Visit Lake Song-Kul in Kyrgyzstan
The different access routes (4×4, motorcycle, van and bike) and our tips for organizing a horseback ride to Song Kol Lake.
Perched at an altitude of 3,016 m, in a green setting surrounded by mountains, Lake Song-Kul is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan. Prized by visitors for its turquoise-blue waters and shores invaded by horses and yurts in summer, Lake Song-Kul is now one of the country’s must-sees.
In this article, you’ll find valuable information on how to get to the lake: by road (van, 4×4, motorcycle or bike), on horseback or on foot.
- If you’re planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan by van, 4×4, motorcycle or bicycle, our book EXPLORE KYRGYZSTAN will be a great help.
- If you’d like to rent a vehicle (4×4, van, motorcycle or bike) or find a guide for a horseback ride in Kyrgyzstan, here are our recommendations.
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Lake Song-Kul, a must-see in Kyrgyzstan
Surrounded by lush green pastures and snow-capped peaks, the azure waters of Lake Song-Kul are breathtakingly beautiful. Lake Song-Kul also offers a truly immersive experience of Kyrgyz culture. Here, pastoral life can be experienced in vast expanses of grassland surrounded by mountains. The Song-Kul lake is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most popular destinations for hiking, horse trekking and encounters with nomadic life.
At 29 km long and 18 km wide, Lake Song-Kul is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. The marshy and peaty areas surrounding the lake’s fresh waters are precious for many bird species. Some migratory birds, like the bar-headed goose, come from the Himalayas and stay for a short time. Even if the development of tourism brings a significant new source of income for semi-nomadic herders, the lake and its verdant meadows still play an important role in their livelihood. For thousands of years, and still today, the lake has also been a spiritual Mecca. Considered sacred, many Kirghiz go to the lake to pray.
Song-Kul lies in a sedimentary basin surrounded by mountain ranges. The lake is fed by rivers flowing down from the mountains, and at its south-eastern tip empties into the Kokjerty River, along which is the eponymous waterfall.
Access to Lake Song-Kul by road (van, 4×4, motorcycle or bicycle)
Suspended at an altitude of 3016m, Lake Song-Kul is surrounded by mountains. If you want to reach the lake by road, there are several routes through the mountains. These trails are more or less well-maintained and pass through mountain passes above 3000m altitude. The lake is therefore rarely accessible before June, when snow blocks access to the passes!
A trail leads around the lake. On the south-eastern shore of the lake, this is a corrugated iron track in very good condition. On the northwest side, on the other hand, the track is dirt and can quickly become muddy and difficult in bad weather. Only off-road vehicles will have access.
The map below shows the various roads around Lake Song-Kul, including the tracks in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN. The complete A2 folding map of Kyrgyzstan is available here.
Each of these itineraries is presented in detail in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN, including levels of difficulty. To sum up, the routes over the Moldo(track 17) and Kalmak passes are well-maintained tracks, accessible to all types of vehicle. The routes over the Kara Keche and Terskey-Torpok passes(piste 15) are more difficult, with significant changes in altitude. Although we’ve seen some cars on the road, you’ll be more comfortable with a vehicle with high ground clearance. Finally, the routes over the Tjibel and Tuz passes(piste 16) are reserved exclusively for 4×4 vehicles, mountain bikes and trail bikes.
Col de Moldo Ashuu (3346m)
The tight laces of the Moldo Ashuu pass (3,346 m) are impressive, but fortunately the track is well maintained! 800 m vertical drop over 11 km from the 1st bend. Take care if you’re on two wheels, as the road may be slippery due to the gravel. Cyclists will have to hang on! The view over the valley is splendid.
Kara-Keche Ashuu pass (3384m)
The track to the Kara-Keche pass is stony but well-maintained due to the presence of a coal mine.
Kalmak Ashuu pass (3446m)
Access to the Kalmak Ashuu pass is the easiest of all. This is a well-maintained gravel track. We’ve seen cars on this track.
Terskey Torpok or 33 parrots pass (3132m)
The Terskey-Torpok pass (3,132 m) is also known as the Trizat Tri Popugaï pass, which means “the 33 parrots” in Russian. The name is said to refer to the 33 bends, some of them shaped like a parrot’s beak, that lead to the pass. The slope is steep and the turns quite sharp, but the track is fairly well maintained (stony). We recommend a 4×4, even though we’ve seen standard cars over the pass. Cyclists will need to summon up all their courage, as the climb is a physical one (550 m positive gradient over 5 km). The view from the pass is exceptional.
Tjibel Ashuu pass (3227m)
The trail to the Tjibel pass (3,227 m) is difficult and reserved for off-road vehicles and experienced drivers. This is a stony track with a steep climb over the last kilometer. Before, the slope is gentler and runs alongside a small green gorge. If you don’t want to take on this difficult trail in your own vehicle, you can hire horses to take you all the way on horseback.
Tuz Ashuu pass (3228m)
The ascent to the Tuz pass (3,228 m) is fairly steep, but the track is in relatively good condition, whereas the descent to Song-Kul lake is more difficult, as the track is not clearly defined. It can be muddy and slippery in wet weather. It is therefore reserved for off-road vehicles and experienced drivers. Don’t hesitate to stop and enjoy the incredible view of the lake from the Col de Tuz! There is a trail that is often used by locals and tourists on horseback, but you can also venture out on foot.
