Tien Shan Deep Dive

Five days to go further: deeper into the mountains, deeper into yourself, alongside Dinara and a team who know this land inside out.

What's included

Everything in Steppe Awakening
Two additional horse sessions
A full-day ride into the high valleys
One-on-one time with Dinara
Extended one-on-one time with Dinara

Who it's for: guests processing something bigger: grief, a major transition, longer-standing anxiety or PTSD, who need more than three days to unwind.

Apply for the Deep Dive

This isn't therapy and isn't a substitute for medical or mental health treatment. If you're in crisis, please contact a licensed professional or local emergency services first.

Day by Day

Five Days, Hour by Hour

No rigid schedule beyond this rhythm, the herd and the weather still have a say.

Arrival

Transfer from Almaty, tea by the fire, and a look at your yurt. No orientation session, just an invitation to sit down whenever you're ready.

First Steps with the Herd

Your first session near the horses: mostly proximity, sitting, watching, no task handed to you yet.

The High Valley Ride

A full-day ride further into the mountains than a shorter retreat ever reaches, lunch packed, back by evening fire.

One-on-One Time

Extended time with the herd and with Dinara individually, for whatever the first three days have brought up.

Departure

A slower morning, a last walk out to the herd if you want it, then the drive back to Almaty in the afternoon.

Questions About the Deep Dive

Before You Apply

Why five days instead of three?

Three days is enough for a first reset. Five gives room for what comes after that: the harder material, the full-day ride, real one-on-one time. If you're processing something bigger, the extra time matters.

How much riding experience do I need for the high valley ride?

None. The ride is at a walking pace and paced to the group, not a test of skill. If you can sit comfortably on a horse for a few hours, you're ready.

Can I get one-on-one time with Dinara?

Yes, it's built into the retreat, not an add-on. Day four is set aside specifically for it.

Other Ways In

Compare the Retreats

A horse standing calmly in a meadow at sunset

3 Days · From $1,110

Steppe Awakening

A shorter, self-contained reset if five days isn't the fit right now.

A group of friends gathered around a campfire at night, warm firelight

Custom · From $250/night

Family & Group Retreats

Bring your own people, on your own terms.

Have questions? See the full FAQ →

From the Journal: Eagle Hunters of the Tien Shan · Why Semi-Wild Horses Heal Differently