Essential Kyrgyzstan Packing List: My Most-Used Items for Horseback Riding in Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan is a bucket list destination for horseback riders, hikers and adventurers alike.

In late June, I had the opportunity to embark on an unforgettable twelve-day horseback riding adventure through Kyrgyzstan’s breathtaking landscapes. 

But before I even stepped foot into the Central Asian mountain paradise, I wondered exactly what to pack for horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan. I had never been backcountry trekking, let alone spent twelve days horseback riding in the rugged landscapes of Central Asia.

What kind of clothes did I need to wear for horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan? How can I pack my backpack as lightly as possible? How many pairs of socks do I need to bring (there’s only one right answer for every over-packer!)?

These were all questions I had before visiting Kyrgyzstan.

After twelve days riding through Kyrgyzstan’s unforgettable landscapes, I’ve refined my essential Kyrgyzstan packing list to the items I found most useful for an adventure-filled trip.

Below is a list of the items I used most frequently for my horseback riding adventure in Kyrgyzstan – the most essential items to add to your Kyrgyzstan packing list!

What to Pack for Horseback Riding in Kyrgyzstan (My Most-Used Items)

Power Bank(s)

I traveled around Kyrgyzstan with two power banks in my daypack – a lightweight, 10,000 mAh Anker power bank and a more durable 20,000 mAh Anker power bank. 

After doing extensive research about which portable charger is the best for traveling, I settled on Anker powerbanks for their reliability and fast charging capabilities. 

I was able to charge my iPhone to full capacity without recharging the powerbank three times with the 10,000 mAh Anker power bank and six times with the 20,000 mAh Anker power bank.

The 20,000 mAh Anker power bank proved to be useful in efficiently charging both my drone battery pack (DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More kit) and the drone remote, which usually requires ~60 minutes per battery (three batteries total!) and ~90 minutes for the remote.

With both my phone and my drone needing frequent charging, I found both these Anker charging tools to be useful along the treks. On the rare occasion we had electricity, my power banks were first in line for charging!

UPF-rated Gloves

The BEST thing I purchased for my horseback riding adventure in Kyrgyzstan was a pair of UPF-rated sun gloves.

Time and time again, I found myself reapplying sunscreen on my face and neck as we rode over the steep, high-elevation mountain passes of Kyrgyzstan. Even with layers of sunscreen covering my face and neck, I still got burned!

Among the riders who didn’t have protective gloves, every one of them had burned hands. Luckily, with my protective sun gloves – which I double as my driving gloves back home – my hands stayed perfectly protected from sun damage. 

I highly recommend the Solibari UPF-rated touchscreen-compatible gloves, which can be used for many applications like biking, hiking, driving, and horseback riding. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, gardening gloves work well too (I brought gardening gloves as well)!

Sunscreen (LOTS of it!)

Even at the cooler, high-elevation landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, you’ll want to come prepared with lots of sunscreen!

There were countless travelers along the Song Kul trek with bright red sunburns on their faces, necks, and hands. And I was one of them for a few days of the trek. 

When I’m not traveling, I spend lots of time outside in the sun volunteering at my local rescue ranch and my go-to sunscreen is this Blue Lizard mineral sunscreen.

Blue Lizard mineral sunscreen, which is GREAT for sensitive skin, made it all the way to Kyrgyzstan with me – one of my most used items in my dayback, along with the sun gloves. 

I’ve tried every sunscreen on the market – from lightweight, tinted SPF moisturizers to heavy zinc oxide “paints” – and I’ve never once gotten burned with Blue Lizard’s mineral sunscreen. Did I mention that this dermatologist-approved, Australian sunscreen is free from harmful chemicals?

Fleece-lined Hiking Pants

Despite my desperate attempts to pack light, several outfits made it into my 60L backpack for my Kyrgyzstan trip, but never actually made it to the outfit rotation.

However, the two pairs of fleece-lined hiking pants I brought with me to Kyrgyzstan were my most-worn clothing items! 

If you’re planning to visit Kyrgyzstan in the summer, you’ll be surprised when you arrive in Bishkek, the capital city, and experience the blazing Central Asian summer heat. The higher elevation regions, including many of the alpine lakes like Song Kul and Kel Suu, have a MUCH different climate than Kyrgyzstan’s capital.

Even with the cozy furnace warming our yurts, I still slept in my fleece-lined hiking pants. They’re layerable, comfortable enough to wear during the day and at night, and have accessible pockets for active riders.

Don’t let Kyrgyzstan summer fool you – many of the camps get chilly at night! My fleece-lined pants were the best item I brought with me to Kyrgyzstan.

Reusable Water Bottle

Leave no trace, bring your reusable water bottle!

Contrary to popular belief, horseback riding exerts a lot of energy. In combination with the blazing Central Asian sunshine and the strenuous, full-body workout, you’ll need to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. 

A lightweight, reusable water bottle is the most important thing to carry with you in your daypack – especially when you’re hiking or riding at high altitude or remote landscapes. Additionally, adding electrolytes can make all the difference in your energy and recovery!

Water Filtration Tools

I wasn’t sure how clean the water would be at many of the local camps around Kyrgyzstan, so I decided to splurge and purchase the Sawyer Squeeze 2L water filtration system.

