With breathtaking scenery of rolling green hills, snow-capped peaks, and the different hues of the lake, Son Kul Lake remains a favorite of both locals and tourists in Kyrgyzstan. Introduced to me back in 2022, I couldn't take my mind off this paradise. Fast forward to the summer of 2024, I was able to join a group scheduled to the eastern side of the lake. Was it worth it?
Disclaimer: The name of the lake is spelled as Соң-Көл (Kyrgyz), Сон-Куль (Russian), or Son-Kul (romanized spelling from Kyrgyz). For consistency, I will use the spelling 'Son Kul' throughout.
💡 Want more inspiration in Kyrgyzstan? Click on these posts and start exploring!
- Visa Guides: E-Visa & Visa on Arrival
- Transportation between Airport & Bishkek: Several Ways to Go to Bishkek from Manas Airport
- Border Crossing Guide: Almaty to Bishkek by Public Bus (Ak-Zhol Border)
- Hostel Recommendation: People Hostel in Baitik Baatyr Street
- Beginner-Friendly Hike: Ala-Archa Hike to Ratsek Hut or Kol-Tor Lake Hike
- 4000-er Hike: Komsomolets Peak
- Sightseeing: Burana Tower, Skazka Canyon, Jeti Oguz, and Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan
- Banya Experience(s): Bath of Aphrodite by Baytur, Zhirgal Banya, and Garden Spa
- Travel Story: Four Seasons of Kyrgyzstan
What's in Son Kul Lake & When is the best time to visit?
Located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level, Son Kul Lake is a stunning alpine lake in the Naryn Region in Kyrgyzstan. It is the country's second-largest lake after Issyk-Kul and the largest freshwater lake.
Son Kul Lake is the perfect postcard of a Kyrgyz summer—yurt camps, grazing horses, and the nomadic Kyrgyz people embracing their jailoos (summer pastures). And don't forget the stargazing!
While it's possible to visit in winter, Son Kul Lake is primarily a summer destination, both for locals and foreigners.
If you are planning a trip, the best time to visit is between June and August. Yurt camps start setting up by late May and usually remain until late August. By September, most have already packed up, retreating from the biting cold.
How to go to Son Kul Lake from Bishkek?
Depending on your budget and time, there are several ways to go to Son Kul Lake:
- Private Tours - The most flexible yet the most expensive option, you can rent or hire a 4WD to navigate the rough terrain with ease and comfort.
- Group Tours - Available every weekend, tour operators and tourism boards offer two-day trips from June to late August, including a yurt stay, transport, and meals.
- Public Transport/Shared Taxi & Hitch Hiking - For budget travelers, you can take a shared taxi or a marshrutka from Bishkek to Kochkor or Naryn, then hitchhike to Son Kul Lake. Keep in mind that hitchhiking in Central Asia is usually not free. Agree on a price with the driver first!
- Horse Trek, Hike, or Bike - For the adventurous with more time, it's possible to reach Son Kul Lake on horseback, by hiking, or by biking, depending on your starting point. I haven't done this yet, but a multi-day hike to Son Kul Lake is definitely on my list!
In the end, I joined a weekend group tour, and it was straightforward and convenient. I was grouped with travelers who had booked through different contacts and were merged into a group under a different name. Because of this, we had a difficult time finding where we belonged at the meeting point. It was crowded with multiple tour operators and buses, so we had to check each tourist bus for our names until we discovered that our assigned bus had come late.
Because of this experience, I will not recommend my contact person. Instead, I recommend booking directly through Kettik and InTourists, two of the biggest tour operators in Kyrgyzstan.
Travel Costs, Logistics & Itinerary:
Like tours in Kazakhstan (Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes and Charyn Canyon), this tour was conducted in Russian, with occasional English translations from our guide.
💰 Tour Cost: SOM 6,920 (USD 80/AED 293) for a 2-day Trip with the following inclusions:
- Kyrgyz lunch, dinner, & breakfast
- Shared Yurt Accommodation
- Transportation from Bishkek & back via tourist bus
- Tour guide service
🚫 Not Included: Horseback riding & additional meals during stops along the way
We also had photo stops along the way:
- Breakfast stop for Kattama (a local flat bread similar to paratha)
- Orto Tokoy Reservoir
- Panorama of Kalmak-Ashuu Pass at 3,447 MASL
- Lunch stop at an ashkana (local canteen) on the way back
Packing List & What to Expect:
While there are toilet and food breaks along the road, essentials may not be available. There are no supermarkets or stores along the way, so pack everything you need in Bishkek.
✅ Must-Have Essentials:
- Paper tissues or wet wipes (for hygiene)
- Sunscreen (high-altitude sunburn is real!)
- Snacks & drinks (for the long drive and during leisure time)
- Camera
Since Son Kul Lake is at a high altitude, the weather can go from sunny to a hailstorm at any minute. I didn't believe this until I experienced a hailstorm myself—and yes, it hurt!
🧣 Clothing Essentials:
- Thermal layers, fleece, and windproof jacket (it gets cold, especially at night!)
