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Kyrgyzstan is country of unique mountains. Kyrgyzstan offers more than 200 trails for avid hikers and lovers of riding horseback. For climbers, the country boasts some of the highest points in the world - the famous Pobeda and Khan Tengri Peaks - both towering more than 7,000 meters above the earth. More than 50 national parks and forest preserves present nature in its myriad forms. Tours by foot, bicycle, or horseback can be arranged easily. In fact, for mountainside travel, most Kyrgyz still use horses as the most effective mode of transportation.
Exploring the Area
Song-Kol (also known as Sonkol, Song-Köl, and Son-Kul) is a large alpine lake, sandwiched in a hollow between the inner spurs of the Tien Shan in the Naryn region (Kyrgyzstan). Sitting at 3016 meters above sea level, the lake is surrounded by virgin pastures, a conservation area, and the ridges of Sonköltoo and Moldotoo, making it the perfect site for ecological tourism.
The shores of the lake are low, swamped, and in some places overgrown with reeds. The lake is glacier-fed and drains into the Son-Kul river and eventually the Naryn river. Ice on the lake is common from late September to late May.
Where to Stay
The nearest large settlement is Kyzart.
Eating and Drinking
At Song-Kol, you can order fresh meat prepared according to traditional recipes as well as dishes adapted at the request of tourists in yurt camps. Many people call Song-Kol Lake “the soul of Kyrgyzstan” because the water is pure and fresh. However, foreign tourists are advised not to drink water from streams or lakes without boiling it first.
What to See and Do
The area is very popular for horseback tours from one to ten days, and many also like hiking through the Jumgal region, with overnight stays in yurts instead of tents.
While trekking and taking a horseback tour, you’ll likely see a variety of animals, including varieties fish, such as peled and rare carp species, and waterfowl, such as the demoiselle crane, mountain goose, black stork, and black-headed giggle. The lake itself is a natural beauty, and its surface color changes several times a day, becoming either a saturated blue, then purple-blue, or lush green
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