Read here how to organize a multi-day trek to Song Kul Lake, including information on what to bring and where to stay on the way. You’ll also find 2 trekking itineraries to hike to Song Kol Lake independently.
Located at an altitude of 3000 meters, Song Kul Lake – Kyrgyzstan’s second largest lake – is a breathtaking destination. This pristine lake is surrounded by rolling hills and vast meadows, providing a picturesque setting for hiking.
As you traverse the trails, you’ll encounter panoramic views of the glistening lake, vibrant wildflowers, and the grazing herds of nomadic shepherds who call the region home.
Hiking in Song Kul is not just about the scenic beauty. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich nomadic culture, as the area is dotted with yurt camps where locals welcome visitors with warm hospitality.

Hiking around Song Kul Lake offers possibilities to hikers of all levels, with routes ranging from gentle strolls on the lake’s shore to more challenging ascents offering sweeping views of the lake and surrounding valleys. Along the way, you may spot marmots scurrying across the landscape and majestic eagles soaring overhead.

Lake Song Kul is not the easiest lake to access in Kyrgyzstan, but it’s worth the effort. Whether you want to go hiking as part of a multi-day trek or enjoy a day hike, the lake’s tranquility and beauty make it a great outdoor destination.
In this post, I’ll share how you can hike to Song Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, whether it’s independently or with a local guide.
Tip: See my Kyrgyzstan Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Kyrgyzstan!

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1. Why should you hike to Song Kul lake?
Hiking to Song Kul Lake allows you to experience many highlights of Kyrgyzstan in a condensed version. You’ll walk through rolling hills, and lush meadows, and cross some very high mountain passes where you can catch your breath and see miles in every direction before descending to the lake.

Beyond its natural beauty, hiking to Song Kul Lake offers a unique chance to experience Kyrgyzstan’s nomadic culture. The surrounding pastures, known as jailoos, are home to shepherds and their families who maintain centuries-old traditions.
Along the way, you’ll likely encounter grazing livestock, yurts, and warm hospitality, with opportunities to try local dishes like kumis (fermented mare’s milk) and fresh bread. This cultural connection adds a deeply personal and enriching dimension to the hike.
If you’re lucky, you could even attend a game of Kok Boru, a traditional Kyrgyz game played on horses.



2. Is it safe to hike independently to Song Kul lake?
Hiking independently to Lake Song Kul is a relatively safe adventure, thanks to the region’s well-trodden trails. The paths leading to the lake are popular among locals and visitors, making them easy to navigate and relatively straightforward for hikers of varying skill levels.
The area is also free from dangerous wildlife, and the hospitable nomadic families living in yurts along the way are always ready to assist travelers in need.

However, there are some potential dangers to be aware of:
The lake sits at over 3,000 meters above sea level, so altitude sickness can be a concern, especially for those unaccustomed to high elevations. It’s essential to pace yourself and stay hydrated to avoid symptoms like headaches and dizziness.
Weather conditions can also change rapidly in the mountains, bringing sudden rain, wind, or even snow, so proper clothing and trekking gear are crucial. Some trails may involve steep or uneven terrain, requiring sturdy footwear and cautious footing.

Before your trek to Song Kul Lake, tell someone about your plans. There’s no wi-fi or cell phone connectivity in the mountains so in the unlikely event that something happens and you need help, at least one person should know where you are going and how long you’re supposed to be gone for. Additionally, its remoteness means limited access to medical assistance, so bring a basic first aid kit.
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By being prepared and following basic hiking precautions, such as staying on marked trails, being mindful of the altitude, and preparing adequately for changing weather, you should be safe to go on an independent trek to Song Kul Lake. However, if it were up to me, I would never recommend going on a solo hike to Son Kul Lake or any other mountainous destination.
To ensure complete safety while hiking to Song Kul lake, I also recommend reading Things you need to know and do before you go trekking in Kyrgyzstan.
3. When is the best time to hike and visit Song Kul lake?
The best time to visit Song Kul Lake is between June and September. The weather is most stable and at its best during this time, although it’s still very unpredictable as you’re at an altitude of 3000 meters.
You can wake up and start walking with sunny and clear skies but a few hours later, it can rain heavily or even snow. Temperatures are mild during the day, usually between 10°C (50°F) and 20°C (68°F), allowing for comfortable hiking while the nights, though cool, are not dangerously cold, usually between 5°C (41°F) and 0°C (32°F).

