Full Day at Son Kul Lake

We enjoyed a full day at Son Kul Lake today, stepping into the nomadic life. The Kyrgyz people here still live in traditional yurts made up of a wooden frame and several felt layers, making them ideal for quickly dismantling and transporting as they migrate from summer to winter pastures with their horses and other livestock. In the morning we completed a 7 km walk up the hills and around some of pastures to help acclimatize to the altitude which is 3100 meters, before going higher tomorrow. At lunch time we were given a 12 liter sac and instructions that we must fill it with only the essentials needed for our upcoming 6 day trek. Gotta love a challenge! It will be carried by porters each day and the remainder of our luggage will be returned to our van that will catch up to us in a weeks time. Gotta love a challenge! We had the afternoon off. Some took a one hour horseback ride while the rest of us read, strolled down to the lake, basked in the sun, and played games. It is so beautiful you don’t ever want to leave but we are told more beauty is in store.Read more