Winter adventure around the Kyrgyz range

This park encompasses the entire Chong Kemin Valley. There are many trails still virgin or almost. Several passes between Issyk Kul Lake or Kitchi Kemin Valley.

The total area is 126,514 hectares. Here in the park the river Chon Kemin flows. More than 780 species of plants grow and rare mammals such as snow leopard, brown bear, maral, Eurasian lynx, golden eagle, himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis),  bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), saker falcon and sablefly are found.

Nomad's Land with CBT Chong Kemin offer an amazing trek routes to the Issyk Kul lake. Janybek is the coordinator of the association based in the village of Karol Doeboe

The scenary Song Kul (or Song Kul) lake is the main pasture of nomads. Hundreds yurts are built during summer. The beautiful lake large of about 25-35 km is a natural reserve. Many species of birds are stopping during their long migration. Some tombs from Sakh times and petroglyphs are most ancient traces of live. Different trekking or horseback riding roads are joining the place.

The Orto-Tokoy reservoir is the first reservoir built in Kyrgyzstan. Construction began in 1941 and ended in 1960. It is located on the Chu River, behind the village of Kochkor. Its length is about 18 km, its volume is over 470 million cubic meters, and its maximum depth is 47 meters.
The main purpose of the reservoir is to regulate the water level of the Chuy River in order to irrigate for agricultural land in Chui Oblast and southern Kazakhstan.

Kochkor is a town of shepherds located in Naryn oblast 200 km from Bishkek. It is located at 1800m. alt. The city has 17,000 residents. Most of them are shepherds or farmers. With the Kyrgyz hospitality, tourism is an increasingly important for economy. It is a starting point to reach the sights as Lake Song Kul, Sarala-Saz pastures, Lake Koelykoek, the salt mine Chong Tuz, and also the crossroads between Issyk Kul lake and City Naryn. Places for visiting: the women cooperative "Kochkor Kutu" which develops Kyrgyz crafts. Opportunity to see a demonstration of the production of livestock market mouton. The cattle market held each Saturday is always a colorful and lively event,don't miss it.

Kilemche valley is situated in Jumgal region, at an altitude up to 3240 m., where some nomads families stay even in farms during the winter. It does not have steeps rapids, so it is more like a mountain valley and river flowing quietly and steadily. Kilemche jailoo has amazing beauty of meadows, where it grows a lot of herbs and flowers to delight the eye, like arnica, edelweiss and gentian. Mostly shepherds of the Kyzart village, are covering the Kilemche valley by their yurts and cattle. For some nomads is a 2 steps transhumance before to pass the summer at the Song Kul lake. 

In winter, to get there is an epic adventure, with Nomad's Land you can enjoy horseback riding, shnow-shoeing, ski-touring or just hiking. The snow makes an beautiful contrast with red south side mountain of Kyzart Toer. The life there is hard, and mostly yaks will pass the winter there. To make your trip more adventurous, you can enjoy a night under yurt at the Song Kul's lake.