Our Story
Born in the Mountains.
Built for the World.
Beyond Steppe is not a company. It is a promise. To show you what Kazakhstan truly is, through the eyes of someone who has loved it her whole life.
Your Host
Meet Dinara
I was born in the shadow of the mountains outside Almaty. I grew up watching the world misunderstand my home.
For too long, the only image of Kazakhstan was a caricature. Every time someone laughed at the word "Borat," I felt the weight of everything they were missing.
They don't know the silence of the steppe at dawn. The warmth of strangers who treat you like family. The ancient wisdom of people who have lived in harmony with the land for centuries.
Beyond Steppe is my answer. Not a tourist package. A real, immersive invitation to heal and discover what Kazakhstan truly is.
I read every application personally. I choose the horses for each session. I sit with you around the fire and answer every question. This is not a business I run from an office. It is my home, and I am inviting you in.
The Place
The Tien Shan Mountains
The Tien Shan — "Heavenly Mountains" in Chinese — stretch across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. Our retreat sits in the Kazakh range, where the steppe meets the peaks. This is where the horses roam free, where the nomadic families still live as they have for centuries, and where the silence is so complete you can hear your own heartbeat.
The Steppe
Endless grasslands that change color with the seasons. Green in spring, gold in autumn, white in winter. Home to wild horses, eagles, and a silence that resets your nervous system.
The Mountains
Peaks rising to 4,000 meters, glaciers feeding rivers, alpine meadows. The air is thin, the sky is enormous, and the stars at night look like they are close enough to touch.
The People
The families who host you have lived here for generations. They do not perform culture for tourists. They simply live it, and they invite you to live it with them for a few days.
The Mission
Why Beyond Steppe Exists
There are thousands of wellness retreats around the world. Most of them are in places that are easy to reach, easy to market, and easy to understand. Kazakhstan is none of those things.
That is exactly why it matters. The steppe does not perform. It does not try to impress you. It simply exists, ancient and wild, and if you meet it with honesty, it changes you.
We are not trying to build the biggest retreat in the world. We are trying to build the most honest one. Small groups. Real families. Wild horses. No filters. No scripts. Just the land, the animals, and the space to finally hear yourself think.
Small Groups Only
We never take more than 10 guests per retreat. The 7-day Berkut Pass is limited to 4. Intimacy is not a marketing word here. It is the only way this works.
Real Families
The nomadic families who host you are not actors. They are the people who have lived on this land for generations. You sleep in their yurts, eat their bread, and hear their stories.
Wild Horses
Our horses are not therapy animals. They are semi-wild herd horses who live in the mountains year-round. They have not been trained to please humans. They have been left alone to be horses. And that is exactly why they heal.
Ready?
Come Meet Us
Spaces are limited. Early bird pricing ends 60 days before each departure. If you feel called to this, apply now.
View Retreats & ApplyLast updated: July 27, 2026