Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd.
These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.
Review received from (W of Birr on 23/09/2011
Ride Review
Unicorn Trails sales staff
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Riding tour leader
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Great holiday. Any 'gripes' I make do not detract from the fact that I had a wonderful time and the 3 of us got on very well.
Please contact me for any extra details.
Food was adequate but uninteresting! bread was very dry so I dipped in black tea! very little meat . When we visited shepherds & hunters there was meat on the bone which was much better cooked (in one case by our cook) so this may be something they don't offer to women. One night our driver caught small fish in the river. Fried superbly, they were delicious!!
Horses and Tack
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amazing horses, ideal for the terrain. Saddles (Kyrgyz) very comfortable. Some trouble with girth sores. Horses had no brakes!! when they really got galloping! at a walk, could be sluggish. Just comments. Horses went for 11 long days existing on only the grazing they found! they were as full of going the day we finished as the day we started. Up and down sheer mountain passes accross wobbly bridges! fording rivers. No other horse I've ever ridden would have safely done what these horses did.
Meals
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Accommodation
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Miscellaneous
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tents. The groundsheet was inadequate (moisture on it in morning) we had waterproof ponchos that we put under us. Nights were very cold and I think our sleeping bags should have been checked before we left Barskoon. I expected it to be a 'no frills' trip! but make sure to add toilet paper to the list! We were given no bottled water (this has been in unlimited supply on other trips) boiled water was given when we asked for it.
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Ishen met us at the airport, took us to breakfast, which we paid for (small money but we thought all meals except dinner on last night was included) we stopped at supermarket and it was suggested we bought bottled water for the journey, which we did.
We arranged with Ishen to get to Bishkek on our return to Barskoon to have 2 nights in the hotel and a full day shopping in the market. I think this full day makes all the difference. Also hotel in ensuite! with proper bath & shower (also swimming pool!) Shepherds Way guest house in Barskoon was very friendle, clean and nice. But! toilet (flush floor type) is down the garden and so called, sauna, is hot water and basin in a warm outhouse. On return we washed here and ate an evening meal before being taken to Bishkek (Ishen does not like driving , or being driven at night and we saw why!) Our van ran out of fuel at the end of the ride and we spent 2 hours+ waiting for someone to bring some! But I think if it could be arranged that after eating lunch at the end of the ride, we were taken direct to Barskoon, without washing or eating again, we were taken direct to Bishkek and the hotel, arriving maybe 9pm, evening meal arranged for arrival and then have full last day in Bishkek with the guide/interpreter who was provided (who was a great help)
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riding not actually difficult, but not for the faint-hearted! those who have a fear of heights or claustrophobic, or can't trust their horse would not enjoy it.
We had 1 scary gallop because 2 people allowed their horses to be out of control without realising how it affected others. I don't like feeling 'out of control'! one we had explained this to Bukit our guide there was no problem
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Hoping to book in for a holiday nearer home and civilisation with Anne when we get the insurance refunded. Just so glad her 'whoopsie' did not happen in Kyrgyzstan. Our team had no radio backup and there was no mobile coverage while we were on the trail. A truly beautiful country, and people genuinely friendly.
Thanks for such detail Jan, we've tweaked the itinerary to allow plenty of time in Bishkek (with swimming pool!)and made recommendations to Ishen
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