Hiking to Song Kul Lake is also safest during these summer months when the trails are accessible. The snow from the high-altitude passes has melted, making the paths clear and easier to navigate.
Outside of summer, harsh weather conditions can make the hike significantly more dangerous. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures in the fall, winter, and early spring can render trails impassable and increase the risk of avalanches or frostbite.
Additionally, almost all the nomadic families move to lower altitudes for the colder months, leaving the area even more isolated and empty of yurt camps. For these reasons, summer is the ideal and safest season to explore and hike to the lake.
I strongly advise against hiking to Song Kul in winter. Temperatures can drop to -30°C (-22°F). If you really want to visit Song Kul in winter, I would advise contacting a reliable guide or travel company to arrange a 4×4 tour or horse riding tour to the lake.

4. How long does it take to hike to Song Kul lake?
Depending on where you start your journey, hiking to Song Kul Lake can take 1 day to 5 days.
If you start the hike from Kyzart village or Kyzart Pass, you can reach the lake in one or two days. If you start hiking from Kochkor on, it takes around 4 days to hike to Song Kul Lake.

5. Where to stay and eat during the hike to Song Kul Lake?
From early/mid-June until mid-September, you’ll find several yurt camps in the valleys surrounding the lake and many on the shores of Song Kol Lake. Most are hosted by local families, the majority of the yurt camps on the lake’s shore are from tourism organizations.
There are different sizes of yurts. If you’re staying at a camp of a local family, you’ll most likely have to share the yurt with other travelers. If you want a private yurt, you’ll need to book in advance in one of the tourist camps on the lake’s shore. If you’re not picky and don’t mind sharing a yurt with others, you don’t need to book in advance.
Staying at a tourist yurt camp costs around €25, breakfast and dinner included. When staying at the camp of a local family, you might negotiate price.

While you’ll always find a camp on the shore of Song Kul Lake, the yurt camps in the nearby valleys and jailoos have limited places so keep in mind – although chances are low – you might not always find sleeping place. When hiking with a bigger group (more than 4 people), you should also book the yurt camps in advance. Alternatively, you can bring camping gear.
Even if the yurt camp doesn’t have any sleeping space left, they usually have enough food to offer you a meal (in exchange for payment – around 800 KGS for a meal).

6. What should you bring on a trek to Song Kul?
For a trek to Song Kul Lake, it’s important to pack light but be prepared for changing weather, high altitudes (over 3,000m), and remote conditions. Pack versatile, think in layers, and aim for functional, comfortable, and fast-drying clothing, suitable for hiking.
Here’s are the essentials I recommend bringing for a hiking trip to Son Kul lake:
- GPS Apps: Maps.me, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc (download offline maps before you go)
- Rain gear: lightweight rain jacket and rain pants that can endure wind and rain and/or a poncho that can cover both you and your backpack.
- Sturdy and waterproof hiking boots
- Hiking socks
- Comfortable and fast-drying hiking cloths
- Down jacket for evenings or if it’s cold during the day on the mountain pass(es)
- Hat and sunglasses: to protect your head and eyes from the sun
- Woolen hat, scarf and gloves: for hiking on cold days
- Thermal underwear and/or fleece pyjamas: it can get freezing cold at night
- Sleeping bag liner: even if you’re staying at a yurt where they have blankets, it’s much more hygienic to sleep in one (the blankets don’t get washed daily) and they offer extra warmth.
- Hiking poles
- Head lamp: essential for at night
- Water bottle with filtration system: also foresee enough water to last you at least one day
- First Aid Kit: Band-aids, painkillers, altitude sickness pills (optional), personal medication
- Toiletries: Biodegradable wet wipes and toilet paper, toothbrush/paste
- Power bank: No electricity in remote areas
- Swimming gear: if you dare to swim in the lake (water temperature around 5°C (41°F) in summer)
- Cash to pay for your yurt stay and meals

If you organize your trek through an agency, they will take care of the lodging and food. You’ll be sleeping in yurts along the way and eating home (yurt)made traditional Kyrgyz food. This means you only have to bring your clothes and personal essentials.
The yurt camps in the nearby valleys, like Kilemche, have limited spaces. You might consider bringing camping gear.
You should always find a meal at the yurt camps but bring in any case high-energy food and snacks too.

