Nomad yurts on a high summer pasture
Song-Kul sits on a high plateau in central Kyrgyzstan, surrounded by open pastures called jailoo. From early summer, shepherding families move up with their horses, sheep and yaks and live in felt yurts along the shore, and many welcome travellers to stay, eat and ride with them. There are no buildings, just wide grass, big skies and cold nights with brilliant stars. The lake is reached by rough mountain roads or on a multi-day horse trek from Kochkor. The season is short, roughly June to September.