This Kyrgyzstan trekking adventure explores the Son-Kul Lake trek. The name, also called Song-Kol translates from Kyrgyz as “the last lake”.
Son-Kul lies at an altitude of 3016 m (9895 feet) above sea level. At 29 km (18 miles) long and 18 km (11 miles) wide, and maximum depth of 13.2 m (43 feet), Son-Kul is Kyrgyzstan’s second largest lake. The average temperature is only -3.5° C (26° F), though in summer the average temperature is 11° C (52° F). In winter, temperatures fall as low as -20° C (-4° F), and there are around 200 days of snow a year. This means that in winter, it is often impossible to reach the lake. Unlike Issyk-Kul, Son-Kul freezes in the winter, and remains frozen from September to June.
Visitors come to Son-Kul to experience Kyrgyzstan’s pristine nature. Though there are no trees on the high plains, there are plenty of herbs, including chamomile, sagebrush, lichen, friar’s cap, and golden root, many of which are prized for their medicinal qualities. Flowers are particularly plentiful after the snow melts in the late spring.
There are some 66 species of waterfowl that live around the lake or in the surrounding area, which makes the area relatively ecologically diverse. There are several species of gulls and ducks, plus cranes, storks, mergansers, bald coots, plovers, falcons, golden eagles, and shags. Lucky visitors can see deer, foxes, marmots, Marco Polo sheep, lynx, leopards, and wolves on the plains.
Overview
Son-Kul is a mountain lake in the central Tian Shan, virtually in the center of Kyrgyzstan.
Itinerary
Day to day plan for Son-Kul Lake trek
Day 1. International flight to Bishkek. Meeting at the Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Rest. Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Bishkek: Philharmonic Society, Ala-Too Square, Victory Square, Handicraft Shops, Osh bazaar, Fine Arts Museum. Overnight in the hotel. 3* Hotel
Day 2. Breakfast. Transfer to Naryn (350km, 6 hours drive). Preparations for trekking, shopping. Overnight in a Guest House. B - - Guest House
Day 3. Travel via Terskey Torpok pass (3132m) to the valley of Sonkul River by minibus (approx 100km), to the start point of the trek in a forestry area at an altitude of 2600m. Set up Base Camp. Hiking. Acclimatization. Optional: Excursion to waterfall – the route follows the Sonkul River, a one-way distance of 6 km. Overnight in tent camp. B L D Tent Camp
Day 4. Trekking to the valley of Djina River via Kokjerty Gorge (approx. 10km, 5-6 hours) at an average altitude of 2800m. Set up a tent camp before the nameless pass. Tent Camp. B L D Tent Camp
Day 5. Cross the nameless pass (3000m). Today the Kyrgyzstan trekking adventure heads along Archaly-Tor River, via the Kyzyl-Beles pass (3242m). On this route it is necessary to wade across the river twice. Altitude on this route ranges from 2700m to 3000m. The trekking distance is approximately 12km and takes about 8 hours. Tent camp on the banks of the Terme River. B L D Tent Camp
Day 6. Circular trek around Ak-Chii Tash Mount. Overnight in Tent Camp on the banks of Terme River. B L D Tent Camp
Day 7. Trekking along the Terme River via Kichi Kumbel pass (3608m) to Sonkul Yurt Inn. Trekking distance of 12-14km, takes approximately 7-8 hours. Overnight in Yurt Inn. B L D Yurt Inn
Day 8. Option 1: Circular trek to petroglyphs. Overnight in Yurt Inn or in Tented Camp. Trekking time of approximately 1.5 hours. Option 2: Excursion to Uzun Bulak pass 3124m via petroglyphs. Total trekking time takes approximately 4 hours. Overnight in the Yurt Inn. B L D Yurt Inn
Total trekking time takes approximately 4 hours. Overnight in the Yurt Inn.
Day 9. Transfer to Bishkek (360km). Overnight in a Hotel. B - - 3* Hotel
Day 10. Check-out. Transfer to Airport. Departure by international flight. B - - no accommodation
Notes for Kyrgyzstan trekking adventure:
• Tourists must have medical insurance policy with a coverage of USD 30,000 per person.
• Yurt Inn operates for the period from mid-June until mid-September
• Accommodation in any Yurt Inn is usually 5-6 persons of the same gender in a yurt.
• Each porter carries 20kg of commercial weight. Any additional weight in excess of this will be charged at the rate of USD 3 per 1kg.
• Each horse carries 50-80 kg of commercial weight.
Prices for Son-Kul Lake trek in 2021
Group of 2 people - USD 1485 per person
Group of 4 people – USD 1015 per person
Group of 6 people – USD 850 per person
Group of 8 people – USD 760 per person
Group of 10 people – USD 740 per person
Single supplement - USD 105 per person per programme (in Bishkek only)
Provider Information
What's Included
- Mountain Guide for trekking
- Cook for trek
- Twin bedroom accommodation in 3* Hotel in Bishkek (3 nights)
- Twin bedroom accommodation in Guest House in Naryn (1 night)
- Accommodation in Yurt Inn in Son-Kul (2 nights)
- Meals: as it stated in the itinerary programme above (Full board during the trek, Breakfast in the Hotel in Bishkek and Guest House in Naryn)
- Land transport by Minibus (15-17 seats total)
- Excursions and entrance fees
- Workman for groups of 6 people or more
What's Not Included
- Kyrgyz visa fee (if required) - USD 70 per person
- Lunches and/or Dinners in Bishkek and Naryn – approx. USD 7-15 per person
- Porter service – USD 320 per porter per programme
- Horseman – USD 175 per programme (one horseman per 2 horses is required)
- Transport for porters if there is not enough space in the vehicle – USD 460 per programme
- Horses to carry food and personal equipment – USD 130 per horse per programme