7. How difficult is the hike to Song Kul Lake?
The difficulty depends on the route you choose, your fitness level, and weather conditions.
Most routes involve steep mountain passes and some sections are rocky and very exposed. On top of that, you’ll also have to deal with the altitude. Song Kul Lake lies at 3000 meters and most passes are between 3200m and 3500m. Even if you’re super fit, you’ll feel the altitude. There’s also the risk of altitude sickness, especially if you ascend too fast.
The weather can change very quickly, from sunshine to rain to snowfall and back to sun. You can experience 4 seasons in one day. The nights can be very cold with temperatures dropping to 0°C or lower so bring proper rain gear and warm layers.
You’ll be hiking on remote terrain with no phone or Wi-Fi signal and barely any people around. You must be confident, self-sufficient and/or rely on the yurt camps for food and accommodation.
I don’t recommend any of the multi-day hikes to beginners unless you’re going with a guide and have done plenty of exercises beforehand.

8. Can I get to Song Kul Lake on horseback?
Yes! Riding a horse to Song Kul Lake is one of the most popular and traditional ways to reach it. The region is famous for its nomadic culture, and locals have used horses for centuries to travel across the mountains.
You’ll find all the information about horse riding to Song Kul Lake in my post: How to organize a horse riding trip to Song Kul Lake.
Ride across the high alpine pastures of Kyrgyzstan and experience the magic of Song Kul Lake on horseback, together with local guides and fellow adventurers.

9. What are reliable guides or agencies organizing treks to Song Kul?
Many different travel agencies and companies organize treks to Song Kul lake. Some guesthouses in Kyzart and Kochkor can also organize a guided trek to the lake. Prices depend on the company you deal with.
As I’ve been working closely with local guides and small travel companies, I can help you with finding a suitable guide or local travel agency.
Are you looking for a customized guided tour in Kyrgyzstan or elsewhere in Central Asia? Or would you like help with planning your itinerary and organizing your trip with confidence?
👉 Explore my Central Asia tours and itinerary planning services!

10. After the hike: How to get back from Song Kul Lake
Once you reach the lake, you have a couple of options.
First, you can hike back. I’ve added an extra day to every itinerary to hike to Kyzart Village, from where you can take a (shared) taxi to your next destination.
Secondly, you can get a ride to your next destination. If you’re on a tight schedule, you should arrange transport beforehand! You can do so at the CBT Kochkor. Know it can be pricey – prices are between $50 – $100 for private transport from Song Kul Lake to Kochkor.
You could try to wing it and arrange transport on the spot by looking if you can share a ride with other travelers or locals visiting the lake. Know that you’ll be expected to pay for your place in the car.
Here are the guesthouses I recommend in Kochkor:
Guesthouses I recommend in Kyzart:

11. Song Kul Hiking Routes
There are several scenic hiking routes to Song Kul Lake, each offering unique landscapes and varying levels of difficulty.
Below you can find the itineraries of the 2 most common and accessible hiking routes to reach this stunning alpine lake. You can find more routes in the Song Kul & Jumgal Trekking Map (which I helped create by marking the trails and taking photographs!). This map is available in the CBT offices.


Itinerary 1: Kyzart Village to Song Kul Lake via the Tuz Ashuu Pass (1-day hike)
- Distance: 27km (one way)
- Difficulty: Moderate – challenging
- Max elevation: 3228m
- Gain/loss: 740m/279m
- Find the GPS files here.
This hiking trail starts in Kyzart village. You can get to the village by private or shared taxi from Kochkor bus station. A private taxi will easily cost between 2000 to 3000 KGS for the whole car, the price for a shared taxi is around 500 KGS per person.
You should start the trek as early as possible from Kyzart so I recommend spending the night before in one of the guesthouses in the village. Take the gravel road that goes towards the southeast in the direction of the Tuz Ashuu pass.
Follow the road for a little while and you’ll come across a bridge that crosses the Bazarturuk river. The actual hiking path starts on the other side of this bridge.

After crossing the bridge, follow the track for about 15 km until you arrive at a crossroads. Take the trail leading up to the right towards the Tuz Ashuu Pass. The ascent is steep but the views will be very rewarding!

Enjoy the panoramic views of Song Kul Lake as you cross the pass. Follow the downhill trail towards the lake while walking across wide-open meadows and pastures.

Once you arrive at the lake’s shore, you’ll find many yurt camps along the way where you can spend the night.

Note 1: If you want to do this hike in 2 days, go straight ahead instead of taking the trail to the right. Continue hiking until you reach a bridge that crosses the river to your left. You can camp next to the bridge or you can continue on the path toward the right and seek lodging in one of the nearby yurt camps. On day 2, you can return to the crossroads to hike to the Tuz Ashuu Pass or follow day 2 on the itinerary below.
Note 2: if you want to return to Kyzart village, you can follow the same trail back or – if you have time – follow the itinerary below in reverse.

