Kyrgyzstan: Kol Tor Lake (At Bashi)
The trek to Kol Tor is an easy dayhike to a beautiful mountain lake off the upper At Bashi Valley in the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. Short distances and minimal elevation gain make this suitable for trekkers of all levels, and the views stack up with some of the best hikes in all of Naryn.
Total Km: 4km
Total Days: 1
Elevation Gain/Loss: 166m+ / 166m-
Start Point: Upper At Bashi Valley
End Point: Upper At Bashi Valley
GPS Files
Kol Tor lake is an exceedingly easy hike, one of the easiest treks in Kyrgyzstan that we’re aware of – any visitors of reasonable physical capacity will likely be able to do it in under an hour. The location off the upper At Bashi Valley is a bit out of the way, but it makes a great side trip en route to or from Kel-Suu Lake and a good excuse to stretch your legs on an otherwise long day in the car.
The trail to Kol Tor starts in an open jailoo on the northern bank of the At Bashi river. Leave your car near the closest yurt camp, and begin the gentle climb along the eastern side of the small stream that runs down from the lake above.
The end of the hike is basically in sight as soon as you begin, the small rise at the end of the valley, just beyond which is the lake itself. The path rises and falls a bit as it carries up the valley, crossing at one stretch a short rockfall with unstable footing, and passing three small ponds along the way down near the river.
Very soon, the final stretch of trail comes, a steeper bit to the top of the last rise and then a short stretch atop the hill before dropping back down to the lake shore.
The shore is obviously a popular gathering point for local tourists, as evidenced by the considerable litter and cigarette butts to be found there, but it’s otherwise an excellent campsite and an incredible payoff for such a short walk.
At only 2km each way there’s certainly no reason you’d need to camp here, of course. But the lake is spectacularly beautiful by night as well, so if you’ve got the time to spare it can be worthwhile.
Alternate Options for Hike Name
From the small campsite at the beginning of the lake, an obvious trail climbs steeply to the west and follows alongside the lake to the far end, then continues up the valley as it curves away to the east.
Good To Know
There are no fees to enter this area and you won’t need any special equipment, though given the amount of local foot and horse traffic that seem to visit the lake we certainly would recommend some kind of purification system for your drinking water.
Getting to Kol Tor Lake (At Bashi)
Around 20km along the Upper At Bashi Valley from the turnoff past Bosogo, look for a small wooden sign that says “Kol Tor”. Follow the track down to the river and across a bridge (recently built by the Ayu construction company, who are apparently from At Bashi) to the far side, following the fairly good valley road all the way to the trailhead.
No public transportation runs up the Upper At Bashi Valley, or really anywhere close. You may be able to find a marshrutka from At Bashi or Naryn to the village of Ak Muz, but you’ll still need to get past Bosogo to the turnoff and then up the At Bashi valley.
Where to Stay and Eat
Though there are no formal accommodation options anywhere in the valley, very few tourists pass this way and so the traditional sense of jailoo hospitality is still very much alive. The patriarch of the family that live in the yurts right at the trailhead is particularly friendly, and would probably offer a bed to travelers in need. Make sure to leave a small cash donation if you take advantage of this, ideally passed quietly to one of the ladies of the family if the men resist taking it.
It’s also worth considering overnighting by the lake shore – it’s a beautiful spot, especially as the sun begins to set and the lake reflects the day’s dying light as it bounces off the underside of the cloudy sky.
