Trek to Song-kol

My sister and I parted ways at Issyk-kol. She returned to Osh for work while I took a taxi for two hours to the town of Kochkor, in the centre of Krygyzstan. Aside from a fascinating animal bazaar where the locals bartered for sheep, cows and horses, Kochkor was an unmemorable place. It was, however, where I was to organise my horse trek through the mountains to Song-kol (knowingly translated by my guide to beautiful lake) which sits at 3016m. 

As we set off after an early lunch on the first day, Beky, my guide, informed me it would be a four hour climb up to Uzbek pass (3400m). The rolling hills and lush green pastures gave way to steeper scree slopes as we climbed higher and after a while our horses began to tire. The path we were following became narrower and narrower, and aside from taking in the spectacular views I spent the final half an hour of the climb hoping I was insured for horse trekking if anything went wrong - one false step by my trusty steed and we would both be shashlik meat! [excuse the Krygyz pun.]

Once we reached the pass it was a further hour until we reached the jailoo (yurt camp) where we would be staying the night. The cool air at altitude was a much needed break from the incessant heat of the plains in Uzbekistan, I slept in the yurt fully clothed under about five blankets - it got freezing at night! I bonded with the boys in the family using the universal language of football, and for once I was actually better than them. Its kind of understandable when you realise Krygyzstan is 96% mountainous - there aren't really many decent places to actually play football here!

We awoke early the next morning to trek round the shore of the lake to the following nights camp where I was given some delicious fried fish that had been caught from the lake that day. The family that put me up in their yurt were lovely, and even though we had difficulty communicating, I had a great time with them.

The third day was a painful affair as we climbed up to Tuss-ashoo pass and then made our way down to the village of Kyzart where the trek would end. Five days later and I think my arse has suitably recovered.

The whole trek cost me the princely sum of £110, far and away the most expensive thing I have shelled out for yet on this trip but still an absolute steal!