Golden Ring of Zhetysu

09:00

Meeting with a guide in Almaty and transfer for city tour. Sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, named after the 28 Guardsmen from Almaty, who heroically defended Moscow from the Nazi invasion in 1941. The next stop will be the tallest wooden church in the world, Zenkovsky Cathedral, Green Bazaar and Central Mosque. We will pass through the main modern attractions of the city: the futuristic Al-Farabi Street, the Presidential Palace and the Monument of Independence.

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Transfer to the Medeo gorge, where we will have a short stop at the huge Medeo dam, which protects the city from destructive mudflows formed on the peaks of the western Tien Shan. Trip to Shymbulak from Medeo by cable car. Moving to Kok-Tobe hill, which is the highest point of the city, located at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level, where the highest TV tower in the world is located. An amazing panorama of the mountains and the city opens from the top.

18:00

Dinner

19:00

Return to the hotel, overnight. Meal: ---

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Free time

13:00

13:00 Departure for a tour on the Big Almaty Lake (about 30 km from Almaty) Big Almaty Lake is located in the gorge of the Big Almaty River, at an altitude of 2511 m above sea level, 28.5 km south of Almaty.

16:00

Transfer to the Sunkar Falcon Farm Viewers will receive a lot of information about the history of falconry, biological characteristics and lifestyle of birds of prey.

18:00

Return to the city, dinner at a local restaurant.

19:00

Overnight at the hotel. Meal: breakfast

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Meeting with a guide and transfer to an excursion to Tamgaly (2 hours, about 200 km). The largest and most famous collection of petroglyphs of Kazakhstan, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located in the Tamgaly tract. This is the most popular center of the 50 centers of Zhetysu petroglyphs, in the basin of Lake Balkhash. It was here that an interesting complex of archaeological monuments was found - petroglyphs, burial grounds and settlements of various historical periods. Today, Tamgaly is one of the richest variety of stories shrine of Kazakhstan. The picturesque gorge is decorated with cave paintings by civilization, many of which are about 3,500 years old.

14:00

After an excursion to Tamgaly, a trip to a camel farm where you can taste a national drink made from camel milk called “shubat”. Lunch at the farm.

17:00

Return back to Almaty Meal: breakfast, lunch

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Meeting with a guide in Almaty and transfer to Issyk Lake. On the way, visiting of the Issyk Museum. In Issyk many archaeological sites, mounds, burials of the Golden Man were found. Issyk is a picturesque, alpine lake surrounded by unusually beautiful nature of dense forests and wide flower fields. The lake is located at an altitude of 1760 meters above sea level, in the Issyk gorge of the Zailiysky Alatau, about 70 km east of Almaty.

12:00

After the tour, transfer to Turgen Gorge (25 km) Turgen Gorge in Ile-Alatau National Park (90 km from Almaty) is an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of nature. The gorge is also famous for its waterfalls. One of the attractions of the Turgen gorge is the Bear Falls. It is located just a kilometer from the road and getting to it is not difficult. The waterfall is located at an altitude of 1559 meters above sea level.

14:00

Lunch or picnic at the waterfall. After the descent from the waterfall, accommodation in a guesthouse or in a campground.

18:00

Dinner by the fire. Optional: horseback riding and rafting Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Transfer to Assy plateau (near the village of Batan). The plateau is located at an altitude of 2800-3200 meters. Since ancient times, it has been used as a pasture. Scientists have found the remains of ancient people who lived here more than 5000 years ago. Kazakhstan’s famous mountain observatory is also located on the Assy plateau. Along the Assy River there are ancient mounds and cave paintings. Historians call this place one of the richest in petroglyphs in Kazakhstan.

13:00

Lunch break during the tour.

18:00

Dinner around the campfire. Accommodation in tents or at guesthouse Optional: horseback riding Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Transfer to Saty village at Kolsay Kolderi National Park (about 250 km)

13:00

Lunch at the guesthouse at Saty village. After lunch, transfer to Kaiyndy Lake.