Itinerary 2: Kyzart Pass to Song Kul Lake (2-day hike)
- Distance: 34km (one way)
- Duration: 2 days
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Max elevation: 3325m
- Gain/loss: 1647m/1243m
- Get the GPS files for this trek here.
Day one: From Kyzart pass to Kilemche valley
This trek starts at Kyzart Pass (2664m), at km46 on the main road between Kochkor and the Jumgal region. You’ll have to take a (shared) taxi from the Kochkor bus station going towards Jumgal or contact the Kochkor CBT to arrange transport and ask them to drop you off at km46 on the Kochkor-Jumgal road. Transport will cost around 500 KGS and take around 1,5 hours to drive from Kochkor.
When getting out the vehicle at km 46, you should head towards the southern mountain chain following a trail of car tracks heading towards the lake.

You will gradually be going uphill and at a certain point, the trail will become steeper and steeper. If you follow these tracks for an hour and a half or for 3.8 km you will arrive at the Chaar-Archa pass.
This pass stands at 3061 meters and from there you’ll have a pretty amazing view in every direction. It’s a good idea to put on a warm sweater once you’re on top of the pass as it gets blown by a constant cold wind.
Go down on the other side of the pass by following the car tracks. You’ll be surrounded by gorgeous green hills and valleys as you head down the pass.

After about 3 km you’ll come across a first small river and a metal bridge that crosses it. This is the Chaar-Archa river. After you cross the bridge, keep following the car tracks towards the right. You’ll be going uphill again for a short while crossing a small mountain range known as the Kyzart mountains.
Once you arrive on the other side, it will be all downhill from there. You’ll see a valley down in front of you with a river flowing through it. This is Kilemche valley.

If you carry your tent and cooking stove, I would advise camping by this river. If you don’t have a tent, cooking equipment or a sleeping bag, then the best option would be to continue following the car tracks for a little bit more.
If you walk for another hour up from the valley along the tracks, you’ll come across a few yurt camps hidden behind a hill. These yurt camp are at this location every summer and the owners gladly host guests.

Day two: From Kilemche valley to lake Song Kul
Make sure to fill up your water bottle before leaving on the morning of day two.
If you camped by the river, you can fill your LifeStraw Water Bottle with water from the river as its filtering system is extremely effective.
If you stayed at a yurt camp, ask the hosts to fill your water bottle up or. There won’t be any other river or water sources from Kilemche until you arrive at the lake.

From Kilemche Valley, take the path going east. After about ten minutes of walking in that direction, you’ll notice a large opening in the mountains to your right. Heading in that direction, you’ll pass a couple more yurt camps to your left.
Following the path will take you up to the Jalgyz Karagai pass. Reaching it from the yurt stay takes around two hours. The pass is quite high (3325 meters) and from it, you’ll have a spectacular view on the valleys below.

From this pass, there is a path that heads down straight to the lake. There will be an old mausoleum tower next to the path when you arrive at the lake.
From there you can head towards your right and stay in the first yurt camp that you’ll come across or in one of the yurt camps on the way to the Tuz Ashuu pass (see itinerary 2 below). If you have your own tent, a great idea is to camp next to Song Kul and refresh yourself in its cool water.

Day three: From Song Kul to Kyzart Village
Ask the shepherds tending to their cattle around Song Kol to point you toward the Tuz Ashuu pass. The distance from the lake to the pass is about 5 km and it’s a nice gradual ascent to get there.

The view from the pass is gorgeous, on one side you’ll see the lake and on the other side the village of Kyzart. There is an old jeep track leading from the pass to Kyzart Village and the remaining distance to the village is roughly 15 km. Getting there takes around 6 hours. If you’re lucky, you might get a ride from locals driving their old Lada Niva between the lake and the village.

Once you reach Kyzart, you could stay in one of the guesthouses in the village or get back to Kochkor. From Kyzart, it’s possible to hitchhike or take a taxi to Kochkor.

I hope this guide has been useful and helps you prepare for your trip to Song Kul Lake. f you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below. Wishing you a fantastic adventure!










