It is only possible to visit Song Kul until the end of September, as later in the season the lake becomes inaccessible due to snow. In its place, we offer the scenic mountain valley of Chon Kemin. See below for the different itineraries for today, depending on your selected departure.
Until 25 September: Kochkor – Song-Kul
In the morning we will learn how boorsok (deep fried bread, a speciality of Kyrgyzstan) is made and we will eat it for breakfast. Ready for the day, we will start our ascent towards the mountain lake of Song Kul. The lake is not very far from Kochkor, but due to bad road conditions, it is still quite a long and bumpy ride (c. 3 hours). Song Kul is at an altitude of 3016 m above the sea level. Nomads spend the summer months on the jailoo (summer pasture) with their animals. We will arrive in time for lunch, which will be served in the yurt camp. You will have free time in the afternoon to walk to the lake shore (about 3 km) or to horse ride and observe nomadic life. We will also watch a match of Kok Boru – an exhilarating spectacle of traditional horsemanship.
Overnight in a yurt (2 people in a yurt, shared western toilets outside, simple shower)
After 25 September: Chon Kemin – Kochkor
In the morning we will learn how boorsok (deep fried bread, a specialty of Kyrgyzstan) is made and we will eat it for breakfast. Ready for the day, you can walk into the village and observe the lives of local people; or opt for a short horse ride into the surrounding hills. We will also have a chance to watch a match of Kok Boru – an exhilarating spectacle of traditional horsemanship. After lunch, we will drive for about two hours through the mountains to the village of Kochkor. Before dinner, you will see a demonstration of how shyrdak (traditional felt carpets) are made. Dinner will be in a family guesthouse and you will spend the night in a simple hotel.
Overnight at Nomad Lodge or similar