Our tour is an ideal option for those who want to see all the main nature attractions of Kazakhstan.

The car will be delivered to your hotel in the morning.

You will visit the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan, learn everything about snow cats and have a nice vacation.

On the tour we will visit three national parks, which are UNESCO biosphere reserves. All the footage of snow leopards in Kazakhstan that you will find on the Internet was taken there. So, seeing the symbol of Kazakhstan - the Red Book snow leopard - on our tour is a very real possibility. Also, on almost every tour we meet wild horses – kulans, Przewalski's horse, as well as argali.

Start: Almaty city

Finish: Almaty city

Duration: 5 days

Season: March-November

Route map:

The first part of the tour will take place in safari format. We will go to the Altyn Emel National Park, which is one of the largest and most significant in Kazakhstan. Its pearl is the Singing Dune. This unique natural phenomenon is found in only a few places in the world: in the deserts of Arabia, Peru, Egypt, on the Kola Peninsula, and, of course, in the Altyn Emel National Park.

But the surprises of Altyn Emel do not end there, you will also visit the Martian landscapes of the Aktau mountains and have a photo shoot in the volcanic mountains of Katutau.

After the desert part of the tour, you will find yourself in famous Chundzha hot springs, where you can relax in the hot healing water in the fresh air.

Then comes the mountainous part of the tour and we will go towards the mountainous Tien Shan to the Kolsai Lakes National Park. The first lake is located at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level. In the cleanest, cold water there are schools of trout, which grow here up to 50-60cm.

Also, in the national park you will visit the unique Lake Kaindy.

At the end of the tour, as a bonus, we will visit the Charyn Canyon, which is a smaller copy of the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Комментарий от тревел-эксперта: Comment from a travel expert: Difficulty level “3” is indicated only because during the tour we will visit more than 15 top locations in Kazakhstan in just 5 days! The level of daily walking load will depend solely on the wishes of the tourist; transportation is provided to each object.

Overnight accommodation is available to choose from - either hotels/guest houses, or a tent camp with a campfire for lovers of romance :) When choosing an overnight stay in tents, the price will be adjusted downward.

Day 1: Chronicles of the Singing Dune

On day 1 of the tour, we pick you up from your hotel in Almaty and move towards the Altyn Emel National Park. On the first day you will visit the Buddhist rock paintings "Tanbaly-Tas", the Altyn Emel pass, the spring of Chokan Valikhanov, the stone steles "Oshaktas" and the Singing Dune.

Day 2: Are we on the Moon or on Mars?

On the second day we continue to explore the Altyn Emel National Park. In the morning we move towards the heart of the park - the chalk mountains of Aktau, which resemble a layered cake. There we will walk to the top of one of the hills. Tourists can choose from a variety of routes of varying difficulty. Next you will visit the volcanic mountains of Katutau, as well as a natural monument - a 700-year-old willow tree.

Day 3: Relax at the hot springs

On day 3 we complete our acquaintance with the Altyn Emel National Park. The final location will be the Tiger Mountains, which is especially significant to visit in the year of the tiger according to the eastern calendar. Afterwards we move towards the Chongjin hot springs (which are located a few kilometers from the border with China), where you will bathe in hot water in the fresh air and we will stop there for the night.

Day 4: Towards the Mountain Tien Shan

On day 4 you will find yourself in alpine meadows, where you will begin to get acquainted with the Kolsai Lakes National Park. And along the way, we will visit the panoramic point of the Charyn Canyon, which is called “Black Rocks”. The first location will be Lake Kaindy.

The name Kaindy is translated from Kazakh as “birch,” which we will see when we stop at the largest birch grove in the entire Northern Tien Shan. At the end of the path, a lake awaits us, which has no analogue anywhere in the world. The trunks of the fir trees, half under water after the devastating earthquake of the early twentieth century, remained standing as eternal guards of the lake.

Day 5: From glaciers to deserts

On day 5, the pearl of the entire Tien Shan awaits you - the Kolsai Lakes. Having arrived at the place, we will climb in jeeps to the ridge closest to the first lake, from where a magnificent panorama of Lake Kolsai opens. Then we will go down and walk around the lake. If you wish, you can order a horseback ride around the lake, or a catamaran ride.

Next we will have a road back to Almaty; on the way to the city we will again feel the natural contrast, visiting the younger brother of the Grand Canyon - the Valley of Castles of the Charyn Canyon.

The “Valley of Castles” canyon is a unique natural object, where, under the thousand-year influence of nature, remnants have formed in the form of isolated mountains, pillars, and towers

Note: Arrival in the city of Almaty in the evening of the fifth day, the times are approximate, because the return time will depend on your speed and wishes. We never rush anyone. Enjoy the tour at your own pace.

1. An identification document or passport is required. Since the route partially passes through the border zone, document verification is possible.

2.Individual medicines and personal hygiene items. All our jeeps are equipped with medical first aid kits, but only you know what and in what quantity is right for you.

3.Wardrobe and personal hygiene items. We always recommend that you take care, first of all, of comfortable shoes and sun protection (hat, sunscreen). Depending on the season, you will need a raincoat, windbreaker or warm jacket.

► Off-road transport

► Driver guide services

► Fuel

► Services of a Certified Tour Guide

(guide + translator + cooking);

► Entrance tickets to the national parks (Altyn Emel, Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy)

► Environmental fees;

► Accommodation (2 nights in the Altyn Emel hotel, 1 night at the recreation center at the hot springs, 1 night in the guest house near the Kolsai Lakes)

► Car passenger insurance

► Meals (4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners)

► Drinking water;

► Hiking

► Pictures from the trip

►Flights

► Airport transfer

► Hotel in the city of arrival and departure

► Alcoholic drinks (optional)

► Optional activities (horse riding, catamarans)

1 person – $2083 jeep

2 people – $2282 jeep ($1141 per person)

3 people – $2482 jeep ($828 per person)

4 people - $2681 jeep cramped seating, little space for luggage ($671 per person)

If there are more than 4 tourists in the group, you will need a second SUV or Sprinter 4x4

4 people - $3407 sprinter 4x4 ($852 per person)

5 people – $3608 sprinter 4x4 ($722 per person)

6 people – $3808 sprinter 4x4 ($635 per person)

7 people – $4009 sprinter 4x4 ($573 per person)

8 people - $4210 sprinter 4x4 ($527 per person)