Song-Kol (also known as Sonkol, Song-K\u00f6l, and Son-Kul) is a large alpine lake, sandwiched in a hollow between the inner spurs of the Tien Shan in the Naryn region (Kyrgyzstan). Sitting at 3016 meters above sea level, the lake is surrounded by virgin pastures, a conservation area, and the ridges of Sonk\u00f6ltoo and Moldotoo, making it the perfect site for ecological tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shores of the lake are low, swamped, and in some places overgrown with reeds. The lake is glacier-fed and drains into the Son-Kul river and eventually the Naryn river. Ice on the lake is common from late September to late May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nearest large settlement is Chaek town, but in the summer months, especially July through August, yurt camps built along the Song-Kol. Most of them offer hostel-type services for cheap and romantic visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Song-Kol, you can order fresh meat prepared according to traditional recipes as well as dishes adapted at the request of tourists in yurt camps. Many people call Song-Kol Lake \u201cthe soul of Kyrgyzstan\u201d because the water is pure and fresh. However, foreign tourists are advised not to drink water from streams or lakes without boiling it first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The area is very popular for horseback tours from one to ten days, and many also like hiking through the Jumgal region, with overnight stays in yurts instead of tents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While trekking and taking a horseback tour, you\u2019ll likely see a variety of animals, including varieties fish, such as peled and rare carp species, and waterfowl, such as the demoiselle crane, mountain goose, black stork, and black-headed giggle. The lake itself is a natural beauty, and its surface color changes several times a day, becoming either a saturated blue, then purple-blue, or lush green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lake Song-Kol is just over 280 kilometers from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and most travel from Bishkek will follow the Bishkek-Naryn highway. This road is generally in very good condition, but you will eventually need to leave the highway to go through Kalmak-Ashuu Pass, which is easily traversed by most vehicles in the summer. Alternatively, you could take Naryn Pass, Moldo-Bel pass, or Kara-Keche Pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For lovers of active adventure routes, there are plenty of options for trekking or horseback riding tours to Song-Kol, including a 9-day horseback tour from of Shamshy called \u201cJailoo Hopping to Lake Song-Kol\u201d and a 7-day tour from Suusamyr Valley. There are also many trips from the village of Kyzart in the Jumgal region to the valley during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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