The story
Song-Kul Kymyz Festival in Song-Kul
An annual gathering of herding families at Batai-Aral on the shore of Son-Kul, Kyrgyzstan's high alpine lake, built around kymyz, the fermented mare's milk of Kyrgyz nomadic tradition. Visitors watch Ulak Tartysh, Kyz Kuumai, and Er Enish, three horseback games that test strength and skill, alongside komuz music and open-fire cooking. The festival pairs equestrian competition with a taste of pastoral life above 3,000 meters.
High on the shores of Son-Kul, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest alpine lake, sitting above 3,000 meters, herding families graze their animals on rich summer pastures before autumn snow forces a return to lower valleys.