Exploring South Kazakhstan

Rating
6.35

There are not so many places in our Planet that still haven’t been investigated. And one of such places is definitely South Kazakhstan. We offer you to meet its treasures: history and culture, nature and landscape, reserved monuments and sightseeing. In this itinerary you have a chance to visit Altyn Emel National
 Park, Charyn Canyon, Big Almaty Lake and, of course, Almaty - the south capital of Kazakhstan.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1. ALMATY, ARRIVAL
Almaty
Arrival to Almaty, the Southern capital of Kazakhstan.
Meeting and greeting at Almaty International airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

 

DAY 2. ALMATY

Breakfast at the hotel. Almaty Grand Tour (6 hours):
*) The tour starts with sightseeing in central part of Almaty. You will know more about history and
development of the South capital of Kazakhstan and see its major attractions. You will visit a
popular place for townpeople - the Green Bazaar, where it is impossible to refrain from shopping.
It is the great chance to experience an atmosphere of the real Central Asian market, its colors,
smells and crowds. There you can obtain famous Asian sweets, but don't forget to bargain... Then
the tour will continue in one of the oldest Almaty park – Panfilov Park, where you will see one of
the unique wooden building in the world – Zenkov Cathedral and also visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, dedicated to the memory of
the fighters who died for freedom and independence of the country. After the park you will continue to explore sport, cultural and business areas
of the city. You will go to the Medeo Gorge, where the highest mountain skating rink in the world is located, as well as the dam, protecting the city
from dangerous mudflow. Next destination is the Kok-Tobe hill where the tallest TV tower in the world is located (if to count from the sea level)
and where you will go by the picturesque winding mountain road. In the national restaurant of Kok-Tobe park you will have opportunity to try
traditional dishes of Kazakh cuisine sitting inside the real Kazakh yurt. After the lunch you can stroll along the winding paths of the Kok-Tobe park,
admire the magnificient panorama of the city from the special observation deck and visit the shop of national souvenirs. The tour ends with the
short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway.
Return to the hotel. Dinner (not included into the tour price).

 

DAY 3. ALMATY - ALTYN-EMEL

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Almaty to Altyn-Emel National Park (300 km).
*) Altyn-Emel National Park is the largest natural reserve in Kazakhstan located on the western
side of the Dzhungar Alatau. The reserve has an area of 460 000 hectares for endangered animals
and plants protection. There are several historical sites in the park territory: Scythian mounds of
Besshatyr dated by the I century BC and Tambaly Tas. This place is well-known by its paintings on
ancient rock, the oldest of which belongs to the XVI-XIV century BC. Here you can not only enjoy
the incomparable beauty and multicolor of nature, but also see such animals as Siberian mountain
goat (teke), desert deer (gazelle), kulan, mountain sheep, wolves, foxes, and different birds -
golden eagle, hill partridge (keklik) and many others, most of them are included in the Red Book of
Kazakhstan and in the World Red Book of disappearing kinds of animals.
Accommodation in Alty-Emel guest house. Lunch. Visit to the Signing Dune.
*) Signing Dune is wonder of nature located on the right bank of the Ili River. The dune is known by
its music. When the weather is dry, sands emit a sound like a ringing organ. The friction caused by
movement of air and dry sand, electrifies them, causing vibration. Favorable conditions of resonance
create sound waves that are reflected from the dense soil, causing tremors dune. This sound could be heard for several kilometers. Interestingly, no
dune roams the plains, despite the fragility of the sand and strong winds, but remains in place for several millennia.
Return to the guest house. Dinner.

DAY 4. ALTYN-EMEL - BAISEIT

Breakfast. Visit to Aktau and Katutau mountains.
*) The magnificent mountain range Aktau (White Mountains) is a museum of the far Earth past.
These fantastic natural sculptures raised from the bottom of ancient sea are painted in all the
rainbow colors, from blue «lunar landscape» to «red mountains». Nature has created this beautiful
valley with vertical walls folded with colored layers of rock: from the green and red at the bottom
of up to bright and white at the top. The age of mountains is 400 million years, the length is 30 km,
the depth is about 1,5-2 km. A large number of gazelles, mountain goats, wolves and foxes live
there. In the Katutau mountains (Red Mountains) there are several extinct volcanoes, which still
remain the most original forms of volcanic formations (frozen lava). Also you will find a great variety of landscape, colored rocks and clay (yellow,
red, violet, etc.) that give the unique look of the mountains scenery. Katutau Mountains are almost waterless, cool and dark. They differ from
other mountains by its steep slopes and numerous gorges. The largest number of arhars and mountain goats is indicated here. In the gorges
you can see many rock paintings that show animals and hunting scenes.
Lunch. Transfer to Baiseit settlement& Accommodation in the guest house. Dinner.
Charyn Canyon

DAY 5. BAISEIT - CHARYN CANYON - ALMATY

Breakfast. Transfer to Charyn Canyon (70 km). Sightseeing in the Castles Valley.
*) Charyn Canyon is the unique natural complex not only in Kazakhstan but in the whole world. The
canyon is about 12 million years old and surprises with its vertical cliffs, reminding the ancient
castles, created by wind, sun and rain. Charyn Canyon reminds Grand Canyon in Colorado (North
America) although it is not so grand. The height of vertical declivities is 150-300 meters. A lot of
ravines and beams form a dense, irregular network. Wind and water have created this extrimely
beautiful «Castles Valley», where you are surrounded by the tower formations, composed from
sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley is more than 2 km, the width is about 20-80 meters.
Over millions of years nature had been creating this unsurpassed architecture and magnificent
castles carefully and slowly. You can walk for hours amazed by unusual towers, poles and striking
luxuriant imagination of nature.
Picnic at nature. Transfer to Almaty. Accommodation in the hotel. Dinner (not included into the tour price).

 

DAY 6. ALMATY, THE BIG ALMATY LAKE

Breakfast at the hotel. The Big Almaty Lake Tour (6 hours):
*) Located just in 25 km from the upper city boundary, the Big Almaty Lake is one of the most
beautiful mountain lakes in Trans-Ili Alatau. The lake located in picturesque gorge at an altitude
of 2510 m above sea level and from all sides surrounded by mountain peakes covered with the
majestic Tien-Shan fir. The lake is very beautiful, especially when its blue surface is absolutely
calm, and it reflects the sky and surrounding mountains. The Big Almaty lake was formed as a result
of movement of an ancient glacier. Thanks to high-mountain location the water in the lake is always
cool - even in July the water temperature does not exceed 10 degrees. You will have picnic on at
the lake as well as a free time for recreation at nature. On the way back to the town you will visit
the Falcon Farm, where you will enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks – hunting
with them is one of the most unique features of the Kazakh way of life.
Return to the hotel. Dinner (not included into the tour price).

DAY 7. ALMATY, DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure.

 

 

TOUR PRICE PER PERSON: 1900 USD, provided two persons traveling together
Group discounts available

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS:

1. Double accommodation in Almaty, 3* hotel
2. Accommodation in guest houses in Almaty region
3. Transfers and transportation as per program
4. Meals according to the program
5. English-speaking guide service and excursions according to the program
6. Environmental and entry fees
7. Registration on the territory of Kazakhstan

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS:

1. Single accommodation supplement in Almaty hotel (159 USD per person)
2. Meals, not indicated in the program and/or not included into the tour price
3. Visa support, if required
4. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program