Fresh water, clear air, fragrant flowers, herbs,
mountain ash, barberry, evergreen Tien-Shan fir-trees create additional
conditions for tourists and their rest. The lake is the place of habitation for
mountain goose, different types of ducks and gulls. Tourists are accommodated
in jurts and offered national dishes and drinks (beshbarmak, kumiss, airan,
etc.).
Sonkol is the second in size lake of Kyrgyzstan. Its surface is at a height of 3016 m above sea level. The area of the lake is 275 m2; the depth is 15 m and from late September to mid July the lake is covered with ice. Ice depth can achieve 1.5 m. 18 streams fall into the lake, of which only 4 have a base flow. The only river, Son-Kul, flows from the lake. The wildlife of Sonkol is quite diverse. In summer, this is the place of nesting of different types of ducks, gulls and other waterfowl.
The lake is 90 km from the Naryn oblast center and a couple of kilometers to the south of a small Sary-Bulak village. The lake is surrounded with mountains. Ice covers the lake at the end of October or at the beginning of November and breaks up in April. Swimming and migrating birds of 66 types stop there during migration. For the last 30-35 years, peled, cisco and osman have been acclimatized in the lake. This beautiful and remote mountain lake in the vast plant-free plain at the height of 3016 m above sea level can be seen from a long distance. No settlements are located there and the shores of the lake are empty for the major part of the year. Shepherds come to Sonkol from Kochkor, Naryn and At-Bashy oblasts, because dzhailoo (high mountain pastures) of Sonkol is a popular place during summer months and is considered to be "a perl of the Kyrgyz dzhailoo”. Tourists can lodge in a jurt and spend a day with the local population, riding horses or walking in the local area.
Issyk-Kul lake is a summer resort that is very crowded during the summer. Song-Kol however, is very quiet and you will be able to enjoy the scenic wilderness. In contrast, you can marvel at the majestic mountains and green meadows that are very spacious. Also, climb the nearby mountain lake or take a walk or enjoy horseback riding. If there is good weather at night the sky is full of stars. Also, relax and watch the beautiful sunsets. To really get the full experience, sleep in a Yurt like the nomads who live at the lake from May to September to watch their livestock. During other seasons Song-Kol is closed due to of snow.
