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Song-Köl

Treks / Kyrgyzstan

Song-Kul Lake Trek

Kyrgyzstan · Nearest city: Bishkek (also Kochkor)

TypeMulti-day trek
Days2–3
Distance≈ 40 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point3,400 m

A walk or horse trek over high pastures to Song-Kul, a lake at 3,016 m where herders set up yurt camps each summer.

Fitness Demanding
Best seasonJune to September

Watch out: Nights are cold even in July. Yurt camps are basic; bring a warm layer and cash.

Why people choose it

It's a chance to live with nomadic herders in yurts beside a high mountain lake.

What makes it different

  • Nomadic yurt camps
  • High pastures and wild horses
  • Can be done on horseback

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Song-Kul Lake Trek. These are the main choices people make.

  • Length: most people take 2–3 days, 3 is typical. You can shorten it by skipping a stage with a bus or lift, or lengthen it with rest days.

Similar treks to consider

Ala Archa: Ratsek Hut and Ak-Sai Glacier Kyrgyzstan · 1–2 days · 16 km A steep climb from a national park just outside Bishkek to a mountaineers' hut below the Ak-Sai glacier... Ala-Kul Trek Kyrgyzstan · 3–4 days · 55 km Kyrgyzstan's most famous trek, from the Karakol valley up to the turquoise Ala-Kul lake, over a 3,860 m... Kolsai Lakes Kazakhstan · 1–2 days · 16 km A forest trail between the first and second of the three Kolsai lakes, with the sunken forest of Kaindy...

Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

Roaming in Kyrgyzstan is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.

Kyrgyzstan eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

This trek reaches 3,400 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsSafetyWingHeymondoTrue Traveller

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

Wild camping is common and accepted in Kyrgyzstan's mountains. Yurt camps and guesthouses are good alternatives.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: Kyzart → Song-Köl

Simple overview map
KyzartSong-Köl20 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • Book your first and last nights, and check whether accommodation along the way needs reserving.
    • Best time to go: June to September.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Bishkek.
    • Take enough cash for the whole trek. Cards rarely work in the mountains.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: June to September

June to early July

Early summer

Snow still on high passes, fast rivers from snowmelt and green pastures filling with herders.

Bring

  • Gaiters and warm layers
  • River-crossing shoes
  • Cash for yurt camps

Mid-July to August

Peak season

The best weather window, but high passes can still get snow and storms.

Bring

  • Warm sleeping bag for cold nights
  • Sun protection for strong UV
  • Water filter

September

Late season

Clear skies and autumn colours, with freezing nights and herders leaving the high pastures.

Bring

  • Down jacket
  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Check that yurt camps are still open

Be ready for

Thinner air

You'll feel the altitude on the climbs. Spend a night or two in the mountains first if you can, and pace yourself.

What you'll see

4 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

Song-Köl
Near Song-KölSong-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Near Song-KölSong Köl lake, Kyrgizstan
Near Song-KölViwew to Ak-Tash mountains, Son-Kul, Kyrgyzstan - panoramio

Gear for the Song-Kul Lake Trek

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Backpacks Top pick: Osprey Exos 58 Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: Song-Köl by Ondřej Žváček, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan by Oziel Gómez ozgomz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Song Köl lake, Kyrgizstan by Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) from Cologne, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Viwew to Ak-Tash mountains, Son-Kul, Kyrgyzstan - panoramio by ThomasG, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.