whole lot of fun!

Before I left for the trip, I found myself wondering whether seven days would really be long enough to get a proper feel for the Kyrgyz winter landscape. But we managed to pack so much stuff in (hiking, horse riding x 2, jumping straight from the sauna into snow and ice-covered lakes, relaxing in an isolated mountain hot spring with no one else around, cultural activities like eagle hunting and visits to old Silk Road sites etc. ) that those doubts were thoroughly assuaged by the end! Excellent guiding team and great group dynamics too.

We booked this trip not quite sure what to expect, but wow, what an incredible trip. Kyrgyzstan is definitely a hidden gem when it comes to travelling. The scenery was stunning, from the red rocks of Konorchek Canyon through to the snowy peaks and icy roads of the Chon Ashuu Pass, the traditional yurt camps to the eerie ghost town of Enilcheck, we were constantly in beautiful and spectacular surroundings. The activities were varied and always great fun, and we were well looked after by the guides throughout. An amzing trip worth every penny!

Honestly don't know what I was expecting of Kyrgyzstan or the trip but my expectations were far exceeded in every way. Completely blown away. I've been to over 60 countries and have done several MBA tours and this is top 3 if not #1. We had so much fun and every day there was an incredible highlight. From stunning scenery, fun activities and wonderful food and hospitality. Our guides Stans, Victor and driver were wonderful and looked after us fantastically. No ask was too big. They were flexible to everyone's needs and wants and adaptable when things didn't quite go as planned. We cannot wait to go back in the summer. Incredible country, fantastic trip

What an otherworldly week this was! Everything about the trip — the guides and driver, my fellow travelers, the people we met along the way, and, of course, the winter wonderland backdrops of Kyrgyzstan — exceeded any expectations. (And my expectations were pretty high going into this adventure. ) Though consistently gorgeous, the scenery changed at every turn, from desertic red rocks to lush pine forests; steamy rivers to icy lakes; and eerie ghost dwellings to cozy villages. One of my favorite aspects of the trip was being welcomed into locals' homes and guesthouses for lovingly prepared meals on lavishly laid-out tables. Even as a vegetarian in a decidedly omnivorous corner of the world, I felt extremely well looked after.