The lake you cannot drive to
Kol-Tor lies at the top of the Kichi-Kegeti valley, 90 km and about two hours fifty minutes from Bishkek. It is one of the most popular weekend routes for people who live in the city, and for good reason: a long walk through pine forest and under rocky peaks ends at a lake of an aggressively turquoise colour that is very easy to fall in love with.
The colour comes from rock flour — glacial silt carried down by meltwater, so fine that it scatters the light. That is also why the shade shifts through the season: milky and bright in early summer, deeper and greener by September.
The walk
The hike starts at the yurt camp in a small clearing where the road up the valley ends. The trail heads south along the east bank of the river, through green forest, climbing briefly here and there to get around rockfalls, and stays in that pleasant landscape for most of the way. Total distance is about 10 km one way.
This is the most demanding day tour in the collection and it is worth being honest about that: it is a full day of walking at altitude. You do not need any technical skill or equipment, but you do need to be comfortable on your feet for several hours.
When to come
The trail is open from roughly mid-June until early October. Before that there is still snow on the approaches and the lake is half under ice — beautiful, but not safe to walk to. September is the finest month: the air is clear, there are fewer people, and the water turns a deeper blue-green.
It is noticeably colder at the lake than in the valley, and the wind usually gets up after midday, so a light jacket is not optional. If you would like an easier introduction to walking at altitude first, take Ala-Archa the day before.
