Hike to Lake Köl Tör

The small valley leading to Lake Köl Tör begins right at the southern end of Lake Köl Ükök. However, you will not find any well-trodden path here. But the direction of the march is quite clear. But definitely do not walk along the river, because otherwise you will end up in the surrounding wetlands. Ideally, walk through the meadow-covered valley a few tens of meters higher than the river.

From the flowering meadows you can see far into the main valley surrounded by four thousand peaks – another potential nice trip with views, relatively without much effort.

The path is very pleasant from the beginning – you can basically walk across the meadows towards the first moraine. In addition, you will always have a view of the nice ice wall. However, the mountains that surround Köl Tör are still on the horizon.

The end of the meadow is approaching and with it the first obstacle – the old glacial moraine. The terrain looks like there could be a lake behind it, but unfortunately it's just a delusion.

At the first moraine is a small waterfall and then the river disappears for a long time under a rock field. The ascent to the moraine is ideal from the right, where you will surprisingly come across a sign of the road and a small pen for cattle high in the rocks. The path then turns left under the rocks, goes under them and ascends to the next meadow

From the moraine you can see a wide valley to Lake Köl Ükök

The beginning of summer is probably the best time for Kyrgyzstan – the herders are moving to the alpine jailoo meadows, which look like a colorful carpet thanks to the blooming flowers. In some places you will almost feel sorry to walk and tread on that beauty at all.

Behind the first moraine begins the „wilderness“ – unsaved meadows and nowhere. In addition, the great wall of the second moraine rises in front of you.

The final ascent leads first through the boulders under which the river flows. The waterfall will roar above you. It continues to the left between the moraine and the smooth rocks. This is probably the most unpleasant section where you have to climb huge boulders.

Finally, you will get over a rocky field and you will optionally climb the grassy areas between the smooth rocks up to the view of the lake.

After about two hours of walking (and almost half a kilometer higher) from Köl Ülök, you are finally rewarded with views of the rougher Köl Tör. The surrounding peaks are about 4,200 meters above sea level and most of them are inaccessible to classic tourists.

The surrounding rock walls are covered with remnants of glaciers and there are also remnants of another lake. In addition, if you climbed even higher, there should be another smaller lake.

Panoramic end of the valley with glaciers and lakes

Lake Köl Tör is also very picturesque

The way back is much faster, so after an hour's walk you will be in the romantic landscape of Lake Köl Ükök again.