Son-Kul Lake

Son-Kul is the second most famous alpine lake and mountain meadow in Kyrgyzstan. At an altitude of 3016 m (9895 feet) above sea level, Son-Kul is astonishingly blue, surrounded by flat, fertile green meadows, long used by nomadic herders for grazing their animals. Because of its remote location and high elevation, Son-Kul is only accessible in the summer (from around June to early September). Sustainable and community based tourism has thrived here for years, and there are a number of eco-friendly yurt camps where visitors can stay comfortably and experience the traditional nomadic culture of the Kyrgyz highlands. The surrounding mountains are pleasant and great for trying horseback rides or going on shorter or longer treks. Roughly 100 km (60 miles) from the town of Kochkor, and 300 km (190 miles) from Bishkek, the road to Son-Kul takes about 6-7 hours, and though much of the road is paved, some parts are still gravel.