Son Kul in winter

Son Kul lake is as beautiful and spellbinding in winter as in summer too. We have checked it in January, 2019. It was a crazy winter expedition to try to make it up to the one of the most high altitude lakes in Kyrgyzstan! Roads covered by snow, minus 40 degrees, but the result worth it!

Son Kul is located at the altitude of 3,016 meters. In summer times its rich green meadows serve as pastures for livestock of local shepherds from Naryn region. A group of 4X4 funs planned this trip right in the middle of January. The road to the lake is challenging by itself even in summer, there are cases of getting stuck on the way from time to time. We made it up through Teskei Torpok pass (3, 133 m). The road was all in snow, thanks to cold weather it didn’t melt. Aside of gliding in the snow and getting stuck in some parts which we quickly cleared (we were five 4X4 cars), we did not have more problems. Plus on the way we saw a frozen waterfall!

Driving up to the lake we were astonished by frozen beauty of Son Kul lake. Everything around was dazzling white, the lake frozen. Nothing that is familiar to the eye: no yurts, no grazing animals, not a soul. Absolute silence and purity!

We set up a small settlement with our cars, made a fire and barbeque. We took great photos of amazing landscape at the sunset. My favorite photo is the one with splashing hot water into the air which turns into ice before it hits the ground. The temperature at night dropped down 40 degrees Celsius and we slept in our cars.

This trip with my fellows from 4x4 club was fantastic. We proved that it is possible to make it up to Son Kul lake in the winter. But the chances are 1 out of 10. Good luck!