In June of this year, the Kyrgyz Tourism Association, whose members are organized in the "Hospitality Kyrgystan" community program took the great initiative to organize and hold a great clean up happening, a much applauded eco-action on the shores of lake Son Kol.
It is undeniable that Son Kol is one of the most popular destinations both for foreign visitors and the Kyrgyz as well. With their innate sense of hospitality, visitors from near and far are always welcomed with great joy by the locals. After all, those who travel all the way to Son Kol's shores, are also those who have spread the word about what a magnificent place it is and have made the name Son Kol famous.
I. Tourism is on everybody's mind these days, with all the wonderful benefits visitors bring. But as even Kyrgyzstan had to learn, guests come and go and sometimes leave more behind than they were counted on. Waste and garbage stain unspoilt nature and create a damaging effect.

The Kyrgyz Tourism Association thus decided to take action and provide much needed relief from the ecological pressure in the area. Local inhabitants, foreign visitors, journalists and guests joined in on what turned out to be a delightful event with a happy ending after all.
It takes 6-7 hours to reach this pearl in the mountains from the capital. The road leading to Son-Kol is a long and winding one but the drive well worth it. Below a marvelous picture of endless skies, colorful mountains beckon. Finally, at a hight of 3016 meters over sea level beautiful Son Kul with its deep blue waters reflects the clouds. In this environment, the participants in the great clean up evidently were much enthusiastic.
In two's or small groups they set out, wearing protective gloves and equipped with big bright blue garbage bags, to rid the shore of the kind of debris no nature lover will want to stumble accross. Amazing, what the bags slowly but surely started to accumulate and nothing escaped the eco-friend's sharp eye.
At the end of the day, the goodwill and zest of all those who had laboriously spent their day scanning the ground, alas under much bantering and laughter, was much rewarded with good food and an entertainment program featuring folk music and a national show program, song and dance, equestrian games, felt making demonstration and much more. The eco-action aims at the support of the ecological equilibrium along and off the shores of lake Son Kol and at maintaining a more vigilant and considerate attitude towards the environment among not only among the local population but the general public as well. Indeed, the action had several aspects to it, awareness raising on the one hand and PR on the other, not to mention the personal satisfaction achieved by those who on that very day have made a difference to Son Kul. The Kyrgyz Tourism Association has fixed the clean-up day into its calendar of events in 2007 and hopes to draw even more participants in the future. For 2006, upcoming events and festivals of the Association include: Kyryz Kochu (Resettlement), Falconry National Equestrian Games National Cuisine Folklore and much more. For further details, also on programs of national games and sports, felt production, familiarization with traditions and culture of the Kyrgyz people, ask your travel agent or check www.cbtkyrgyzstan.kg

Son Kul is a mountain lake in the Central Tian Shan range, virtually in the centre of Kyrgyzstan, on a high altitude plateau. Its name translates as "The Last Lake". At an altitude of 3016m above sea level, the Son Kul is 29km long and 18km wide, with a maximum depth of 13.2m - it is indeed Kyrgyzstan's second largest lake. With an average yearly temperature of 3.5°C, the lake freezes up between September and June (unlike Issyk Kul) for there are close to 200 days of snow over the year and temperatures reach but 11 °C in the summer; it is a pure mountain lake.
Well above the tree line, the lake is surrounded by lush mountain meadows, the jailoo. As such it is used by the shepherds of Kochkor, Naryn and At Bashi regions as summer pastures for their flocks. In fact, there is evidence that it has been used for pasture from very ancient times. Some mysterious freestanding stones and a circle of stones close by provide an interesting topic for speculation, nothing on the scale of Stonehenge but nevertheless intriguing as to their origin and how they ended up on Lake Son Kul
Every spring, the shepherds drive the livestock, sheep and horses, up here. They set up their summer camp, namely the yurt, the round dismantable wood frame over which felt sheets are strapped, the very essence of the Central Asian nomad's home. These yurts are scattered all over the Son Kul area and the shepherds are always happy to welcome foreign visitors with a cup of Kumyz, their fermented mare's milk. It is also possible to negotiate an overnight's stay in one of the yurts, where one sleeps on padded mats on the floor.

More professional bedding can be arranged with the local community based tourism type of accommodation. Several 'Yurt Inns' receive paying guests over the Summer months only, they are fully equipped with kitchen, toilets and washing facilities. It is also possible to arrange horse riding and trekking lasting anything from 1h to 1 day. 4 roads lead up the valley to Son Kul. One from Sary Bulak in the north east; a second passing through a dramatic sequence of over thirty serpentines, hairpin bends from Naryn in the south east. Time permitting you could schedule in a detour via a spectacular waterfall in the woods en route. The third option starts out at Ak-Tal in the south west and the fourth route past the coal mines of Kara Keche towards Chaek in the north west. It is also possible to ascent on horseback from neighboring valleys, as from the Salt Mines at Chong Tuz (a 3-day trek, to be arranged beforehand as horses are not always available to those who just spontaneously show up). Son Kul is a summer destination only, with the precarious weather out of season, yet it is amazing just how many seem to think the rules of nature do not apply to them.

As you may have gathered, there are no buses up to the lake so if you are not on an organized tour, a local taxi from Naryn and Kochkor can get you there. Or how about flying in with a helicopter from Bishkek? This too can be arranged through a travel agent. The beauty of the Son Kul has enraptures both locals and tourists alike. There is a story of the local Khan, Ormon Khan, who when he first set eyes on the lake imposed a fine of forty horses, (no small sum then or now), on the locals for having hidden this gem from him! Lovers of pristine nature will be delighted to have chosen Son Kul. Flowers are plentiful in the spring (especially Edelweiss) and some 66 different species of waterfowl make their homes on the lake's shores. Add to that gulls and ducks; cranes, storks, falcons the golden eagle and if you are lucky, the sighting of a marco polo sheep or a lynx. What more could you wish for.