Song Kul Lake tour: 2 days yurt stay & horse riding

Mountain yaks graze alongside you on the climb to a high-altitude lake where you sleep in a yurt.

A two-day tour from Bishkek to Song Kul Lake in the Kyrgyz highlands, with hotel pickup, private transport and an English-speaking guide. You visit Burana Tower on day one, then climb through changing terrain, stony dunes to green hills, to reach a yurt camp on the lake shore. Day two brings a horse ride into the mountains to a waterfall. The tour includes all transport, guide fees and taxes. Minimum age is 13.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit Burana Tower and travel to Song-Kol Lake

• Drive to Burana Tower
• Explore Burana Tower historical site
• Start elevation to Son-Kol lake
• Observe mountain yaks and edelweiss
• Arrive at yurt camp in Song-Kol lake
• Check in and rest at yurts
• Free time before dinner
• Make fire and enjoy stars

Day 2: Horse riding and nature exploration

• Have breakfast at yurt camp
• Start horse riding adventure
• Ride to mountains and waterfall
• Rest and take nature photos

The experience

The drive from Bishkek takes about an hour and forty minutes to reach Burana Tower, a solitary 11th-century structure standing 70 kilometers from the capital near Tokmok. The tower is all that remains of Balasagun, an ancient city that survived the Mongol invasion of 1218 but was abandoned by the 14th century. From there, the route climbs toward Song Kul Lake, and the landscape shifts as you gain elevation, from stony dunes to rolling green hills. Along the pass, mountain yaks graze peacefully, and mountain edelweiss grows in the meadows. From the highest point, you see the surrounding peaks and the valley below before arriving at the yurt camp on the lake shore.

After checking in and resting from the drive, you have free time before dinner. Once dark falls, a fire is lit by the water, and you can sit under the stars on the lake shore. The next morning, a horse ride takes you into the mountains to a small waterfall. The route itself is long enough to allow rest stops and time for photographs of the surrounding terrain.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel in Bishkek.
• an English-speaking guide for both days.
• yurt accommodation at Song Kul Lake.
• horse riding to the mountain waterfall.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Tour-2 DaysGuide in English, Hindi or Russian · 08:30 and 09:00One-night yurt stay: Spend one night in a yurt while experiencing Song Kul Lake and visiting Burana Tower. Duration: 2 days. Meals across the tour: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. Pickup is included.

Group tours run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.Guide in English, Hindi or Russian · Available from 7 Mar 2027One-night yurt stay: Sleep in yurts to experience nomadic life on the shore of Song Kul Lake, with horse riding along the shore for 2 to 3 hours. Four nomadic meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Hindi and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Tourdeplanet

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour option if you want to meet other travelers and share costs. Book the private two-day tour if you prefer a dedicated guide and the flexibility to set your own pace on the drive and the ride.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Hindi and Russian.

How long does the drive from Bishkek to Song Kul Lake take?

The drive to Burana Tower takes about an hour and forty minutes, and the full journey to the yurt camp at Song Kul Lake continues from there as you climb through the highlands.

What is Burana Tower and why is it worth seeing?

Burana Tower is an 11th-century structure and the only remaining part of the ancient city of Balasagun, which once thrived under the Kalahandi khaganate between the 9th and 11th centuries before being destroyed by the Mongols in 1218.

Do I need horse riding experience for the day-two ride to the waterfall?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the horse ride is designed to include rest stops and time for photographs, so prior riding experience is not required.

What happens at Song Kul Lake in the evening?

After dinner, a fire is made by the water and you can spend the evening watching the stars reflected on the lake shore.

Is the yurt camp comfortable for sleeping?

You stay in yurts at the camp. The tour includes check-in and rest time after the long drive, though the yurts are traditional mountain accommodation rather than hotel-style lodging.