Posted by: @freemThere are many yurt camps at Son-Kul. They are all along one shore.
I read in reports that the yurt camps at Son-Kul are mainly located on the northern shore of the lake — do you happen to know if this is true? I just want to head in the right direction from the start.
Posted by: @freemAt Tash-Rabat, directly opposite the caravanserai, you’ll see both wagons and yurts with a parking lot.
By the way, did you happen to go from Tash-Rabat towards Lake Chatyr-Kol? We're considering it as a day trek option. I read that you can reach a point with a beautiful view of the lake and return to camp in a day. Do you know anything about this?
Honestly, I don’t know which is the northern or southern shore, but all the camps were on one shore. Since we were coming from north to south and just drove straight to the lake without detours, it’s likely that the camps are on the northern shore.Posted by: @mmmmakarovI read in reports that the yurt camps at Son-Kul are mainly located on the northern shore of the lake — do you happen to know if this is true? I just want to head in the right direction from the start.
Could you tell me how long it took to drive from Son-Kul to Tash-Rabat? We are planning to travel in the opposite direction. I think we’ll skip returning to Naryn and head straight to Son-Kul.
We left Son-Kul at 8 AM. We stopped for photos at two passes (Terskey Torpok was really beautiful, we probably stayed there for about half an hour — the view was stunning), plus a couple more locations. We also stopped in Naryn to fuel up and have lunch (there really aren’t any other good places to eat on the way). We had lunch at "Khan Tengri" restaurant — I recommend it. The food is delicious, prices are reasonable, and don’t be intimidated by the grandeur of the place. We stopped at Koshoy Korgon to see the remains of a fortress, and we could easily walk right in — the gates were just tied with rope (there’s also a small museum, which you can skip unless you need the bathroom). We arrived at Tash-Rabat about an hour and a half before sunset. If you don’t stop too much for scenic views, the whole journey takes around 6 hours.
Posted by: @mmmmakarovBy the way, did you happen to go from Tash-Rabat towards Lake Chatyr-Kol? We're considering it as a day trek option. I read that you can reach a point with a beautiful view of the lake and return to camp in a day. Do you know anything about this?
No, we didn’t. We arrived in the evening, and left early the next morning (we had to head to Cholpon-Ata and then Bishkek that same day). We didn’t have any treks planned (the Kok Moynok canyon in the Boom gorge doesn't really count — it was just a short walk). We’re not big fans of hiking, so I can’t say anything about the difficulty or the time needed. But I can tell you that the mountains there are steep, and you really need to be in good physical condition. Also, the morning we left, everything was covered in snow and frozen — even walking on the road was tough. And don’t forget about the altitude! Do you have any experience with high-altitude trekking?
@mmmmakarov just for your info about the roads. No matter how tempting it is, stick to the speed limit. In towns, there are homemade speed bumps everywhere — no markings or signs, and they can be pretty rough. There are a lot of traffic police near cities, and mobile cameras on the highways (radar detectors are very popular there). In the mountains, even though there’s little traffic, people tend to overtake on blind curves. In the higher mountain areas, where the roads are gravel, the road width is only enough for one car, and there are few oncoming cars, but when they do appear, you’ll want to find places to pull over in advance, as you can see oncoming traffic from quite a distance. Also, there are a lot of right-hand drive cars, so their overtaking style can be a bit unpredictable, especially with oncoming traffic. Not all the gas stations along the way are working. If you see a few, stop at the one with the most people. Fuel prices are a bit cheaper than in Moscow (I only compared diesel, since my car runs on diesel). Many cars are running on gas, so make sure you know what kind of rental car you're getting.
Posted by: @freemAnd don’t forget about the altitude!
I have some experience at high altitudes (for example, Cusco and the surrounding areas, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni) — I just don’t know if these comparisons are valid for Tash-Rabat, for example. As for trekking, I do have some experience, but of course, we’ll assess our strengths realistically. If we feel we can’t continue, we’ll turn back. We’re not planning to go all the way up to base camps just yet. And judging by the information, it seems that trekking boots will be necessary — regular trekking sneakers might not be enough.
Then you should be fine. Kyrgyzstan is much easier, maybe because you’re often descending into valleys, and you don’t stay at high altitudes for too long. But the first night is a real challenge, when you feel like you haven’t slept all night — and this happens to everyone.Posted by: @mmmmakarovI have some experience at high altitudes (for example, Cusco and the surrounding areas, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni)
Around Tash-Rabat, trekking boots are better — the slopes are steep and rocky. For everything else, regular sneakers should be enough, though we didn’t really climb around the "ruins" much.Posted by: @mmmmakarovAnd judging by the information, it seems that trekking boots will be necessary — regular trekking sneakers might not be enough.
Posted by: @mmmmakarovAs for trekking, I do have some experience, but of course, we’ll assess our strengths realistically. If we feel we can’t continue, we’ll turn back.
If you have any beginners with you who have never been to high-altitude areas, I wouldn’t go too high. Everyone reacts differently to altitude, and it doesn’t depend on physical fitness.