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Song - Kol |
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One of the highlights of a trip to Kyrgyzstan is to spend some time out in the grassy plateaus with the local nomads. It's a way of life that is a time-honored way of life that has been preserved for centuries and a once in lifetime experience, and Kyrgyzstan is probably the best place in the world to do this next to Mongolia. Perhaps the best place in Kyrgyzstan to do this is at Lake Song-Kol, located some 3,000 meters above sea-level and in the heart of the Kochkor Valley.
'Yurtstays' can be arranged at the CBT in Kochkor and allow travelers to stay in a yurt with a local family around the lake with meals included. While the yurts located directly around Song-Kol may seem a little touristy, one way to get away from it all for a more authentic experience is to rent a horse and guide for the day at an unbelievably low price (by western standards). The horse ride through the Kochkor Valley to nearby settlements less visited by westerners was perhaps one of the most memorable parts of my trip to Kyrgyzstan.
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| My 8 hour horse trek up the east side of Song-Kol was
one of the highlights of the trip. |
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| Visiting a nearby yurt camp. Above: lunch in a
yurt - which usually consists of dumplings, a meat and rice dish, vegtables,
and kymys - fermented mare's milk. |
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| Below: Getting back to camp after the tiring
hike. |
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Links:
E-mail me @:
glennaldo_sf@hotmail.com
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