{"id":551,"date":"2022-11-11T09:13:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T06:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newdev.cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/?p=551"},"modified":"2026-01-27T11:54:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T08:54:57","slug":"zhemchuzhiny-kyrgyzstana-ozera-son-kul-i-issyk-kul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/summer-travel\/zhemchuzhiny-kyrgyzstana-ozera-son-kul-i-issyk-kul\/","title":{"rendered":"Pearls of Kyrgyzstan: Song-Kol &#038; Issyk-Kul Lakes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trip Essentials<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tour Type:<\/strong> auto\/trekking<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Duration:<\/strong> 8 days<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best Season:<\/strong> mid-June \u2013 end of September<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level of Difficulty:<\/strong> medium<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maximum Altitude on the Trip:<\/strong> 3 500 meters ASL<\/p>\n<p><strong>Start and End Point:<\/strong> Bishkek<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transport:<\/strong> jeep\/minivan\/minibus depending on the size of the group<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best group size:<\/strong> 2- 12 persons<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trip Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Burana Tower<\/strong> &#8211; Balasagun was a city in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/wheretogo1\/chuy\">Chuy<\/a>\u00a0region during the Karakhanid Khanate. \u00a0Excavations have revealed that the double walls of the settlement enclosed 30 sq km, including a fortress, many workshops, bazaars, a bathhouse, and a plot of arable land. \u00a0Water brought by a large pipe from a neighboring canyon. \u00a0As the Karakhanid rule was shaken by Mongol invasions, Balasagun began a slow decline, eventually becoming a ghost town in the 15th century.<\/p>\n<p>Burana Tower is the most visible remnant of the old city. \u00a0Built in the 11th century, the tower is thought to have been a minaret. \u00a0It was originally double it&#8217;s current height of 24.6 meters. Historian&#8217;s believe the top half to have been destroyed in a 15th century earthquake.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Chong-Kemin Valley<\/strong> &#8211; In the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/wheretogo1\/chuy\">Chuy<\/a>\u00a0region this small 500 hectare park covers an incredible range of terrain, from semi desert to glacier. \u00a0Trek the gorge and check out the extreme landscapes, and unique animal and plant life including the Tolai Hare, pheasant, and fir-needle ephedra.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Issyk-Kul Lake<\/strong> &#8211; the crown jewel of the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/attractions\/62-tian-shan\">Tian Shan<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/attractions\/64-lake-issyk-kul\">Lake Issyk-Kul<\/a>\u00a0is 6232 sq m of sparkling blue paradise. \u00a0The second largest saline lake in the world, its name in Kyrgyz means &#8220;hot lake&#8221;&#8211; though surrounded by spectacular snow capped peaks, the water never freezes. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/attractions\/69-the-great-silk-road\">Silk Road<\/a>\u00a0traders stopped here to recover from the grueling trek over the passes of the Tian Shan, and it is still the most popular destination in Kyrgyzstan to relax for both tourists and locals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/attractions\/65-lake-son-kul\"><strong>Lake Son-Kul<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; in Kyrgyz &#8220;the final lake&#8221;. \u00a0Son Kul gleams like a brilliant sapphire on it&#8217;s lush green mountain plateau. \u00a0At 3016 m it is inaccessible during winter months, and even in summer weather conditions can change rapidly. &#8220;The Last Lake&#8221; is considered one of the most beautiful areas for summer pasturing with an area of 270 km sq. \u00a0In winter the lake freezes over with ice more than a meter thick.<\/p>\n<p>Nomads have been making the upland trek to this 3016 m asl lake since ancient times with their livestock. \u00a0Some left mysterious &#8220;standing stone&#8221; arrangements. Lake Son-Kul is a beautiful place to experience life on a <a href=\"http:\/\/visitkyrgyzstan.kg\/attractions\/63-jailoos\">jailoo<\/a> \u2013 summer pasture. \u00a0Ride horses in the surrounding mountains, or stay in a yurt and experience an old-fashioned Kyrgyz summer.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Services Included<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Price includes:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Accommodation according the program at home stay, guest houses and yurt camps<br \/>\n\u2022 Meals during tour (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners), except alcoholic drinks<br \/>\n\u2022 Transport services<br \/>\n\u2022 English speaking touring guide<br \/>\n\u2022 Visiting cultural\/historical places and entrance fees<br \/>\n\u2022 Cultural events and show according to the program<br \/>\n\u2022 2 days trek from Kyzyl-Suu to Jety-Oguz gorge<br \/>\n\u2022 2 days trek to Song-Kol lake<\/p>\n<p><strong>Price doesn\u2019t include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 accommodation in Bishkek;<br \/>\n\u2022 meals at cafes;<br \/>\n\u2022 single supplement;<br \/>\n\u2022 personal expenses;<br \/>\n\u2022 activities out of program;<br \/>\n\u2022 travel insurance;<br \/>\n\u2022 tips;<br \/>\n\u2022 international air fare;<br \/>\n\u2022 boat trip and rafting<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trip Itinerary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Bishkek \u2013 Chong-Kemin Valley &#8211; Karakol Town \u2013 2 days Trek from Kyzyl-Suu to Jety-Oguz gorge \u2013 Bokonbaevo Village \u2013 Kochkor \u2013 2 days trekking tour to Song-K\u00f6l Lake &#8211; Bishkek<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This day drive to Chong-Kemin Valley. Visit the Burana Tower architectural complex (10th-11th century, an important point on the Great Silk Road) on the way (15 km from the main road, 1 hour). Upon arrival to Chong-Kemin have a lunch at home stay.\u00a0 Accommodation in a local guesthouse. Optional: horse riding or walk around the village.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1725 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/burana.