Thursday 11 May 2023.
Highlights: Mountain hiking in Chong-Kemin, Learning about Felt making, exploring Yurt camp, visiting Issyk-Kul Lake.

Today we started with a 2 hour 20 minute hike in the mountains surrounding our accomandation. The local dog shepherded us for the entire time and got some cattle off our hiking trail.

The views were stunning and literity breathtaking at times (I’m not kinding!).

On our return to our accomdation we all have a much needed shower before leaving for our next site. Along the way we stopped at a major reservoir and then at a G Adventure supported community organisation – Felt Making Workshop in Kochkor village. Before the demonstration of Felt Making we had a wonderful local lunch.

The women then demostrated how they make Felt products, it’s hard work and definitely requires and artists touch.

Our last stop of the nght was at the Almaluu Yurt Camp for a stay in traditional mountain type accomandation.

The camp site was very close to the massive Issyk-Kul Lake so a 20 minute walk saw us at the tenth largest lake in the world meassuring 6,236 square kilometres. So of the group decided to enjoy the pristine water and go for a short swim.

This time also gave me a chance to watch some horses get a bath and trot along the beach sand.

Back at the Yurt camp we enjoyed a sit down (on the floor) dinner which was very tasty. After dinner I checked out my Yurt bed and find it very comfortable with very thick blankets to help you with the cold mountain conditions atr night.