My understanding is Song-Kol is a Summer pasture for the nomads. Most if not all yurt camps will be gone by late Sep. It is very cold there even in the Summer as the lake lies at 3016m ASL. Thus I don't think horse-trekking there is possible in Oct. But you can still charter a taxi to go there as a day trip.
I am not an experienced horse-rider and found that two days on a horse was more than enough for me.
Summary of my trip in Kyrgyzstan :
Upon arrive into Bishkek airport early morning, took a taxi which cost 500som to bus terminal. Follow by 235som by public bus to cholpon ata which arrive around noon time and spend around 2hr at the beach before another 200som by public bus to karakol.
Another 100som taxis which usually only cost 70som within karakol city to my guesthouse (Kyrgyz-Tours Guest House). Accommodation per night person is 700som with breakfast. Best value and comfort accommodation in Kyrgyzstan I had so far. Breakfast comes with 2 fried eggs slice sausages and sliced cheese and breadroll with tea. And if you ask tea during the day, you get either bread rolls with jam or cookies with salad with no extra cost. I was really impressed with their hospitality. Dinner is 250som which is a decent one as well.
I had arranged my karakol trekking with them too and I must say their prices are much lower than cbt Karakol anytime based on similar itineraries (Btw I heard from fellow travellers that cbt Karakol was not as helpful or seem to be). Thus I highly recommend them for any karakol arrangements.
Stayed a night in Torsom if I remember correctly which is south part of issuy kul lake which was a nice resting point cos it will be to long journey back to Bishkek. Somehow I realised from the trip is that if local told you the transportation or trekking journey is 3hr... Please add another 60% more to it to play save as buffer... :P
Went to kochkor by shared taxis from balkchy and by public bus from torsom to which was really a killing due to really really freezing weather then. Cbt kochkor accommodation usually located inside the village which a distance from main center thus I would advised to walk along the main street on the side of the cbt upward further down towards public bus terminal crossing one or two streets and you will see a accommodation on the right side of the main street which is much of a convienent place to stay. Cbt kochkor advised only able to do horse ridding and car ride to song kul lake due to super cold weather and to overnight in song kul will be a challenging one thus decided head back to Bishkek the next day.
Shared taxis to Bishkek is 250som per person. Stay in sakura guesthouse (750som private room) which apparently is popular with backpackers. Clean room and clean shared toilets and showers.
"Simon" from Cbt Bishkek did an amazing arrangement for my kara Suu trekking trip which included a 5 days trekking to sary chelek plus 2 nights in kara suu for USD375. Knowing that it will be difficult for me to located the shared taxis from osh market to kara Suu, he had his brother to meet me at my guesthouse the next day to bring me to the right place for the taxis to kara Suu and even waited with me till the taxis departed from osh market. I was really touched by the kind gesture. Shared taxis cost 1500som to kara Suu but suspected it to be 1000som for the locals cos I saw them only gave 1000som when arrived into kara Suu.
Cbt kara Suu in-charge which happen to be the father of cbt Bishkek "Simon" waited for me late in the evening and drove me to the guesthouse where I had my long awaited yummy dinner.
Next day I started the trekking after breakfast to the walnuts forest for two nights in a working yurt to experience the life of the locals (I was supposed to stay in tent for 2 nights but my guide got me to zzz in yurt cos his friend was haveresting there then.. Woohoo!). Love the experienced in the walnut forest... Locals are amazingly friendly. Continue on trekking to sary chelek lake was a killing for me... I thought im gonna die when I had to go through a pass - snow up big rocks down. But the lake was worth it.... Amazing view! Once again my guide got the lake ranger to let us stay in an empty room for a night for 100som... It will be too cold to zzz in tent as planned.
Continue on.. We went to another village for a night the next day where I could have shower finally!!! Lol... Next day we proceed back to kara Suu for a night before heading to Arslanbob. I must say that I wished I would stay more nights in kara suu village than arslanbob cos its more simple and basic living which I love in kara suu. (PS: there is no wine in the supermarket in arslanbob except beer while kara Suu have both, no money exchange in kara suu while arslanbob does).
Planned for 7 nights in arslanbob which I shortened to 3 nights cos I refused to do another few overnights hiking trips which im sure will be amazing as well... Ha ha ha.
Public buses from arslanbob - bazaar Korgon - Jalal Abad - Osh which takes less than 4hrs in total (less than 300som in total). Stayed in a guesthouse (800som) recommended by cbt osh which was very near to sulamine too site and convienent location, good shower, toilet and beds. (I will suggest to contact cbt in the regions you are going and planning to use their services or advise before your arrival cos they might not open the offices due to low peak seasons).
Stayed for a night and left in the morning for shared taxis to sary mongul which I will suggest to get cbt sary mongul to arrange shared taxis to pick you up from your guesthouse in osh and send you to sary mongul cbt with other passengers (500som per way, taxis driver will try to ask 1000som or even 2500som if you go to osh terminal taxis stand to sary mongul, which happens to me).
Stayed for two nights in the guesthouse (500som per night), which I feel if you can managed to get a transport from osh and reached there by the evening with a full day next day free in sary mongul (2000som private car hire across the lake to the mountain Base) follow by departure back to Osh the following day will be good enough.
Back to Osh for 2 nights with sightseeing the next day and back home on the 3rd day.
Note: During the journey I was told by other travellers that they had been approached by police whom bought them to a room and asked to count their money which the police took away some of the cash from the travellers and apparently it was not an unusual thing.
Personal I happened to saw a police in Osh to signal me to go to him where he was inside a building stand which I pretend didnt saw him and walk away from his direction.
Unfortunately I was approached by the immigration officer who claimed that I had overstayed my trip (23days) and said I cant leave the country and have to stay in Bishkek for 5 days for documents verification. He ask if I had money with me and said I will be able to continue to take my flight if I had usd50. No much choices I gave him and he told me not tell anyone if not he and me will have trouble.
Thus I will strongly suggest to to keep away from police or any government personnel view's.
Hope the info is helpful to any of you guys.
Have fun in Kyrgyzstan!!!! :)
Thanks for the very useful info especially your dealing with the corrupt official! But did you actually overstayed your visa?
i dun believed i did as i did told tge immigration officer upon arrival into Kyrgyzstan that i will be there for 3 weeks and she welcomed me plus there were tons of other travellers i knew along the way were be there for around 3 weeks too.
i was just unfortunate on my way back which i would other travellers to take note of.