Nomad Lodge Son-Kul

About Nomad Lodge Son-Kul

Nomad Lodge is the most precisely documented camp on Song-Köl, and the specification is unusual: a European-style toilet with a bowl at the entrance of every sleeping yurt, five hot shower cabins shared one between two yurts, wooden floors with carpet, waterproof outer covers, and proper mattresses at 80 by 200 centimetres with linen, two blankets and a pillow each. Ten yurts in all, booked either as basic — four people sharing — or comfort, at two. Two dining yurts in national style seat twenty apiece, with low tables and jer toshok mattresses. What you need to plan around is the utilities schedule, which the lodge publishes honestly: showers run 16:00 to 19:00 only, mains power is on from 18:00 to 23:00, and the stoves are lit once or twice a day, evening and early morning. There is no wi-fi at all, though a 24-hour emergency connection exists. No drinks are sold, so bring your own and don't resell them to other guests. Horse tours run with a stableman and a maximum of six horses, and the Nomad Festival at Batay-Aral, seven kilometres away, falls on the last Saturday in July. Booking is by web form or email only, with a voucher required on arrival. Mid-June to mid-September.

Highlights

• A European toilet at every yurt entrance
• Five hot shower cabins, one per two yurts
• Full published tariff including transfers
• Nomad Festival 7 km away in late July
• Child discounts down to free under three

Getting there

Northern shore of Song-Köl. 110 km from Kochkor, 330 km from Bishkek via the Kalmak-Ashuu pass, and 44 km from Kyzart via the Tuz-Ashuu pass. Transfers: Kochkor to camp one-way US$180 per car for 1-3 people; Bishkek round trip over two days by 4x4 US$465 per car.