Hai Cynthia!
Dank voor deze geweldige duidelijke uitleg! Ik vraag me sf, zijn beide routes óók de routes die de paardentours afleggen? Dat maakt de wandeling een stuk ‘veiliger’, als in, er komen nog best wat mensen langs. Toen jij er liep, waren er andere mensen die deze wandeling deden?
Dankjewel!!
Groetjes, Vera
Dag Vera, de route die de meeste paardentours afleggen is die met Kyzart als vertrekpunt.
Toen ik er liep, kwam ik geen andere mensen tegen. Maar ik deed deze tochten in juni. Indien je in juli en augustus deze trektochten plant, ga je hoogstwaarschijnlijk wel andere mensen tegenkomen – al maken de meesten deze tocht te paard. Hopelijk helpt dit? Groetjes!
Hello thank you for this great blog. Is the walk from Song Kul back to Kyzart via Tuz Ashuu Pass nice (if it’s an old jeep track!) and worth the 6hrs? Thanks
Hi Oli, it is a nice trek but the last 4 hours are long and monotonous. If you’re hiking from Kyzart and you’re doubting whether to hike back or arrange transport from Song Kul to one of the nearby towns, I’d go for the latter.
Hey Cynthia,
Thanks for all the information. I did the hike from Kyzart with a friend, and interpreted your article to mean that we could continue along the river to Kilemche instead of turning right. We ended up in a very beautiful canyon but the vegetation was very dense and the canyon walls very steep. It was a great adventure but I would advise against it as it took a very long time and we had to walk through the river at times. Maybe you can reword the article a bit where you mention not taking the path to the right. Thanks again for your very informative guide!
Hi Nad, thank you for letting me know!
Hi Cynthia, this is a really useful website, so thank you for all of the information you have provided. Friends and I want to do the Son Kol hike in mid-September but have limited time (so will arrange for transport from Son Kol back to Kyzart or Kochkor) – and also want to reduce the distance from the start point outside Kyzart to Kilemche yurt camp if we can – even by 5kms or so, as we are concerned we may not have adjusted to the altitude by the time we start the hike. We will probably use CBT in Kochkor to arrange transport, but want to get a sense of what to ask for first. Many thanks in advance for any advice. Sonia
Hello Cynthia,
Thank you so much for your travel guide.
I have a few questions.
1) on your second itinerary, do you think it is possible to start from Kochkor, by dropped off at Kyzart village and start hiking the same day?
2) when reading your guide, it seems like Day 3 of your 1st itinerary is the same as day 1 of your second itinerary but walking in reverse, except a few kilometers longer for the second itinerary as it starts from the village itself. Is that correct? Or are those different?
Thanks in advance
Virginie
Hi Virginie,
1) it takes around 1.5 hours of driving to get from Kochkor to Kyzart so you can start hiking the same day.
2) you don’t cross the Tuz Ashuu pass yet on day 1 of itinerary 2 while you do that on day 3 of itinerary 1. Day 3 is longer on the 1st itinerary.
Hey Cynthia,
Super interessante en mooie site! Ik ga met mijn vriendin 3 weken begin juni naar Oezbekistan en Kyrgyzstan en we zouden graag de hike naar Song kul doen in een 4 tal dagen (rustdagje inlassen aan het meer zelf). Liefst via een organisatie zouden we het doen want we zijn niet zo’n ervaren wandelaars.
Nu vroeg ik me af welke organisaties ik op voorhand hiervoor kan contacteren en rond welke prijs dit ongeveer zou liggen. We zijn dus met twee, graag een Engelstalige gids, 3 overnachtingen/eten in Yurts en eventueel transport naar Kyzart en terug naar Kochkor.
Alvast bedankt voor je hulp en veel plezier met de opkomende groepsreizen!
Gaëtan
Hoi Gaëtan, stuur mij anders een persoonlijk mailtje en dan breng ik je meteen in contact met een plaatselijke gids die dit voor je kan regelen.
Vele groetjes,
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Fantastic guide, thanks so much.
I am planning to hire a car, and was thinking of driving myself to Kyzart from Bishkek early morning, leaving the car there then doing your second itinerary. But can I just check I am reading it right that it is fine to get all way back from Song Kul to Kyzart via the Tuz Ashu pass in one day? I then want to drive on to Karakol – aware this will be a long day but generally doable, would you say?
Many thanks for any advice,
Phil
Hi Phil,
I’m glad to hear this guide has been useful!
