Sleep in a yurt on the shores of Son Köl

KYRGYZSTAN // Decorated by a forest of mountain peaks and fringed by nomads' yurts, delightfully remote Son-Köl is one of Kyrgyzstan's most beautiful natural spots. And that's saying something in a country where unspoilt lakes, mountains and pastureland are the norm. Its sister lake, Issyk-Köl, is much bigger, much easier to reach and much more popular. But that's exactly what makes Son-Köl special. Situated at 3016m (9895ft), it's a summery dream when nomad families put up their camps for the season on the grassy jailoo (meadows) that front the lakeshore. Many participate in Kyrgyzstan's well-established community tourism network, opening their yurts as accommodation. During the day, hikes and horse rides offer varied vistas of the lake's gleaming waters. At night, a canopy of stars blankets the light-pollution-free skies.