After Issyk Kul Lake, the alpine Son Kul is Kyrgyzstan's second largest lake and the largest fresh water lake in the country. Its name, meaning 'following lake' is generally thought to reflect this.
Surrounded by summer pastures and mountains in remote splendour it is considered an area of outstanding natural beauty. The surrounding area is a treeless plain that hosts a rich variety of fauna and flora from herbs (such as chamomile, sagebrush, lichen, friar's cap and golden root) many of which are reputed to have healing properties. There is an abundance of flowers in springtime, in particular Edelweiss. As many as 66 different species of waterfowl live on the shores of the lake - about two thirds of all the varieties found in Kyrgyzstan.
Visitors to the area are hosted by local herders who rent out yurts and provide provisions from June to September.
Bishkek is a city characterised by bazaars, leafy parks, Soviet era statues and monuments. Ala-Too Square is a concrete central city square formerly 'Lenin square' is the scene both of frequent political demonstrations and cultural festivals. City landmarks include the State Historical Museum a three floor museum featuring seasonal exhibits, Soviet-era material and the history and culture of the Kyrgyz people. The M Frunze Museum was the home of General Mikhail Frunze, the World War I and civil war general born in Bishkek. The city bore his name until it was renamed after independence. The museum has photos and displays from the Slavic era. The Osh Bazaar is Bishkek's principal food market. From fresh sheep's heads to Korean pickled salad, and a variety of Kyrgyz snacks you will find a whole host of products on sale especially in spring and summer when local farms have their produce on sale.
Karakol is the fourth largest city in Kygyzstan. Located at the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul it is a major tourist destination for those heading into the area for hiking trekking skiing and mountaineering.
In Karakol centre there are a few historic buildings of interest such as an impressive wooden mosque, built entirely without nails by Chinese artisans for the local Dungans between 1907 and 1910 and equally engaging, a wooden Russian orthodox church.
There is a regional museum exhibiting Issyk Kul Lake petroglyphs, Scythian bronze artefacts, and a short history of the geology and mineral excavation in the area.
Known in Kyrgyzstan as 'pearl of the Tien Shan' Lake Issyk-Kul is classified as one of fewer than 20 ancient lakes in the world and estimated to have been in existence for 25 million years. 180 km long and 60km wide it covers an area of 6,236 square km and is the world's second largest high altitude lake after Lake Titicaca. As it has mild salinity it never freezes.