Yes, you could hike from Song Kul back to Kyzart via the Tuz Ashuu pass but keep in mind it will take at least 6 hours of hiking. I’d recommend staying at a guesthouse in Kyzart that evening and do the drive to Karakol the next day as it will be a 7-hour drive to get there.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Do you have any information (details hours I will confirm in Kyrgystan) about:
1. Is it possible to do in one day Karakol – Kyzart by marschrutkas ?
2. From Song Kol I want to travel to Chiwa. I am considering two options
– Song Kol -> Bishkek (night bus)-> Tashkent and flight to Chiwa (this option looks for very long trip)
– Song Kol -> ???? -> get to Andijon and flight to Chiwa – is it possible to make trip in 1 day Song Kol – Andijon ?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi Michal,
1. It is possible to get from Karakol to Kyzart by mashrutkas (change in Kochkor) but keep in mind it will be a long day of driving. You might have to take a shared taxi for the Kochkor-Kyzart part
2. I assume with Chiwa, you mean Khiva? Whatever option you choose, Khiva is a long way from Kyrgyzstan…
This journey will take at least a couple of days…
The quickest option: return from Song Kol (first getting to Kochkor) to Bishkek, fly from Bishkek to Tashkent and then fly from Tashkent to Khiva.
The budget option (2/3 days): from Bishkek to Tashkent by bus, from Tashkent to Khiva by train
From Song Kol (Kochkor) to Andijon is only an ok option if you have your own car or if you’re willing to take a private taxi for some parts (costly!).
Hello. I am planning to do this trek this summer and your guide is very helpful! However, I am planning to do this as my only thing to do in Kyrgyzstan so I will need to start and end in Bishkek. Is it possible to go from Bishkek to start this hike on day one and make it to the yurt camps on time, and then on day two to make it to some other place, and then day three make it back to Bishkek by around mid day?
Thanks!
Hi John,
How many days do you have in Kyrgyzstan? It’s going to be challenging doing this hike in 3 days if you want to start and end in Bishkek.
It’s a 4-hour drive from Bishkek to Kockhkor. Then you’ll need to arrange transport to get you at the trailhead of the hike so. You might be able to do part of the trek on day 1 but not fully. Same for day 3, you’ll arrive at Kyzart in the late afternoon/ early evening and from there it’s also about 5 to 6 hours driving to Bishkek.
My suggestion? I would arrange transport from Bishkek to Son Kul, stay at a yurt camp at the lake on day 1, hike from Son Kul to Kilemche on day 2 and hike from Kilemche to Kyzart on day 3. In Kyzart, you should arrange transport beforehand so someone can drive you back that same evening to Bishkek that evening (arrival at night). Kyzart is a small village and it’s challenging to take public transport from there to get to Bishkek on time. Hope this helps?
Hey Cynthia!
Ik ga deze zomer naar Centraal-Azië (Kirgizië, Oezbekistan en Tadzjikistan als de grenzen open zijn…) en wil een auto huren in Kirgizië. Ik ben van plan om via Karakol-Skazka-Bokonbaevo-Kochkor naar Song Köl te gaan. Is het mogelijk om via Kochkor in Song Köl te geraken met je eigen wagen? En kun je via de guesthouses daar ook een (korte) paardentrek “boeken”? Ik zou er twee dagen zijn (dag 1: Kochkor-Song Köl en einde dag dag 2: Song Köl-Bichkek). Op internet vind ik bitter weinig info…
Groetjes
Hoi Levi!
Het is mogelijk om via Kochkor naar Song Kol te gaan, best wel kijken voor een 4×4 wagen want de weg erheen kan wat ruwer zijn 🙂
In Song Kul zelf zal je tal van yurtcamps tegenkomen en daar kan je gerust vragen voor een korte paardentrek. Dit gaat misschien niet meteen mogelijk zijn op de eerste dag mits ze de paarden en de gids moeten regelen maar wel op dag 2. De rij-afstand tussen Song Kul en Biskek is ongeveer een 6tal uur dus hier ook best rekening mee houden. Hopelijk helpt deze info je, laat me gerust weten of je nog meer vragen hebt! Groetjes!
Hi, is it possible to reach song kol lake by car rather than by horse riding / trekking? Is there any car available from kyzart / kilemche to song kol? Because I don’t think I’m fit enough to trek or to ride a horse for almost 5hours+-.
Thanks in advance!
Hello Noori,
It is possible to reach Song Kol Lake by car but not from Kyzart or Kilemche. If you want to go to Song Kol lake by car, you’ll have to drive from Naryn. You can always check with the local CBT office to rent a car with driver there. Just be aware that this can get pricey.
Best wishes!