Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan: Things to Do and How to Get There

Kochkor is a large village in Naryn region of central Kyrgyzstan, at 1,767 m on the Bishkek–Naryn highway — the gateway to Song-Kol lake, the summer pastures (jailoo) and the felt-making tradition of the Kyrgyz. Most travellers stop here for a night on the way to Song-Kol: to arrange a horse ride or a jeep, visit a felt workshop or the Saturday animal market.

Kochkor at a glance

• Region: Naryn region, centre of Kochkor district; founded in 1909 as Stolypino
• Altitude: 1,767 m above sea level
• Population: about 11,400 (2021)
• Distances: Bishkek about 200 km (3–4 hours), Balykchy on Issyk-Kul about 45 km, Song-Kol about 90 km over Kalmak-Ashuu pass (3,446 m)
• Animal market: Saturday mornings

Things to do in Kochkor

• Felt workshops — Kochkor is known for shyrdak, the colourful Kyrgyz felt carpets. The Altyn-Kol women’s handicraft cooperative runs workshops and sells felt directly from the makers.
• Animal market — on Saturday mornings farmers from the valley trade sheep, horses and cattle on the edge of the village; come early.
• Bazaar and kymyz — the village bazaar sells kymyz, fermented mare’s milk, in summer. Try a little first: it is unusual for most stomachs.
• Song-Kol lake — the alpine lake at 3,016 m with yurt camps, the main reason to come. Song-Kol guide
• Sarala-Saz jailoo — high summer pastures for a half-day or full-day horse ride.
• Kol-Ukok lake — the “lake in a chest”, a mountain lake above the Kochkor valley, reached on foot or on horseback.
• Chong-Tuz salt mine — a natural salt deposit used since Soviet times as a treatment centre for the lungs.
• Orto-Tokoy reservoir — turquoise water among eroded hills, about 25 km north-east on the road to Balykchy.

How to get to Kochkor

• From Bishkek: about 200 km, 3–4 hours by car. Shared taxis and minibuses (marshrutkas) leave from Bishkek’s Western Bus Station towards Kochkor and Naryn.
• From Balykchy: about 45 km, under an hour. Shared taxis and minibuses leave from the Balykchy bus station — the usual connection if you come from Issyk-Kul or Karakol.
• From Kochkor to Song-Kol: about 90 km by 4×4 or minivan over Kalmak-Ashuu pass, which is usually open from June to October. There is no public transport to the lake.
• From Kochkor to Bishkek: the same routes in reverse — shared taxis and minibuses towards Bishkek and Balykchy.

We arrange transfers from Bishkek airport or your hotel to Kochkor and on to Song-Kol.

Where to stay and eat

Kochkor has many family guesthouses and homestays and a few simple hotels. Local cafes serve Kyrgyz and Russian dishes; in a guesthouse you can order home-cooked dinner with the family. Kochkor is also a good place to sleep one night before Song-Kol: at 1,767 m it helps you adjust to the altitude of the lake.

Tours via Kochkor

• Song-Kol Horse Riding Tour – 3 days from Kyzart (also possible on foot)
• Weekly group trip to Song-Kol and Karakol: fixed dates, small group
• Kol-Ukok lake and Ukok pass – 5-day horse trek
• Kol-Ukok Lake Express – 2 days with a hike to a glacier lake

Horse riding from Kochkor: the village is a common base for rides to Song-Kol and the surrounding summer pastures, for example the 3-day Song-Kol ride from Kyzart. All routes: horse riding tours in Kyrgyzstan.

Frequently asked questions about Kochkor