Song-Kul Lake - A Nomadic Life Up High in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan has been one of the world’s most underrated countries. In my previous article, I had shared my epic experience hiking up to Ak Sai Waterfall at Ala-Archa National Park.
My next biggest highlight of Central Asia featured an iconic adventure up the mountains in Kyrgyzstan. It was an adventure to experience the Nomadic Life of Kyrgyz locals living high in the mountains. Song-Kul Lake is located 3100 metres above sea level.
Getting to Song-Kul Lake for travellers is a logistical challenge. I went to Song-Kul Lake with G Adventures, an organized tour agency based in Canada that operates life-changing adventures globally.
I began the tour in Bishkek and visited Chong-Kemin before it was time to make the journey up to Song-Kul Lake. Heading up the mountains, my ears began to pop due to the altitude and the temperature began to drop.
The breathtaking views of Tien Shein Mountain range while ascending to 3100 metres above sea level
Experiencing four seasons in one day became a reality. Sunny skies, pouring rain, warm at the base of the mountain and cold ascending to the top, it was an adjustment that had to be made in only a couple hours.
Standing outside a traditional Nomadic yurt camp.
Once we reached the top, we took a short break to take photos of one of Kyrgyzstan’s most scenic mountain ranges (see above) before arriving at our yurt camp next to Song-Kul Lake.
A yurt (Turkic language) is a traditional camping tent covered and insulated with felt and used by the Nomadic peoples of Asia for thousands of years. It can hold from three to fifteen people, depending on the size structure.
When my group and I arrived at our yurt camp, we had shared accommodation and I was assigned to be with three others from the group.
Spending the evening in one of the most remote parts of the world, was the most iconic highlight at this point of my journey through Central Asia. Being immersed in nature, it was wonderful to be disconnected from cellphone and social media and to have an authentic human experience.
Dusk arrived and the temperature went down to 10 degrees centigrade. The group and I were treated to a delicious traditional Kyrgyz meal, which included tasty fried manti beef dumplings, a traditional dish in the Central Asian peninsula consisting of spiced meat mixture with lamb and beef wrapped in a thin dough sheet.
The next morning, I woke up early to go on a hiking adventure with the group. Walking about a kilometre from the yurt camp, I saw the most incredible views of Song-Kul Lake from the top of the hill.
Remote places like Song-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan are truly amazing. As a traveller with autism, adjusting to a new environment is very difficult. Yet it is important for me to push myself and to find the strength to adjust to new experiences and to be in the moment. As I form new memories, I realize how fulfilling it is and why I love to travel.
Views of Song-Kul Lake from atop the hill during the hiking tour
One of the most rewarding yet odd experiences, was living through the evening with no cellphone service. I was immersed in the 10 degree cold night with the crystal clear star gazing night sky above me. It felt therapeutic and allowed me to feel the culture of the Nomadic lifestyle.
National parks, high mountains, Nomadic yurt camps and wild adventures. The next highlight I will blog about is Central Asia’s underrated, yet most fascinating wonder of Uzbekistan.
