Overview
The Song-Kul horse trek is the classic way to reach Song-Kul lake: the same trail herders use each June when they move their animals up to the summer pastures. You start in the village of Kyzart, spend a night at the Kilemche pasture, cross the Jalgyz-Karagai pass and ride down to the shore of a lake at 3,016 m, where families live in yurts from June to early September.
What riding to Song-Kul is like
You do not need riding experience. The horses are local, small, sure-footed and used to carrying beginners. A horseman from Kyzart rides with the group, and our guide sets the pace, so nobody is pushed into a trot they are not ready for. Most of the route is a walk on wide grassy slopes.
Be ready for long days in the saddle: about four hours on day one and five to six hours on the pass day, with stops for lunch and photos. If you have back or knee problems, tell us when you book; we can shorten the pass day with a car pick-up on the far side.
Where you sleep and what you eat
Both nights are in yurts run by herding families. Yurts are warm, with thick felt walls, a stove and mattresses on the floor; you share one with your group. Toilets are simple outdoor huts and there are no showers at the lake. Hosts cook fresh bread, soups, plov and meat dishes, and there is always tea. Vegetarians are fine if you tell us in advance.
Best time for the Song-Kul horse trek
The yurt camps stand from about mid-June to early September. July and August are the warmest, with green pastures and the most families on the lake. June and September are quieter, but nights can drop below freezing. Our month-by-month Song-Kul guide goes into more detail.
Altitude, weather and safety
The lake is at 3,016 m and the pass is higher. Most travelers feel the altitude only as a light headache or short breath on the climb. Weather in the mountains changes fast, so the guide may change the timing or route on the day; safety comes first. Mobile signal is patchy: expect none on the pass and a weak signal at some camps.
Getting to Kochkor
The trek starts and ends in Kochkor, about four hours by road from Bishkek. We can arrange the transfer, or you can combine the ride with our Issyk-Kul tour or a private trip. Background reading: Song-Köl on Wikipedia.
Booking the Song-Kul horse trek
There are three ways to join the Song-Kul horse trek: pick an open date on this page, propose your own dates and let other travelers join you, or book the Song-Kul horse trek privately for your own group. On a shared date the price per person drops as the group grows. Nothing is paid on this website: a manager confirms the dates, the price and every detail of the Song-Kul horse trek with you first. See all open group departures.