15:00

Arrival at Kaiyndy Lake. Kaiyndy is a very young lake, which appeared only at the beginning of the last century as a result of the earthquake of 1911. Water flooded the gorge, and the birch grove was not completely flooded, the tops of the trees proudly rise above the water, like the masts of a sunken ship.

19:00

Return to the guesthouse. Dinner and overnight. Optional: horse ride Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Transfer to Kolsay Lakes. For those who wish trek to Lake Kolsay 2 (about 8 km one way). Kolsay lakes are one of the most beautiful places of nature in Kazakhstan. They are also called the Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan, because such beauty is not found everywhere! Kolsay lakes are favorite place for lovers of mountains; they are located at an altitude of 1800, 2250 and 2700 above sea level. Trekking to Kolsay Lakes is very light and suitable even for lay people. In addition, Kolsay is a wonderful place for picnics and horseback riding and mountain biking. Comfortable for camping is from April to the end of September.

13:00

Lunch at lunch boxes.

16:00

Return to the guesthouse.

18:00

Dinner, overnight at the guesthouse. Optional: horseback riding and boat trip on the lake Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Transfer to the Charyn canyon (about 80 km from Kolsay lakes). Charyn Canyon is a unique natural monument, which is located on the territory of the Charyn National Park. Charyn Canyon stretches for 154 km along the Charyn River. It is composed of sedimentary rocks, whose age is about 12 million years. Height reaches from 150 to 300 meters. He is often compared to the Grand Canyon in Colorado, and is even called his "little brother." Charyn Canyon is very popular among tourists, every year a huge number of people visit it. Here you can not only relax and go on an excursion, but also engage in active sports.

13:00

Lunch during the tour.

14:00

After lunch, transfer to the hot springs of Chundja. Time to relax. Accommodation in guesthouses.

18:00

Dinner and overnight. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

On the way from Chundja to Altyn Emel National Park (175 km) we will stop in the city of Zharkent to see one of the most unique structures - the Zharkent mosque in a style of a Chinese pagoda (XIX century), designed by Chinese architect Hsu Pika.

12:00

Arrival to Altyn Emel National park. Altyn-Emel - National Natural Park, located in the valley of the Ili River. The park was founded on April 10, 1996 to preserve a unique natural complex with archaeological, historical and cultural monuments, rare and endangered species of animals and plants. The park has a total area of 520,000 ha. During a tour at Altyn-Emel, we will see a unique natural phenomenon - the Singing Dune 1.5 km long and 120 m high. While the wind is blowing from the west, scattering the sands, there is a feeling that the pipes of the organ play in the heart of the desert.

14:00

Lunch break during the tour.

15:00

Drive back to guesthouse

18:00

Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse at Basshi village. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

We leave the guesthouse to see the red and white mountains called Aktau-Katytau. These mountains are known for their unique view, which was probably created by small volcanic eruptions and immediately cooled several thousand years ago.

13:00

Lunch break during the tour.

16:00

From Aktau-Katytau we will get to Kapchagai city.

18:00

Accommodation and dinner at the hotel. Optional: visiting of casino Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

08:00

Breakfast.

09:00

Moving to the Ili River. The Ili River is the largest river of Zhetysu, flowing from east to west. During the tour you will see two attractions - a decorative fortress created for the filming of the film “Nomads” and the Tamgaly-Tas treatise, where you can see the traces of Buddhists in the territory of Zhetysu - five rocks with the Buddhas image.

13:00

Lunch during the tour. After lunch departure to the city

16:00

Arrival to Almaty Dinner in the city and hotel accommodation. Meals: breakfast, lunch

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Departure to the ethnic center (40 km from Almaty) The Ethnic Center is a theatrical show of the lifestyle, traditions and customs of the nomadic Kazakh people. We tried to transfer the aura of the past, which is stored in the history of our present.

13:00

Lunch at the ethno center.

16:00

After the show in the ethno-center we leave for Almaty. Farewell dinner in the city. Transfer to the hotel. Optional: various master classes in Kazakh traditional craft Meals: Lunch

08:00

Breakfast

10:00

Airport transfer. END OF TOUR.