- Gloves (if you get cold easily)
- Balaclava (for sun & wind protection)
- Extra socks (trust me, your feet will thank you later when the stove runs out of coal!)
Highlights in Son Kul Lake:
Finally, you're probably curious about the more important details such as the view, the accommodation, the meals, and the activities or things to do. Fret not, I got you covered.
The Raw Landscape of Son Kul Lake
At over 3,000 MASL, Son Kul Lake is a vast, unspoiled expanse of nature in Kyrgyzstan—pristine, untouched, and raw. Rolling green pastures stretch endlessly towards the snow-capped peaks while the lake itself shifts through different hues under the ever-changing light. Without any noise pollution, the only sound is the wind hissing across the open plains.
And yes, the header photo of my blog? It's none other than this place! Everyone mistook it for a painting, but trust me, it was a hundred times better when seen in person!
From an aerial view to an eye-level perspective, I only see beauty and solitude. I don't know about you, but this kind of beauty takes forever to absorb.
With only a few yurt camps and hundreds of animals grazing, it felt like a completely different world. It's a place where the usual worries in life just fade in the background. Every corner is photogenic, yet no camera can truly capture the immaculate beauty in front of me.
Nomadic Stay at Yurts (Accommodation)
The accommodation? It's as authentic as it can get. A traditional round tent called a Yurt (or ger in Mongolia) offers a simple yet cozy glimpse into the lifestyle of the Kyrgyz nomads.
Inside, the yurt is furnished with carpets, thick blankets, and a small stove to keep the space warm at night. Apart from a single light bulb, there's no electricity, let alone WiFi, and it's the charm of living like a nomad, even if just for a night!
While it's true that there are wooden toilets (yes, the ones with nothing but a hole in the ground), there are also a few cubicles of modern toilets. All are shared among all travelers, and there's no bidet, so make sure to bring your own paper tissues or wet wipes.
And in case the cubicles are full, there's even a portable outside. It's perfect for a quick face wash under the open sky!
Home-Cooked Kyrgyz Meals
Before we even reached Son Kul Lake, we had a quick breakfast stop for Apamdyn Kattamasy or Kattama. It's a traditional Kyrgyz flatbread similar to paratha and is usually served with yogurt, soup, and tea.
At the camp, a huge Yurt served as a communal dining area where we had our meals. Every meal came with an abundance of dried and fresh fruits, bread and butter, candies and chocolates.
As for the main dishes, vegetarian options were limited since Kyrgyz cuisine is heavy on meat. However, I heard that special requests or dietary restrictions could be arranged in advance. During our trip, we had lamb and potatoes and meat with mixed vegetables for our main courses. Breakfast included porridge and different kinds of bread, which, for some weird reason, was my favorite meal of the trip.
On our way back to Bishkek, we also had the chance to eat at a local canteen called Ashkana (or stolovaya/столовая in Russian). It wasn't my first time eating at an Ashkana, but this one was a hit!
I ordered a simple chicken and rice, and oh boy, it was juicy and bursting with a special, non-spicy flavor that I couldn't quite identify! And the best part? It was super affordable at only 310 SOM! Of course, I had to top it off with an apple compote!
Adventures at 3,000 MASL
Last but not least, Son Kul Lake isn't just about relaxation. It's also an adventure hub with activities like hiking and horseback riding. Okay, maybe "hiking" is too much, but you can definitely enjoy a leisurely walk up the hill in search of petroglyphs. We didn't find any, though, but the walk was still fun, and the aerial view? Chef's kiss!
Due to my mixed feelings about work animals, I didn't try horseback riding and forgot to ask the cost. However, the Malaysian family who joined us tried it even just for a short time, and they had an amazing time!
There was plenty of leisure time to do whatever interests you. You can walk around the lake, take a dip in the freezing waters (if you're brave enough!), take lots of photos, or even ride on a giant wooden swing nearby.
Before sunset, a playful show of the traditional game Kok-Boru was played. Two teams of men rode their horses and fought over usually a goat's carcass, which was now replaced with a mould or a ball until a score was made by putting the ball into the opponent's goal.
After dinner and sunset, the bonfire was lit, and anyone could join in the fun. People played cards, sang songs, and enjoyed each other's company under the starry sky until no one could bear the cold any longer. Stargazing and Night Photography were options too, but let’s be real—everyone was freezing, so we all ended up going to bed early.
Summary of my trip to Son Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan
In just two days, a weekend trip to Son Kul Lake from Bishkek offers a unique experience to immerse yourself in the nomadic culture of Kyrgyzstan. With breathtaking views of the lake and the snow-capped mountains, it's the perfect postcard of a Kyrgyz summer—yurt camps, grazing horses, and the nomadic Kyrgyz people embracing their jailoos (summer pastures).
Joining a group tour is still the most convenient way to go to Son Kul Lake from Bishkek. Tours are available every weekend from June to late August, and I recommend booking directly through Kettik and InTourists, two of the biggest tour operators in Kyrgyzstan.
Delight in the stunning natural landscape, savor home-cooked Kyrgyz meals, and even get a thrill from horseback riding. These are just a few of the experiences awaiting you at Son Kul Lake next summer!
