Tour Kazakhstan | Tien Shan: Glaciers, Dunes and Borderlands
1580 €
/
Per Person
12
Persons max.
Tour Overview
An adventure through southern Kazakhstan’s most remote landscapes, across the wild borderlands of southern Kazakhstan, from Almaty’s vibrant streets to high-altitude hikes in the Zailiisky Alatau, ancient petroglyphs and Singing Dunes in Altyn-Emel, remote salt lakes near the Chinese border and the turquoise Kaindy and Kolsay Lakes.
A rare journey where nature still leads the way.
Tour Highlights
- Zailiisky Alatau Multi-day hiking, with two nights at a historic alpine base at 2,476 m.
- Altyn-Emel National Park Exploration of bronze Age petroglyphs, the Singing Dunes, and vividly coloured rock formations.
- Sheperds village Immersive stays at a family-run farm, with an overnight in a yurt.
- Uyghur culture Exploration of Zharkent and a visit to its remarkable wooden mosque.
- Camping experience Remote camping by a salt lake, with views (weather permitting) towards Khan Tengri.
- Kaindy and Kolsay Lakes Hikes to the famous “submerged forest” and turquoise alpine waters.
- Charyn Canyon Spectacular walk to the canyons and its “Valley of Castles”.
- Almaty Time to enjoy cafés, bazaars, and the iconic Arasan Baths.
The price includes
- Private minivan and 4x4 vehicles with driver (Day 2 to Day 9).
- All entrance fees to museums, parks, and sites included in the itinerary.
- All accommodations from the night of Day 1 through the night of Day 10 (10 nights)*
- Daily breakfasts
- All lunches and dinners in rural areas.
- Local guide throughout the tour
- Full-time assistance, guiding, and translation of Tommaso Aguzzi from Day 1 to Day 10.
* In hotels, accommodation is in twin/double rooms with private bathrooms. In rural areas, accommodation may be in guesthouses or yurts, with shared rooms/yurts and/or shared bathroom facilities.
Not included
- Flights: We do not include flights, as departure cities and individual travel plans may vary. We always encourage travelers to extend their journey independently if they wish. However, we are happy to help you find the most convenient flight options.
- Travel Insurance: Medical insurance is mandatory. We recommend TrueTraveller, ViaggiSicuri, Columbus
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (strongly recommended): Some insurance providers, such as IATI and Europassistance, offer combined medical and cancellation coverage.
- Meals in Bishkek and Karakol: Meals in Central Asia are typically inexpensive and affordable.
- Airport Transfers: Taxis are easy to book through apps like Yango and Yandex Taxi and are generally very economical.
- Gratuities: In Central Asia, it is customary to tip guides and drivers. We suggest approximately €40 per person, to be shared between guides and drivers.
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the “Price Includes” section.
Booking conditions
- Deposit: €300 upon booking confirmation.
- Final Payment: Due 50 days before departure.
Useful information
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry (in some cases, 3 months validity may be accepted).
- Time Zone: Almaty, Kazakhstan: GMT +5 (3 hours ahead of Italy during daylight saving time).
Itinerary Highlights
DAY 1 – ALMATY
- Arrival in Almaty, hotel check-in and meeting with the tour leader in the morning.
- Walking tour: city centre, pre-Soviet history, modernist architecture, parks and the Zelyony (Green) Bazaar.
- In the afternoon, guided visit to the recently opened Almaty Museum of Arts.
- Tastings of local cuisine throughout the day.
- Overnight in Almaty.
DAY 2 – TUYUK-SU AND ITS GLACIERS
- Morning departure to the Tuyuk-Su Alpine Station (2,476 m).
- Acclimatisation walk and short hike to the Mynzhylky dam (> 3,000 m).
- Meeting with local alpinists and introduction to life at high altitude.
- Home-cooked dinner at the station.
- Overnight at the Alpine Base.
DAY 3 – BETWEEN THE ALATAU’S PEAKS
- Full-day trek to a panoramic summit above 3,000 m (1,000–1,200 m elevation gain, peak chosen according to weather conditions). The hike is suitable for travellers with an active lifestyle and does not require technical equipment.
- Packed lunch prepared by the Alpine Base cook.
- Descent to Shymbulak ski resort for a break (or a beer) and return to the base for dinner.
- Overnight at the Alpine Base.
DAY 4 – DESCENT TO THE STEPPES ALONG THE ILI RIVER
- Descent to Almaty and departure by minivan to Altyn-Emel National Park, one of the largest natural reserves in Kazakhstan with lots of rare plant and animal species.
- Following the Ili River, visit to the UNESCO-listed site of Tanbaly, with over 5,000 Bronze Age petroglyphs.
- Continuation to the shepherd village of Basshy inside the national park in the late afternoon.
- Overnight in a local guesthouse with delicious food.
DAY 5 – ALTYN-EMEL: SINGING DUNES AND AKTAU MOUNTAINS
- Day of exploration in Altyn-Emel National Park.
- Visit to the Singing Dunes and the ancient willow tree linked to the legend of Genghis Khan.
- Home-cooked lunch at the guesthouse.
- Afternoon excursion to the Katutau and Aktau mountains, sunset among colourful canyons and monumental rock formations.
- Overnight at the guesthouse.
DAY 6 – EASTERN FRONTIER: UYGHURS AND CAMPING IN THE TIEN SHAN
- Departure to Zharkent, an Uyghur town near the Chinese border.
- Visit to the Zharkent Mosque and lunch with Lagman, arguably the best dish in Central Asia (according to the tour leader).
- Continuation towards the Chinese border and Tien Shan mountains, crossing breathtaking plains and rolling hills.
- Arrival at a remote salt lake (1,959 m) a few kilometres away from China, camp set-up and lakeside walk at sunset.
- Dinner at the camp and stargazing.
- Overnight in tents.
DAY 7 – LAKES AND REFLECTIONS OF KHAN TENGRI
- Early wake-up to see his majesty the Khan Tengri (7,010m asl) reflected in the lake (weather permitting).
- Peaceful walk along the lakeshore.
- Departure to Kaindy Lake and short hike to the magical “sunken forest”
- Continuation to the village of Kurmeti and overnight in a guesthouse.
DAY 8 - KOLSAY LAKES
- Breakfast with mountain views and horses grazing in the yard.
- Transfer to the First Kolsay Lake (1,818 m).
- Trek to the Second Kolsay Lake (2,252 m). Easy-moderate trek with 450m of elevation gain.
- Picnic by the lake and relaxation, for those who wish, a swim in the ice cold alpine waters.
- Return to Kurmeti and overnight in the guesthouse.
DAY 9 – CHARYN CANYON AND NIGHT IN A YURT
- Departure to Charyn Canyon and short hike into the “Valley of Castles”, surrounded by monumental rock formations.
- Further panoramic viewpoints over the canyon and the Charyn river.
- Continuation to a local farm run by Zhanar.
- Visit to beehives, sheep and goats, optional horse riding and insight into rural Kazakh life.
- Relax in traditional yurts and dinner with 0km food from the farm.
- Overnight in the yurts.
DAY 10 – RETURN TO ALMATY AND FINAL EXPLORATIONS
- Breakfast on the farm’s tapchans (traditional wooden tables) and departure.
- Drive back to the city of Almaty.
- Free time for cafés, galleries, bazaars or further urbex.
- Optional visit to the Arasan baths for saunas and massages.
- Farewell dinner in the city.
Travel itinerary
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