Almaty-Bashi-Aktau

Almaty - Depart from Almaty at 08:00. Travel for over an hour on a highway (120 km), passing the artificial Kapshagai water reservoir, the largest in the Almaty region, with the “Kazakh Las-Vegas” casinos on its banks.

Konaev City - 09:30 Continue driving for over an hour on a highway (120 km), passing the artificial Kapshagai water reservoir, the largest in the Almaty region, with the “Kazakh Las-Vegas” casinos on its banks.

Saryozek - 10:30 Make a brief stop at a gas station.

Kalinino - 12:00 Arrive at Basshi village, located within Altyn Emel National Park. Enjoy lunch in the village and take an excursion to the Aktau mountains (85 km off-road).

Altyn-Emel National Park - 14:00 Arrive at the Aktau and Katutau mountains. The Aktau Mountains (White Mountains) are a globally recognized paleontological site. The Katutau Mountains (Frozen Rocks) are ancient, eroded mountains with preserved volcanic formations. 18:00 Return to Basshi village.

Kalinino - 19:00 Return to Basshi village. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at a local guesthouse.

Bashi-Altyn Emel National Park

Kalinino - After breakfast at 07:30, depart at 09:00 to the Aktau mountains (63 km).

Altyn-Emel National Park - 09:00 Visit the Singing Dune. Enjoy walking and hiking to the top. The Singing Dune, standing 120 meters high and stretching about 3 km, is located in a corner of the Altyn-Emel National Park, a few kilometers from the Ili River between the Big and Small Kalkan mountains. This sandy hill is composed of very fine, pure sand that “sings” in windy weather, producing sounds reminiscent of organ music.

Kalinino - 12:00 Return to Basshi village for lunch. Then, transfer to Charyn Canyon, a 3-hour journey.

Charyn Canyon - 15:00 Arrive at Charyn Canyon. Upon arrival, admire the grand panorama and descend to the canyon floor to walk approximately 2 km through the maze of the Castles Valley. 18:00 Depart from the canyon.

Saty - 19:00 Arrive at Saty village, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight at a local guesthouse.

Saty-Kaindy-Kolsai-Almaty

Saty - Begin the day with breakfast and depart for Kaindy Lake at 08:30.

Lake Kaindy - 09:30 Arrive at Kaindy Lake (sunken forest). Kaindy Lake (Birch Lake) is nestled among a magnificent pine forest at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is renowned for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to a powerful earthquake that triggered a landslide, creating a natural dam that flooded the valley. The lake’s water is very cold, preserving the needles of the submerged trees, which are clearly visible through the transparent water surface.

Saty - 12:30 Enjoy lunch at the guesthouse in Saty village.

Kolsai Lake - 14:00 Arrive at Kolsai Lake. The Kolsai Lakes, known as the “Pearls of the Northern Tien-Shan,” are a series of three lakes. The largest lake is accessible to all visitors and is the most beautiful, with a lack of civilization and an abundance of mushrooms. Horseback tours are available for horse enthusiasts. The highest lake is small, located at the border of fir woods and alpine meadows, and is remarkable for its harsh alpine beauty and rich flora and fauna. The vertical drop between the three lakes is about 700 meters. The lowest lake is accessible by car, but a few kilometers of mountain trails must be walked to reach the second and third lakes. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful vacation with opportunities for berry picking, mushroom hunting, and fishing. The lakes’ cold, clean water is home to rainbow trout, a fish that thrives only in running or spring water. In the surrounding mountains, one might spot marals, mountain goats, wolves, and even bears.

Almaty - 16:00 Depart back to the city.

• Water
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.