The Kyrgyz Horse Expedition

There comes a time for every dedicated traveller to blaze a trail of their own on an expedition. We've marked the Kyrgyz summer of 2011 as that time for us.

3 horses, 6 months, 2500km of trail to be blazed. It's a very serious undertaking – one that will take us beyond the pale of regular travel and onto the ancient bridle paths of the Silk Road. We'll be responsible for the safety of the animals we travel with as well as our own necks, and ambassadors to isolated people who rarely, if ever, encounter foreigners. It's not something we're going to enter into lightly, so we've already spent half a year planning and have set tasks for ourselves throughout 2010 to help us get ready for the journey.

There's a plethora of knowledge we need to acquire, language to learn, skills to practice, fitness training and careful preparation to be done. We won't be following a path anyone has taken before.

It won't be our first time travelling in Central Asia, but it will be the first time we'll negotiate the valleys and passes of the Tien Shan, Alay, Ferghana & Pamir ranges with our own horses and without a guide. We've never been so excited or so cautious about planning a journey.

If it sounds like your cup of tea, too, then read on :)