Come as a tourist - leave as a friend!
At Shepherds House, our guests' experiences are of utmost importance to us. We strive to provide exceptional service and unforgettable adventures. Here are some reviews from our cherished visitors who have shared their thoughts after exploring the wonders of Kyrgyzstan with us.
Did a 12 day tour of Kyrgyzstan with Shepherds' House and it was the best decision we made. Right from planning the trip, to helping us with the visas, to executing the trip , everything was to perfection. They planned some amazing experiences like Kok-boru game in Song Kul , a traditional music performance in a yurt in Issyk Kul and the final Dungan meal in Karakol , memories which we will cherish forever. A big thanks to Saule and Jon for making our trip to this beautiful country really special . Would highly highly recommend them for planning your trip to Kyrgyzstan.
Epic, beautiful, soooo friendly and with a good challenge on the 3-day hike. Our guide Bahram was fantastic - knowledgeable, friendly and carried our food up to the pass on the hike. Highlights; 2-day horse trek over a pass to Song-Kul, a meltwater-fed freshwater lake. Thanks to our guide Canaat. 3-day hike outside Karakol, over the pass to hot water springs. Could not recommend Shepherd’s House more highly!
Jonathan's experience leading countless hikers throughout the incomparable beauty of the mountains of Kyrgyzstan truly stands out as nothing short of amazing! He is a true "people person" who's God-given intuition enables him to work equally well with the novice hiker or an experienced outdoorsman. You can't go wrong in trusting your trip to Jonathan and his super team! Get the most out of your Kyrgyzstan experience by letting Shepherd's House lead your expedition!
The word that comes to mind is INCREDIBLE! The attention to detail, and their hospitality is really amazing. I went to Karokol with friends and from the moment we arrived we were treated like kings. Jonathan and his wife Soule who run the company are there to make sure you have an amazing experience. If you are going to Kyrgyzstan make sure you visit Karakol and book all your tours and treks with Shepherd's House.
Our 14-day tour was super nice. We have seen a lot of Kyrgyzstan. Everything was super organized and we had a very nice and competent tour guide. The families we stayed with were super helpful and friendly. We would definitely do it the same again.
This was such a special trip for our family! Jonatha and Saule crafted a perfect trip to meet out travel needs with food allergies (dairy and gluten) and young kids, while still meeting our adventure goals. The horse trek exceeded our expectations (they were high to start) with tea, a picnic, and a breath-taking views. (see pix!)
We are now in love with Kyrgyzstan and Shepherd's House! We were constantly learning from Jonathan's wealth of knowledge as an arborist and equine caretaker/trainer/guide.
Second is that Saule and Jonathan have truly developed genuine relationships with many unique people and places around Kyrgyzstan, which means that you as the traveler get real authentic experiences and true connection with the people you encounter and meet. This is the real difference is that the places they take you to you are treated as an extended family member not a tourist. You truly get to have an insiders view into Kyrgyzstan.
Thirdly they open their house and generosity to you as if you are part of the fam. Their three young children were a big highlight for our son as he had buddies to integrate with such as having the freedom to roam their property, play in the mud and play in the street with the local kids.
Fourthly Jonathan is British (he speaks the local Kyrgyz language) and his wife Saule is Kyrgyz so you get this perfect blend of them understanding the needs of American and European travelers and close connection to local customs, mindsets and understanding the local people. We did a bit of horse trekking but one of the biggest requests I had for Saule and Jonathan is cultural experiences and they truly delivered by bringing us to so many different family homes where we ate interesting food, built yurts, learned how Shyrdaks are made (traditional Kyrgyz felt carpets) and truly see how people live and make a living in Kyrgyzstan.
Additionally Jonathan and Saule sorted out all our permits and Jonathan took us personally to the Chinese border where we swapped drivers and headed onwards to Kashgar China. Because of this portion of our trip I had a lot of back and forth, special requests, questions, paper work etc. but Jonathan always got back to us very quickly, and communicated well. We spent 6 days going around the different areas around Kyrgyzstan but honestly I wish we had more time to stay and explore together with their family as they were such fun people. If you value true human connection and an insiders view into the culture when traveling Shepherd's House truly delivers an insiders view into Kyrgyzstan."
These reviews highlight the dedication of Shepherds House to creating remarkable and enriching journeys for our guests. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the beauty and culture of Kyrgyzstan with travelers from around the world.
Plan Your Adventure