Transport in Lake Song-Köl - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Getting there & away

It’s 50km from the Bishkek–Naryn road to the lake: 6km to Keng-Suu (Tölök) village, 21km to the end of the narrow valley of the Tölök River, and then a slow 23km (1½ hours) up and over the Kalmak-Ashuu Pass into the basin. This upper road is normally open only from late May to late October. The valley has little traffic and no regular buses.

A car hired from Kochkor through CBT or Shepherd’s Life is the easiest option to get here. Prices depend upon the price of petrol; rates are currently 9som to 10som per kilometre. Generally a car costs around 1800som to 2000som for the return trip. You may find something cheaper in the bazaar.

There are at least three other unpaved 4WD tracks to the lake: from west of the lake at Chayek, to the south from Jangy Talap just off the Naryn–Kazarman road, and a winter road from the southeast corner of the lake to the Bishkek–Naryn road. It’s therefore possible to drive in from Kochkor and out to Naryn or Chayek, making a nice, although expensive (as you will have to pay the return price of both cars) loop route. Hitching is possible but only if you have lots of time and your own supplies.

It’s also possible to trek in to the lake on foot or horseback from Kyzart, near Jumgal, in one or two days, staying in shepherds’ yurts in the Char Archa and Kilenche jailoos although check with Kochkor travel agencies to ensure the current location of yurts en route. This approach has the merit of avoiding the expensive transport to Song-Köl as the 11am minibus from Bishkek continues to Kyzart from Kochkor.

A second approach on horseback or foot lies to the east, from Chekildek, just west of Kochkor, over the Kara Katta range, into the Tölök Valley and then over the Ak-Tash Pass, taking around three days. The CBT and Shepherd’s Life representatives in Kochkor or Shepherd’s Life in Jumgal can arrange accommodation, horses and a guide for around 1400som per day, plus food. Without a tent you really need a guide as it’s impossible to find the yurtstays by yourself.