Kazakhstan. Incredible landscapes, rock paintings and mounds of heroes

Price

€950

Days

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Tour description

Ready to discover Kazakhstan? Nobody expected such impressions from this country!

Admire the blue surface of the Big Almaty Lake, framed by snowy peaks
Feel like a grain of sand in the Wild West of Kazakhstan - the grandiose Charyn canyon
Touch the petroglyphs in Tamgaly, which were left to us by people who lived four thousand years before us
See all the colors of the chalk mountains and relax in the hot springs in Altyn-Emel National Park
Walk around the mounds of the heroic leaders of the Scythian tribes, and appreciate the golden harness and utensils that they took to the afterlife.

Tour departures

09 September 2025 - 15 September 2025

€950

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The price of the tour includes

Accommodation during the entire trip
All transportation
Two domestic flights
Breakfast in hotels
Local guides in national parks
Professional guiding services.

What is NOT included

Flight to Almaty and back home. (Let us know if you need help finding the best deals)
Insurance (mandatory)
Food
Visa (if you need one).

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Almaty, Green bazaar, Central museum, Kok Tobe mountain, Almaty TV tower

We arrive in Almaty and check into a hotel. We begin our guided tour to Kazakhstan with a walk in the most modern city of the country. Look up - looming over the skyscrapers are the peaks of the Tien Shan - the Heavenly Mountains covered with snow! In the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan we will learn more about the history of the country. Here we can see ancient household items of the Stone and Bronze Age, admire Chinese and Japanese vases of the 12th century, found near modern Almaty, study traditional clothes of all peoples who inhabit Kazakhstan.

Is there a better place for observing local life, then the oriental bazaar? We doubt it! Head to the Green Bazaar to savour camel meat, horse meat, camel milk shubhat, and kumis.

Next stop - Medeu, the world's largest high-mountain skating rink 1691 meters above sea level. We will take the cable car to the top of the hill to see the skating rink from above. Previously, there was a monastery on this mountain, believers are still holding services here. We walk down the hill admiring the views (3 hours walk). Another mountain, and another cable car. We will climb to the top of Kok-Tyube to see the 372-meter Almaty TV tower and appreciate the views of the city and the snow-capped mountains surrounding it.

Day 2

Big Almaty Lake

In the morning we drive to the starting point of the trek to the Big Almaty Lake (one hour drive). We will walk to the lake for approximately 3-4 hours. Let`s admire the tall grass and mountain peaks on the horizon. We reach the Chukur canyon, descend to the valley and soon see mountain peaks covered with eternal snow!

Suddenly, a huge blue mirror appears below, framed by mountains. What a view! From this lake, water flows into the capital, so swimming and even getting too close to the water is prohibited. After some rest and photos we hike back for about 4 hours. During this day we will walk about 20 kilometers with small backpacks carrying a supply of food.

Day 3

City of Nomads, Rock paintings, Singing Dune

In the morning we leave for the City of Nomads - a medieval fort on the banks of the Ili river (an hour and a half on the way). People have never lived here, and all that you see is the specially built scenery for the filming of "Nomad", a famous 2004 Kazakh film.

The next stop is on the bank of the Kapchagay hydroelectric power station. Another half hour on the way - and we are in the area known as Tamgaly-Tas. People who lived in these places thousands of years ago were Buddhists and left behind unusual rock paintings of Buddha and his disciples.

Two more hours - and we reach the village of Basshi. Here we check into a hotel at the entrance to the Altyn-Emel National Park. In the evening, an unusual, meditative sight awaits us - we will watch the sun sink into the endless sands of the Singing Dune...

Is this trip for you?

This trip is of an easy level of physical activity, it is suitable for people in average health condition. We will take two short domestic flights and several short (up to three hours) journeys in rented jeeps. We will walk in cities and national parks, as well as hike for 20 kilometers. Accommodation in double/twin rooms in 4-5 star hotels.