Horseback riding on Lake Song-Kul in Kyrgyzstan
Surrounded by vast meadows and mountains, Lake Song-Kul is one of Kyrgyzstan’s top destinations for horseback riding.
Riding in Kyrgyzstan means immersing yourself in the age-old lifestyle of the Kyrgyz nomads. An authentic experience that lets you enjoy the country’s wide open spaces and breathtaking landscapes! This activity is suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike. Kyrgyz horses have a very calm temperament and you will usually be accompanied. Depending on what you’re after, you can take a half-day stroll or tackle the mountains for a few days.
Many agencies offer equestrian excursions to Lake Song-Kul, usually three full days, with two nights’ accommodation in a yurt. An experience you won’t soon forget! Unfortunately, the lake is a victim of its own success. Tourist yurt camps invade the riverbanks, making the experience less authentic, and there have been reports of horses being over-exploited.
Find all our tips for organizing a horseback ride in Kyrgyzstan (basic rules, equipment, animal welfare, etc.) in this article. We also recommend some of the local guides we’ve met!
Timur, the best guide for a trek to Lake Song-Kul
Timur is a young Kyrgyz guide from Song-Kul. Since he was a child, he has spent summers with his family in a yurt camp on the north-western shore of Lake Song-Kul. He learned English from the tourists, whom he loves to accompany and guide through the mountains surrounding the lake. He will answer all your questions about Kyrgyz customs and traditions. He offers a 2-3 day horseback ride to Lake Song-Kul, which we highly recommend: uA 100% local experience with, in our opinion, the best English-speaking guide in the region! You can check prices, reviews and contact Timur directly by clicking here.
How do I find horses?
If you’re planning a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan, you can either go through a tourist agency or rent horses from local individuals. You’ll find many local agencies organizing horseback excursions to Lake Song-Kul in Kochkor or Kyzart.
When you book a tour with an agency, you’re usually accompanied by an English-speaking guide and a horseman (usually the owner of the horses). The price you pay includes horse hire, the two horsemen, accommodation and food for the duration of the trek.
The other option is to buy directly from local individuals or nomads. The #1 advantage of this approach is that you pay local people directly for their service, without any intermediaries. What’s more, they’ll probably invite you to share a meal with them or follow them in their daily activities. Authentic experience guaranteed! The main disadvantage is that the horses are not necessarily used to being ridden by beginners, which can make the experience rather sporty. What’s more, you don’t benefit from a guide’s explanations of the landscape or the animals. Don’t forget to bring along a French-Kyrgyz lexicon – ours is available here.
Prices for horse trekking vary widely depending on the location and the service provider (international agency, local agency, private individual, etc.). With a local agency, count 1,000 soms per day for horse hire, 2,500 soms per day for an English-speaking guide (1,500 soms per day for a non-English-speaking guide).
For example, a 3-day horseback riding tour with an English-speaking guide and a “horse man”, including two nights in a yurt and all meals, will cost around 8,000 som per person for a group of six. Prices vary according to group size.
We highly recommend Timur and his family’s 2 or 3-day tours. They live in the village of Kyzart and own two yurts on Lake Song Kul. A 100% local experience with, in our opinion, the best English-speaking guide in the region! You can view prices, reviews and contact Timur directly HERE.
Sleeping on Lake Song-Kul: yurt or bivouac?
When you arrive in Song-Kul, you’ll probably be amazed by the number of yurts dotting the landscape. Indeed, the downside of Song-Kul Lake’s popularity is the relative loss of authenticity of its shores, invaded in July and August by yurt camps for tourists.
The small yurt camps are generally owned by semi-nomadic families. In addition to their breeding activities, some families have invested in one or two yurts to accommodate the growing number of tourists visiting the lake.
If there are more than four or five yurts, it’s most likely a camp built by an agency and specially equipped to welcome tourists. These camps can be as large as 20 yurts! Sometimes you’ll even find beds inside for added comfort, but remember that Kyrgyz traditionally sleep on the ground on carpets. We recommend that you go directly to the smaller campsites, where the welcome is generally warmer and the atmosphere more family-oriented.
Even if the number of yurt camps “for tourists” on the lakeshore is increasing, we’re delighted that this type of accommodation can be dismantled and blends in perfectly with the landscape. If you’re driving, don’t leave your non-biodegradable waste with your hosts, as it will be burned or buried on site. Expect to pay between 800 and 1,000 som per person for the night and breakfast. For the meal, it varies between 300 and 400 soms. Don’t hesitate to negotiate if you’re traveling in a group.
For those wishing to bivouac, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a pitch. However, beware of the temperature change between day and night, as you may be surprised by the cold! What’s more, you might be woken up in the morning by horses or cows! Be careful not to leave any garbage behind.
Lake Song-Kul in winter
In winter, the lake freezes over with ice up to 1.2 m thick. The latter begins to thaw in April and disappears completely by the end of May. Fishermen come to fish in the lake in winter. It is also possible to organize a trek on horseback to reach the lake in winter, but it’s best not to be chilly! The lake is rarely accessible by vehicle in winter, due to the snow-covered passes.
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