Videos about tour sights

Tour description

TOUR SIGHTS

• Singing Dune
• Aktau Mountains
• Katutau Mountains
• Tiger Mountains
• Charyn Canyon "Valley of the Castles"
• Lower Kolsai Lake
• Kaindy Lake
• Black Canyon

We are glad to invite you to the 3-day tour to the most picturesque National Nature Parks of Almaty region: Altyn Emel, Charyn Canyon and Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes. It is the best way to visit the most significant natural sites of the Almaty region in a short period of time.

On the 1st day, we will head towards one of the largest National Parks of Kazakhstan, with an area of 3076 sq.km. called Altyn Emel, which means the Golden Saddle. You will enjoy the surreal beauty of the lime mountains of Aktau and the volcanic Katutau mountains.

On the morning of the 2nd day, after 50 km of off-road of the National Park, you will find yourself at the Singing Dune. The Singing Dune - a sandy mountain 3 km long and 150 m high. The phenomenon of nature, famous for the fact that in dry weather the sands of the dune emit a sound from a faint squeak to organ melody and even a roar. An enormous sandy mountain grew here as a result of blowing sand from the shores of Ili river. The Singing Dune does not move across the plain, despite the fluctuation of sand and strong winds, but has remained in place for several millennia. During the tour, you will hear interesting legends that are enveloped in the mysterious Singing Dune. And from its top, you will see an amazing panorama of the picturesque Ili river valley and surrounding Kalkan rocky mountains.

Afternoon, the tour will lead you to the most known and popular place is the “Valley of Castles”, one of the side canyons of Charyn river. This is completed the ensemble of “palaces”, “towers” and ”minarets” formed by Pliocene deposits of red color, due to which this place is also called the Red Canyon. The canyon has a length of about 2.5 kilometers and a depth of 150 meters. For overnight, we will arrive in Saty village in the evening, where we will have dinner, take shower in a warm and cozy guesthouse of hospitable villagers.

Waking up and having a hearty breakfast in the morning we will go to the picturesque Lower Kolsai lake - the most accessible one. The lake is located at an altitude of 1818 m, has a length of 1450 meters, a width of 400 meters, a depth of 80 m. It was formed as a result of seismic activity. The slopes surrounding the lake create a kind of crown from the Tien Shan relic spruce trees of Shrenka, which grow only in this region of our planet.

After lunch, you will visit Kaindy Lake, in translation from Kazakh means “birch”. The name of the lake comes from the nearby large birch grove located in the gorge below the lake. Kaindy lake was formed as a result of a catastrophic earthquake in 1911. An incredible sight that you see above the water are the trunks of centenary spruce trees. And under the surface of the water, branches and needles of spruce trees were preserved in their original form due to the low temperature of the lake's water. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the unbelievable beauty of this place.

Those who are lucky enough to visit these places at least once will never forget their magnificence, peace and energetics.

PRECAUTION

• Not recommended for travelers with serious medical conditions, high/low blood pressure;
• Not recommended for pregnant women;
• Not recommended for travelers with a fear of heights and who can not withstand long trips by car/long walks/hikes;
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level.

ITINERARY

Day 1

• 09:00 Hotel pickup for PRIVATE tours or departure from the starting point for GROUP tours (click here to see location)
• Arrival in Basshy village, registration at the National Park office
• Off-road drive around the Altyn Emel National Nature Park 
• 700-year-old willow tree
• Katutau mountains, walking
• Aktau mountains, walking or hiking
• 19:00 Arrival in Basshy village, accommodation, dinner

Day 2

• 08:00 Breakfast, checking-out
• Off-road drive to the Singing Dune with visiting of Stone steles Oshaktas
• Climb to the top, photo shooting
• Lunch
• Leaving Altyn Emel and ride to Charyn National Park
• Walking inside the Charyn canyon, photo shooting
• 19:00 Arrival in Saty village (Kolsai Lakes National Park), accommodation, dinner

Day 3

• 08:00 Breakfast
• Ride to Lower Kolsai Lake
• Lower Kolsai Lake, walking, photo shooting
• Off-road drive to Kaindy Lake, walking or horse riding, photo shooting
• Lunch
• Black Canyon, viewing spot
• Way back to Almaty
• 19:00 Hotel drop-off

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