The Sawyer Squeeze system is packable and versatile for many types of outdoor adventures so it’s a worthy purchase for the avid outdoor adventurer. I’m hoping to get more into rugged backpacking, so I plan to use my Sawyer Squeeze more in the future!

Many of the camps source their water from local mountain springs, so purchasing a water filtration system is not absolutely necessary. However, most of the travelers I met carried some sort of small filtration straw/system for water filtration.

There are lots of water filtration systems on the market, but the Sawyer Squeeze with the 2L bladder was a perfect filtration tool for our small group of four. 

I valued the peace of mind knowing my water was “somewhat” clean (the Sawyer website claims the filter removes up to 99.9999% of protozoa and 100% of microplastics). 

As always, make sure you are sourcing your water from running sources (for example, mountain springs or flowing rivers) and treat or filter it to reduce the risk of contamination or illness.

Small Backpack for Multi-day Rides

While the large backpack (40 – 60L) is great for lugging your stuff from country to country, you’ll want to pack a small backpack for short treks in Kyrgyzstan.

Oftentimes your horseback riding guide in Kyrgyzstan will carry the group’s backpacks in a large saddle bag that fits over the saddle. It is important to keep your daypack light and bring only the essential items with you in your small backpack. 

A change of clothes and toiletries are the only necessities. However, I also traveled with some of my camera gear, including my ancient 2011 Canon DLSR, usually slung around my shoulders, and my newer DJI Mini 4 Pro drone kit, carried by my guide. 

If there’s space in the saddle bag, you might be able to fit a few pillow pets 😀

Wet Wipes

You’ll get used to “roughing it” when you travel to Kyrgyzstan for a remote, off-grid horseback riding adventure.

This includes going several days without a hot shower. 

If you’re lucky – and daring – you’ll find local lakes and rivers to swim in, offering thrill-seeking adventurers the chance to “wash” the day’s dirt away. Otherwise, I recommend bringing a small package of wet wipes for “cleaning” off after a long day of riding.

I searched online endlessly for unscented, bio-degradable wipes for sensitive skin, and the best wipes I found for backcountry camping and horseback riding were the Dude Wipes! 

Though primarily marketed to men – “Dude” Wipes, duh! – for their large size and masculine packaging, these unscented, aloe vera infused wipes work PERFECTLY for a quick body wipe after a long day of riding and hiking. No shower necessary.

After using the Dude Wipes for twelve straight days of rugged riding and active outdoor adventures, I can confidently say these wipes kept me looking and feeling fresh. Dude Wipes make a great addition to your Kyrgyzstan packing list.

Sunglasses with a Strap

This one seems pretty self explanatory. 

Next to the Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen in your backpack, you’ll want to pack some polarized sunglasses with a strap for active riding and hiking. 

I never thought I would use the strap that came with my sunglasses until I started my twelve-day horseback riding adventure in Kyrgyzstan – as we galloped at a racing pace, I was glad to have some protection against losing my glasses to the Kyrgyz landscapes.

Polarized sunglasses with a safety strap are an essential item to add to your packing list for Kyrgyzstan.

A Gaiter or Face Mask

Multi-purpose and highly functional, gaiters or face masks are a great addition to your Kyrgyzstan packing list for dust and sun protection along the rugged landscapes. 

A face mask was the one thing I didn’t bring with me to Kyrgyzstan – but after realizing the mask’s versatile use for dust and sun protection, I purchased a mask in Altan Arashan for the trek to Ala Kul. 

A Deck of Cards or UNO

I was lucky enough to travel with a group of card-playing adventurers because I forgot to bring a deck with me to Kyrgyzstan!

Many of the yurt camps have limited cell phone service (if any at all). Alas, the “civilized” return to their “primitive” pre-cell phone ways. Off-grid entertainment consisted mostly of soccer games with the locals, storytelling, and playing games.

Card games like spoons and UNO were a fun way to pass the time and meet other travelers in a distraction-free setting with unforgettable scenery. UNO is also a great way to learn the colors in Kyrgyz!

Do yourself a favor and add a deck of cards or the game of UNO to your packing list for Kyrgyzstan.

Portable Toiletries

While you may not enjoy the luxury of a hot shower while you horseback ride in Kyrgyzstan, you’ll still need to maintain clean hygiene!

Travel-sized toiletries are important to bring in your backpack for your multi-day horseback riding adventure — consider packing a compact travel toiletry kit like this one, which keeps your essentials organized and easy to access on the trail.

Camera and/or Drone

My dad’s 2011 Canon Rebel DSLR camera has become a worthy addition to many of my international adventures, and Kyrgyzstan was no exception!

With countless unforgettable landscapes, unique cultural experiences, and photo-worthy adventures, Kyrgyzstan is the perfect place to perfect (or build) your photography skills.

I carried my camera with me everywhere, capturing beautiful scenes of Kyrgyz life. That clunky old DSLR survived every bounce on horseback 😜.

Additionally, I recently purchased a drone to film the beautiful landscapes of Kyrgyzstan from above. My DJI Mini 4 Pro has been an epic addition to my growing collection of photography equipment! 

Kyrgyzstan currently has no drone regulations, however general drone regulations apply.

I hope this extensive Kyrgyzstan packing list makes your life easier as you embark on an epic adventure in Kyrgyzstan!

Just visited Kyrgyzstan? Comment below ⬇️ the most used items from your Kyrgyzstan packing list! I’d love to hear what items you used most frequently!