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1275\" height=\"729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/burana.jpg 1275w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/burana-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/burana-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/burana-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1275px) 100vw, 1275px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After breakfast drive to Karakol (about 5-6 hours). On the way make a stop in Cholpon-Ata to visit an open-air petroglyph (rock painting) gallery (5km from Cholpon-Ata, heading to the mountains). Continue your way to Karakol, make another stop for lunch at cafe. Upon arrival to Karakol, visit Dungan Mosque and Russian Ortodox Church. Dinner will be at caf\u00e9, overnight at guest house.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1730 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-19-17.40-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-19-17.40-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-19-17.40-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-19-17.40-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-19-17.40-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Morning after breakfast transfer from Karakol town transfer to Kyzyl Suu valley (40 km from Karakol). Trekking towards Jeti Oguz valley via Jeti Oguz pass &#8211; 18 km walking distance, max elevation 2800 m. Lunch on route, on the way visiting: waterfall in Kok Jayik gorge. Overnight and diner in the yurt camp<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1731 \" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-20-12.25-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1071\" height=\"803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-20-12.25-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-20-12.25-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-20-12.25-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-20-12.25-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 4<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After breakfast make a short hike to the view point of Oguz Bashy Peak (5180 meters elevation) you will have amazing view of beautiful snowy mountain, back to the yurta, make lunch. After lunch walk down by Jeti Oguz mountain range towards 7 Bulls rock, finishing trekking at Panoramic view point. Next our stop will be at Skazka canyons. Upon arrival to Yurt camp, dinner and B&amp;B will be provided.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1733 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-12.01-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-12.01-1-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-12.01-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-12.01-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-12.01-1-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Afternoon transfer to Jaychi yurt camp, where you will see eagle hunting show. Then continue your way to Kochkor village, have a lunch at home stay at Kochkor village.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1734 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-16.58-2-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-16.58-2-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-16.58-2-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-16.58-2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2020-10-21-16.58-2-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 6<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Transfer from Kochkor to Kyzart pass.\u00a0 Arrival at Kyzart pass, meet your guides team and start the tour. Within sight of the road, cross Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, an enormous, relatively flat sea of grass.\u00a0 Continue over the Chaar-Archa Pass (3 061 m) into the Chaar-Archa Valley and eat a tasty lunch by the racing river, with views of holy 4400 m Baba-Ata Mountain.\u00a0 Sated, ford the river and follow the trail over verdant hills to Kilemche Jailoo.\u00a0 The name means \u201clike a carpet,\u201d and this swathe of grass covers whole mountain ranges, with shadings as subtle as any shyrdak (shyrdak is a Kyrgyz felt carpet).\u00a0 Dine and sleep in a yurt, naturally.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1759 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/yurtstay.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/yurtstay.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/yurtstay-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/yurtstay-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/yurtstay-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 7<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After breakfast at Kilemche, spend the morning climbing to Jalgyz Karagai pass (3400 m), over the Song-Kol Mountains and into the lake\u2019s basin. The morning climb affords wonderful views of Kilemche jailoo, and the pass itself is rocky and exciting.\u00a0 From the pass, Song-Kol is still distant, but as you traipse down the slopes, it gets larger and larger; the mountains on the other side get higher and higher, until finally the lake fills most of your field of view and the southern mountains tower above it.\u00a0 After lunch at Jaman Echki, transfer the lakeshore east to the yurt at Batai-Aral.\u00a0 Upon arrival meet your host family of Kyrgyz shepherds. Meals and overnight are in a yurt of shepherds.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1727 \" src=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/song-kol-lake-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1005\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/song-kol-lake-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/song-kol-lake--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/song-kol-lake--768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1005px) 100vw, 1005px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Day 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After breakfast transfer to Bishkek, via Kalmak-Ashuu pass. Upon arrival to Bishkek, end of the tour.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trip Essentials Tour Type: auto\/trekking Total Duration: 8 days Best Season: mid-June \u2013 end of September Level of Difficulty: medium Maximum Altitude on the Trip: 3 500 meters ASL Start and End Point: Bishkek Transport: jeep\/minivan\/minibus depending on the size of the group Best group size: 2- 12 persons &nbsp; Trip Highlights Burana Tower &#8211; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,4,14,7],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-women-travel","category-summer-travel","category-upcoming","category-green-travel"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-07 12:39:44","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=551"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2198,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions\/2198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=551"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbtkyrgyzstan.kg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}