Undiscovered Zhetysu 7-day Tour in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Explore the very different sites of Kazakhstan in company with a private guide who's going to tell you all of the secrets of the places you are about to see. This unique experience will let you remember your visit to Kazakhstan forever.

Day 1. Almaty – Altyn Emel national Park. 

08:00 Tamgaly on Ili River (165 km from Almaty). Tamgaly tas – written cliffs, on the Ili River. Located 170 km from Almaty, natural boundary consists of huge cliffs. It was a place where beautiful images of Buddha and Burhans were found. Visit Bes Shatyr. Free time. Departure to Altyn Emel National Park. Arrival to "Basshy" village. Check-in at the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation).

14:00 Lunch at Baschy village.

15:00 departure to so-called Singing sand (also called whistling sand or barking sand). The dune is composed of light-colored sand and has a length of about 3 km and a height of 150 m. In dry weather sands emit a sound similar an organ melody. Since ancient times this place was considered supernatural. The legends explained the sound by the activities of the desert spirits, mythical animals, the bells of buried towns, underground rivers etc.

19:00 Returning to the guesthouse. Dinner and night stay at the guesthouse (Baschy).

Day 2. Altyn Emel national Park – Chundzha Hot Springs 

Breakfast at the guesthouse. Check out of the guesthouse.

09:00 early breakfast and trip to Aktau and Katutau mountain range. Aktau mountains are located 80 km from the village that takes approximately 1,5 hours to reach them. The Aktau hills look supernatural. You will observe rock layers of white, red and orange colors across the range, known as a unique paleontological deposit with an estimated age of 25-30 million years. Katutau hills are less spectacular, but certainly interesting since it’s a good place to see argali. Ancient willow visiting.

14:00 Return to the guesthouse and lunch.

15:00 departure to Chundzha hot springs (250 km).

After exploration of Altyn Emel National Park you will visit famous radon hot springs in Chundzha to have a pleasant bath and swim in natural thermal water. Chundzha Hot Springs are well known for their healing water. Bathing and swimming in our thermal pools contribute to the process of self-regulation of the whole body, which in turn increases its resistance to various diseases.

18:00 arrival. Check-in the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation).

Dinner and night at the guesthouse (Chundzha). 

Day 3. Chundzha Hot Springs – Narynkol.

Breakfast at the guesthouse. Check out of the guesthouse. Departure to Narynkol town. After reaching frontier post and checking the documents we will stop at the small place during the Soviet time used to be camp for climbers located at the bottom of Khan Tengri (2300 m above the sea level). After lunch we go trekking along the Akkol river, along the forest scenic zone to the moraine lake Akkol, where the height is 3080 m above the sea level. Return, dinner and night at the camp.

Day 4. Narynkol.

Breakfast at the guesthouse.

This entire day dedicated to another moraine lake - Karakol. After breakfast we move along the gorge to Karakol lake. Here you can see all the diversity and beauty of The Tien Shan. You can see famous Khan Tengri peak – the highest mountain in Kazakhstan located on the Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – China border and belongs to Tien Shan mountain range, it is 7010 m (23000 ft) high. A lot of brave men attempt to ascend Khan Tengri, despite the dangerous rock and almost vertical slopes.

During this tour you will see how the landscape changes at different altitudes, how conifer forests and alpine meadows pass to tundra and to a zone of permanent snow

Return, dinner and night at the camp.

Day 5. Narynkol – Kolsai kolderi national park.

Breakfast at the guesthouse.

10:00 Departure to the Saty village

13:00 Arrival and Check-in the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation). Lunch.

14:30 Transfer to Kaindy lake (11 km off road). Kayndy lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The rockslide “place of origin” can still be seen today, because it has not been overgrown yet. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river.

19:00 dinner. Night stay at the guesthouse (Saty village).

Day 6. Kolsai kolderi national park.

Breakfast at the guesthouse

10:00 transfer to Kolsay lakes. Kolsay Lakes – one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. These lakes are located at heights 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. They are distinguished by the unique mountain watershed consisting of three natural zones and amazing variety of rare plants and animals. Free time.

13:00 lunch (outdoor picnic). Hiking to Kolsay lake 2 (or horse riding – not included into the cost, horse riding price around 40 USD per person). Hike back.

19:00 Dinner. Night stay at the guesthouse (Saty village).

Day 7. Charyn canyon – Almaty.

09:00 Breakfast at the guesthouse and departure to Charyn canyon. The canyon has been described as the Grand canyon’s little brother and is considered to be the floor of the ancient ocean Tethys. The erosion made by the river Charyn below and the elements created a dramatic and impressive landscape. The Charyn canyon itself is approximately 150 km and in some places up to 300 m deep. Free time

14:00 departure to Almaty.

15:00 late lunch on the way back to Almaty in Baiseit village.

Highlights: Kolsai kolderi national park, Kolsay Lakes, Khan Tengri peak, Aktau mountains, Altyn Emel National Park, hot springs in Chundzha.

Duration: 7 days and 6 nights. Departure: daily. Includes: accommodation according to the program, meals according to the program, transport, driver, private tour guide, entrance fees. Optional: transfer from and to your place in Almaty, horse riding. 

Please note: total price depends on the number of people in the group. (inquire about the details).