Song-Kul — Attraction in Naryn Region

Beautiful place, but I honestly don't think it's worth it. It's really touristy now, which doesn't affect the experience at the yurt too much, but it is really hard to get to Kyzart from Kochkor and hard to get out of there. Locals are used to overcharging tourists, which creates a transactional and objectifying dynamic that is exploitative, exhausting, and unpleasant. So, the taxi costs 2500 som for the 1 hour drive from Kochkor, yet many will try to charge more, and the driver way got was an entitled, toxic man who made us an hour late and tried to scam us again.

Now, since the mashrutka to Bishkek isn't running, I'm paying 1,000 som to stay on a mattress in the luggage room at the Guest House that does Apple Hostel's tours since they want to extract as much money from people as possible. They didn't even offer me blankets. I'm glad I have my own. It's just a nasty feeling, but better than hitchhiking with the luggage when it could rain.

The trek itself is pretty, and food was fine. Yurt accomodations vary. Horses and guide was good. It's painful to ride a horse that long though, so be prepared and bring medicines including for altitude sickness (gave some to a guy who got sick). I'd spend my money on another trip, but I've ridden horses before and just don't like slimy transactions with locals that result when there's a lot of tourism and people assume every foreigner is rich/an object to make money from not...

After an incognito 2020, i decided to do something adventurous in 2021 and wow what i start i had in Kyrgyzstan. I flew to Bishkek 0n 2nd feb and decided to visit places which are famous in summer but inaccessible by conventional ways in winter. My goal was to ride to the top of the song kul lake on a horse in a snowy and a bit dangerous mountain path. To fullfil my goal, i met with Aman, the owner of Kyrgyz riders (+996558033880). It took us 2 days to reach the top of the lake and the journey was mind blowing and hands down the best experience of my life !. The path was covered with snow and we had to often get down the horses to navigate them without stepping on ice which would break the horse leg ! The crisp winter breeze turned to extreme wind with temperatures well below negative 10 C. we had to climb over a mountain pass 3400 meters above sea level. The path after the pass was extraordinary and straight out of pictures i have seen of antartica ! wow what an experience it was! the lake was frozen and the ice thickness was well above 1.5 meters. if you can carry your skies along with you, it would be a great experience to ski there ! and best of all i was the ONLY tourist there !!!! can you believe it haha because in summer i think more than 100 K people visit this place !. Thank you Aman and Kyrgyz riders for such an amazing experience. Kyrgyz riders...

The best sunsets and sunrises in my life ) You definitely must explore this place !!! you can go by small bus called „marshrytka“ or car from Kochkor . it is a small town (taxi is also possible, but it can be complicated if you don’t know Russian or Kyrgyz The best time is summer, from July till end of August. You can swim in the lake during summer it is not so cold don’t forget swimsuit , but please don’t pollute or use soap or something like that. Because it’s so wildness and beautiful we have to care and keep it clean and wild as long as it’s possible ) You also can ride horses or see camels, live in yurts and taste local traditional cuisines, fascinate amazing nature views ) It makes you feel that beauty of this place and how nomad lived before) For staying in yurts you can present sweets or some gifts for locals or find cheap one it’s not so complicated everyone is so welcoming and hospitality ) You should try horse’s milk called „kymyz“ and small white balls called„kyryt“ it consists of milk and salt it tastes specially. There is also another option you can just stay in your tent and just enjoy this...