Sezim Yurt Camp

At the top of the beautiful Kilemche Valley, at a place called Uch Emchek, the family of Sezim spends the summer season in four traditional yurts. We are a nomadic family and from May to September, the mountains are our home. We live from our livestock – horses, cows, sheep and yaks – following the rhythm of the seasons and the pastures. Our father and brother take special care of the yaks, which roam freely between Kilemche and the high pastures around Song Kul. During the summer, we also prepare traditional dairy products such as kurut, cream and koumis, the fermented milk of mares.

Our camp is situated close to Tolok Pass, at the upper end of the valley, making it a wonderful place to stop while exploring the mountains around Kilemche and Song Kul. From here, travelers can continue towards the Tolok Valley and Kalmak Ashuu, or cross the mountains towards Song Kul by the spectacular Iri Tor Pass at around 3,600 metres. The camp is therefore an ideal base or overnight stop for hiking and horse-riding journeys to or from Song Kul.

For us, the yurt camp is much more than a place to welcome travelers – it is our summer home. When autumn arrives, we return to our house in Kyzart village, leaving the pastures until the following spring. We are always happy to share this special part of our nomadic life with travelers: to sit together in the yurt, taste our homemade dairy products, watch the animals grazing in the valley and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the high mountains.

Our yaks live a life of their own. They are semi-wild animals, moving freely from one pasture to another throughout the year across the mountains around Song Kul. In winter, when the family returns to our farm near Kyzart, you may sometimes see the herd grazing not far from our home. During the summer, you can join us on horseback as we ride out to check on the herd in the high pastures. Following the yaks through the mountains, together with our family, is a truly authentic experience and a wonderful way to discover the traditional rhythm of life in the high pastures.