Taming and milking horses started in Kazakhstan 5500 years ago and continues to this day, so it would seem Kazakhstan is a natural place for a horse riding adventure. It’s a beautiful place for a horse ride, and horses are still a big part of the culture.
Compared to horse riding in Kyrgyzstan, though, Kazakhstan is far behind. Horse riding tours are still difficult to organise. Tourism is just getting started in Kazakhstan. But we have found a select few operators who are adept at organising the logistics for a horse riding tour.
If you have more time and would like to strike out on your own, you can rent a horse yourself with the help of a local translator or guide if you don’t speak the language. If you are planning a big, seasons-spanning horse-ride through Kazakhstan, consider buying horses.
Horse riding tours
After years of searching, vetting and improving, we are happy to introduce a number of affordable horse riding tours, in different parts of Kazakhstan. What you find below are templates for your inspiration – they can all be customised to your needs.
Some are real horse riding tours, with focused riding every day, while others just have a day or a half day of riding as an introduction. In many cases, trekking tours can easily be transformed into horse riding tours.
On-the-spot horse rental
If you don’t want to go on a full-blown horse riding tour, but you would still like to see a bit of Kazakhstan from up high, you can do that too.
At the Kolsai Lakes near Almaty, you can rent a horse for a half or a full day. At Aksu-Zhabagly national park, park rangers can usually supply you with a horse and an itinerary for anything from an hour to a couple of days without advance notice.
Buying a horse
There is some bureaucracy involved in owning a horse in Kazakhstan, including a national horse passport. Regional livestock markets on the outskirts of the big cities are the best places to buy a horse.
We are not certain what the price for a decent riding horse is in Kazakhstan these days. Best to do your own research.
