Song-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan: Travel Guide for Horse Treks and Yurt Stays
Song-Kul, also written Son-Kul, is a high mountain lake in central Kyrgyzstan, at 3,016 m in the Naryn region. In summer, shepherd families bring their herds to the pastures around the shore and set up their yurts, and the lake becomes one of the best places in the country to see nomadic life. KAGAN is a local tour operator based in Toktogul. Here is what you need to know before you go.
Song-Kul at a glance
- Altitude: 3,016 m, so nights are cold even in July and August.
- Size: about 29 km long, the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan after Issyk-Kul.
- Region: Naryn, in the middle of the country.
- Season: mid-June to mid-September, when the yurt camps are open.
- Stay: yurt camps run by shepherd families, with simple beds and home-cooked meals.
When to go
The yurts go up in June and come down in September. July and August are the warmest months, with green pastures and the most herds. In June and September you see fewer travellers, but nights can drop below zero and snow is possible. From October to May the lake is frozen and the roads over the passes are usually closed by snow.
How to get there
Song-Kul is about 300 km from Bishkek. Most travellers go through Kochkor and reach the lake over a mountain pass by 4×4. The most rewarding way is on horseback: in two or three days you ride over the hills from the villages below, cross a pass and see the water appear in front of you. You can also come from the south over the Moldo-Ashuu pass and its many switchbacks.
What to expect
Days are bright and the sun is strong at this altitude, so bring sunscreen and a hat. Nights are cold: pack a warm jacket, a hat and gloves, even in summer. There is no mobile signal in many places around the lake, and the camps have little electricity. Life is simple: you eat with the family, try kymyz, the fermented mare’s milk, if you like, and watch the herds come back in the evening.
Our tours to Song-Kul
Prices depend on group size and drop as the group grows. Travelling alone or as a couple? Ask us to join a group.
Questions about Song-Kul
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