Horse riding to Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan is an experience we’ll never forget. Galloping through the mountains and valleys was pure magic.
At 3,000m altitude, you'll have to give up a few comforts, but it’s all worth it. Whether you trek to Song Kul Lake (also known as Song Kol Lake) on foot or horseback, our guide covers 11 essential tips you'll want to know before you go.
11 Essential Things to Know for your Trek to Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
1. Most shepard yurt camps have no cell reception or power
This may seem like a no-brainer, but without cell reception and only word-of-mouth communication from the Kyrgyz guides, tour companies cannot make reservations for some yurts in advance.
Most yurt camps operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain tour companies are loyal to certain camps, but if the first yurt camp is full you’ll have to try another along the way.
Charge all of your items beforehand and consider bringing a power bank. You may be able to charge in the car on the way to the starting point so consider bringing along a car charger and asking your driver for some juice.
2. Prepare to share a yurt with other people
As nomadic Kyrgyzstan yurt camps are limited in size, during high season, they’ll fit as many people as possible into a yurt. We were 9 to a yurt the first night and 5 to a yurt the second night.
Sleeping arrangements can be toe to toe, so bring earplugs! They worked like a charm.
3. There are two different kinds of yurt camps
There are two different types of yurt camps: commercial yurt camps and authentic shepherd yurt camps.
CBT tours usually head to the eastern side of the lake, where commercial yurts are clustered together. But with Kyrgyz Riders, we got a different experience, staying in authentic shepherd yurt camps surrounded by wide-open landscapes. It felt immersive and connected to the local culture.4. 70% of Kyrgyzstan is 3,000m in altitude or above
At 3,016m above sea level, Song Kul Lake sits high enough that you might experience altitude sickness, which can kick in above 2,500m. Common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
We recommend talking to your travel doctor about taking altitude sickness pills like Diamox - it worked wonders for us on treks in Nepal and Peru.
5. Not used to horse riding? Prepare to get sore!
Three days of horseback trekking was the limit for our sore bodies. If you're a beginner, we wouldn't recommend doing more than three days.
The trek to Song Kul Lake is completely doable as a new rider - your horse knows the route and if you're comfortable, you can even trot or gallop along the way.
6. Expect simple, repetitive flavours at the yurt camps
Since yurt camps prepare all their own food, expect simple, traditional dishes with a lot of the same flavours. In Kyrgyz culture, meals are about more than just eating - they’re a way to spend time together and share stories.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are a communal experience, held inside a yurt with floor seating. Every meal includes tea, fresh bread, a selection of jams and a tray of sweets.
Breakfast usually consists of crepes or porridge (cream of wheat), and occasionally eggs.
Lunch and dinner are quite similar: a starter of tomato and cucumber salad followed by soup. The soup typically includes noodles or potatoes, a few vegetables, and pieces of beef or sheep.
Vegetarian options were available when we visited, and mealtime conversations often flowed in English, with travellers swapping stories about their adventures.
One word of caution - if you’re offered kumis (fermented horse milk), you may want to think twice about drinking it. Our guide warned us that every tourist he’s served it to has ended up with diarrhea. Unfortunately, he shared this helpful advice after Ari had downed a big glass.
7. Meals are served with black tea, not water
Bring a water bottle and some water purification tablets or a water filter. You can fill up your water bottle at the yurt camp water source.
Make sure to ask your guide or host where to fill up. Some obvious points were not safe to drink from so we were glad we asked.
Remember black tea has caffeine so if you get to talking at dinner and have a few cups you may be up all night!
8. Outhouses are simple squat toilets with holes in the ground
All yurt camps we stayed at in Kyrgyzstan had toilet paper. Make sure to bring a headlamp for those middle-of-the-night visits. Squat down and let 'er rip!
9. Be prepared to spend plenty of time outside the yurt
During busy times, especially between 5-7 PM when dinner is being prepared, don’t expect to be shown to your yurt right away. Beds are typically set up during dinner, and you’ll be assigned your sleeping space for the night afterward.
If the camp is particularly crowded, be sure to let someone know your group size to avoid confusion when beds are being allocated. On one occasion, we were sent to two different yurts before things got sorted.
Once you find your bed, it’s a good idea to “claim it” by placing an article of clothing or a bag on it. If you’re travelling with a guide, they can help you navigate this process to make things a bit smoother.
10. Don't worry if your driver pulls over
It’s part of Kyrgyz culture to stop for various reasons, such as helping people out on the side of the road, asking for directions or stopping for a bathroom break.
In recent years there has been a crackdown on speeding, but in some instances, our drivers were winding all over the road and passing in spots where we thought there was no room.
Kyrgyz people also do not typically wear seatbelts, so you may have to hunt for the belt clip in between the seats. The roads are also not the best in Kyrgyzstan so prepare for a bumpy ride.
11. Bring a swimsuit for a summer dip in Song Kul Lake
The lake was refreshing and not even that cold.
We hope you enjoyed these tips for your beautiful trek to Song Kul Lake!
Don't miss our 10 Day Kyrgyzstan itinerary.
Get started on booking your trip to Kyrgyzstan
- 🛖🐴 Book your tour: we booked ours with Kyrgyz Riders and highly recommend.
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner.
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.See what it was like in our Song Kul Lake vlog:
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