AsiaMixTravel

Son-Kul: Picnic in the Sky

In two days, we'll ascend to 3500-meter peaks, sit by the campfire in the heart of the Tien Shan range by Lake Son-Kul, and have an amazing time

Horses walk along Lake Son Kul

Tour photos

Horses walk along Lake Son Kul
Son Kul Lake at an altitude of 3000 meters
Green meadow, mountains and lake Son Kul
Evening sunset with a view of Song Kul
Light waves on Song Kul lake in the evening
A horse drinks from Song Kul Lake at sunset
Mountain road leading to Song Kul
Yurt camp on Son Kul
View of Son Kul in the golden rays of the sun
Golden meadows at dawn near Song Kul Lake
Sunrise on Song Kul Lake
View of the yurt camp at dawn
Sunrise overlooking Song Kul Lake

Tour Program

  • Day 1
  • 08:00 - Departure from Bishkek
  • 10:00 - Breakfast: hot kattama
  • 10:30 - Drive through Boom Gorge
  • 12:00 - Photo stop at Orto-Tokoy Reservoir
  • 12:30 - Lunch in the village of Kochkor (avg. 15$ per person)
  • 16:00 - Arrival at Lake Son-Kul, check-in at the yurt camp
  • 16:30 - Free time: lakeside walk, photo session
  • 18:30 - Dinner at the camp (avg. 15$ per person)
  • 21:00 - Campfire evening
  • Day 2
  • 08:00 - Breakfast at the camp (included)
  • 09:00 - Free time, horse riding (extra fee)
  • 12:00 - Lunch at the camp (avg. 15$ per person)
  • 13:00 - Departure to Bishkek
  • 13:30 - Teskey-Torpok Pass (33 Parrots)
  • 21:00 - Arrival in Bishkek

Logistics

  • - The tour is conducted in a comfortable Toyota Sequoia SUV. Child seats available.
  • - Accommodation in the yurt camp and breakfast are included. Café meals, lunch, and dinner are paid separately.
  • - We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing warm clothes, hats, and sunscreen. At 3000 meters altitude, night temperatures can drop below zero.

Meeting Point

By agreement with the organizer. You can discuss this in your booking before prepayment.

What to Expect

Kattama for Breakfast

A few hours after leaving Bishkek, we’ll stop at a teahouse and try kattama - a crispy and aromatic flatbread baked in a tandoor. It’s served hot with homemade cream or freshly brewed tea. This is more than just a snack - it’s a dive into Kyrgyzstan’s proud culinary tradition.

Boom Gorge – Road to the Heart of the Mountains

We will drive through the Boom Gorge - a narrow serpentine between steep cliffs, along which the road runs along the Chu River. Here, the contrast of nature is especially felt: granite walls, turbulent water and winding tunnels. Even a short drive through the gorge will leave a strong impression - especially if you are driving for the first time. This is a kind of entrance to the eastern part of Kyrgyzstan, where nature begins to dictate its rules.

Orto-Tokoy Reservoir

After the canyons, we’ll make a brief stop at the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir. This place feels designed for stillness, contemplation, and photography.

The calm water reflects the mountains, the air is fresh, and the views are perfect for a short break. You’ll take Instagram-worthy photos and enjoy a moment of peace.

Kochkor Village

Kochkor is the administrative center of Kochkor District in the Naryn Region of Kyrgyzstan. It was founded in 1909 as the settlement “Stolypino” and renamed Kochkor in 1917. The village lies at an altitude of around 1800 m above sea level.

We’ll stop here for lunch. The local cuisine features excellent meat dishes, and fried trout is available for fish lovers.

Lake Son-Kul

Lake Son-Kul is located in the northwest of the Naryn Region at an elevation of 3016 m. With an area of 278 km² and a length of 28 km, it is the second-largest lake in Kyrgyzstan after Issyk-Kul. Its width reaches 18 km, average depth is about 8.6 m, and the maximum depth is nearly 14 m. “Son-Kul” means “the lake where wild ducks live” - and in warm seasons its shores host many bird species.

In the evening we’ll settle in a yurt camp by the lake. Slow walks through sunlit meadows, golden sunset photo sessions, and warm gatherings by the fire under the tranquil high-mountain sky will create an unforgettable atmosphere of rest in the heart of the Tien Shan.

Teskey-Torpok Pass “33 Parrots”

Teskey-Torpok Pass, better known as “33 Parrots,” lies at 3445 meters above sea level and connects the Chuy and Naryn Regions. The road winds through 33 tight hairpin turns, said to resemble a flock of parrots in flight. Each bend reveals new vistas: snowy peaks of the Tien Shan, narrow gorges, and alpine meadows.

Similar Tours

  • Son-Kul
  • lake
  • yurt camp
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • highlands
  • tourism in Kyrgyzstan
  • tours to Kyrgyzstan
  • jeep tours
Reviews
Алексей Федоров
Konstantin is a guide from God: he knows the best paths and tells heartfelt stories about local legends. We admired the view of Son-Kul at dawn, and then went on a horse ride through the pastures. Such emotions you want to experience again and again!
Кирилл Карпов
With Konstantin, any adventure seems magical: his enthusiasm was off the charts. We rode through incredible gorges and passes, tried aromatic mountain tea, and then enjoyed the panorama of the lake at an altitude of three thousand meters. A horse ride along the shore gave a feeling of real freedom.
Lina Johansson
Guide Konstantin told us legends about the Last Lake and organized a horse ride along the shore. Evening tea by the fire under the dome of stars - the best thing that can be after two thousand meters of ascent!
Markus Vogel
Konstantin skillfully combines drive and comfort: we passed the serpentine "33 parrots" without fear, and in the yurt camp at Son-Kul we felt at home. A picnic on a high-mountain plateau is simply space!
Анна Петрова
The two-day tour with Konstantin gave me a sense of peace: the calm surface of the lake, pastures and horses along the shore. Fresh kattama for breakfast at dawn was unforgettable!
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