Day 1. Almaty.
Arrival to Almaty. Transfer to hotel (4*). Lunch at hotel. Dinner at local Restaurant on Kok Tyube Hill with observation ground to evening Almaty. LD.
*Kok-Tobe ("Green Hill") is a mountain, which is the highest point of Almaty city with popular recreation area on top of the mountain. The mountain's height is 1100 meters above sea level. The Kok-Tobe recreational area has a variety of amusement park type attractions and restaurants. It is connected to downtown Almaty by a cable car line. Also, there is a 372 meters tall TV Tower at the foot of the mountain.
Day 2. Almaty – Altyn Emel National Park. Ak Tau Mountains.
Drive to Altyn Emel National Park located in the desert area (230 km.) on the lakeshore of Kapchagai Lake. Accommodation in Guesthouse. Lunch. Transfer to beautiful Ak Tau Mountains (70km) with its moony landscapes, watching the desert’s wildlife en route. Hiking in the mountains. Dinner in guesthouse. BLD.
*Altyn-Emel National Park is rich in unique plants and animals, including endemic. The main attractions of the Park are enormous Singing Sands Dune, multicolored Aktau Mountains that surprise by its red, green, pink or even pale blue colored stony slopes, and Necropolis of Besshatyr, dated back to ancient Saks, lived I thousand years before nowadays on a territory Kazakhstan.
Day 3. Altyn Emel – Singing Sand Dune – Charyn River Canyon.
AM drive to the Singing Sand Dune – 50 km. Hiking to the top of the Dune. Drive to Charyn Canyon (240km). Lunch en route in local café. Enjoy the Canyon from the observation point and hiking along the bottom of the Canyon. Accommodation in local Yurta Camp located on the bank of Charyn River. Dinner and sunset in the Canyon. BLD.
*The Singing Dune is a sandy dune about 100 meters high and 3 km long. The Dune called “singing” because of the vibrating rumble proceeding from it from time to time. You can hear the “songs” of the Dune even in the distance of few kilometers. The sound born when the smallest grains of sand rub with each other: wind whiff gives easily audible peep, and strong rushes – more intensive and expressive sound. Despite unsteadiness of sand, the Dune does not wander; it is located in the same place for thousands of years, now on the territory of “Altyn Emel” National Parks.
*Charyn National Park described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother, approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 meters deep. It is so called as the “Valley of Castles”, due to the pillars and rock formations forming imposing, almost manmade structures.
Day 4. Charyn Canyon - Kaindy Lake – Kolsai Lake.
Breakfast. AM Drive to Kolsay Koldery National Park in Kungey Alatau Mountain Range (60km). Visit the beautiful mountain lake Kaindy (1818 m). Hiking along the lake -1 hour. Drive to Kolsai Lake (20km). Accommodation in “Lake View” Guest House (2250 m.a.s.l.). Lunch in guesthouse. PM hike in the area. Dinner in guesthouse. BLD.
* The Kolsay lakes (Kulsayskiye) is the system of three mountain lakes in the Northern Tien Shan. Lakes are located in 330 km to the southeast of Almaty at the height from 1818m up to 2850 meters above sea level. The Lakes are so called "a pearl of Northern Tien Shan". Depth of lakes reaches 50 m.
*Kolsay Lakes National Park includes Kaindy lake. The lake is famous for its scenic beauty particularly the submerged forest and the imposing trunks of spruce trees that rises out of the lake water. High spruces are reflected in the dark-blue water and lakes are surrounded by the blooming alpine meadows, rocks and coniferous. Flora and fauna here are diverse and includes more than 700 species of plants.
Day 5. Kolsai Lakes - Almaty.
Breakfast. Full day hiking around Kolsai Lake and up to Mynzhilky Lake (2850 m) through the Pine Forest watching local flora and fauna en route – 3-4 hours. Descent back and lunch in guesthouse. Drive to Almaty. Accommodation and dinner at Hotel (4*). BLD.
Day 6. Almaty – Issyk archaeological comlex – Kazakh Aul Ethno Village - Almaty.
After breakfast transfer to Issyk archaeological complex (UNESCO World Heritage) - 50 km. Visit famous mound and museum. Transfer to Kazakh Aul Ethno Village (15 km) for acquaintance with life of nomads and the Show. Lunch in the Aul – Kazakh traditional cuisine with master class. Transfer to Almaty (35km). Dinner and accommodation at hotel (4*). BLD.
*The Museum of the Golden Man placed near the burial mound, where he was found. The Golden Man is a statue of a Scythian warrior recovered from burial mound and its believed to have been an 18 year old Scythian warrior prince together with assorted funerary goods, including 4’000 gold ornaments, dating back to the 3rd or 2nd century BC. This person soon became a symbol of Kazakhstan’s past and heritage and become an icon to the history and people of Kazakhstan.
*Fancy-dressed Folk show with demonstration of Kazakh traditional games and customs. Here skillful Dzhigits (young men) show traditional horse games - "atpen audaryspak" (fight on horses), "kyzkuu" (a pursuit of the girl) and others. Actors show national crafts, such as processing of felt and others. Guests are told about the yurta device, see national dances and drive on altybakan swing. Kazakh cuisine culinary master class.
Day 7. Almaty tour. Excursion to Northern Tien Shan Mountains.
AM city tour includes visit to the National Central Museum, Oriental Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park with Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. Transfer to “Ile-Alatau” National Park (15km) to the high-altitude skating rink “Medeo” (1600m a.s.l.). Take a cable car lift to Shymbulak Ski Resort and further up to Talgarsky Pass (3128 m.) Panoramic view to the Zailiysky Alatau chain of mountains and Almaty city. Couple of hours hiking to Talgar hanging glaciers. Descent by cabin to Medeo. Drive to Almaty; visit the Oriental Green Bazaar for souvenir shopping. Farewell dinner with fried lamb. Transfer to the airport. BLD. Departure.
*Russian Orthodox Cathedral – designed by A.P. Zenkov in 1904. The cathedral is built entirely of wood and without nails. Used as a museum and concert hall in the Soviet era, it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1995 and is now functioning place of worship.
Duration: 7 Days \ 6 nights
Period: April – October
The price includes:
⦁ All transport services according to the program – a\c tourist bus or a\c 4 WD
⦁ Double\ Twin sharing accommodation: guesthouse - 3 nights, hotel in Almaty (4*) - 3 nights
⦁ English-speaking guide throughout the tour
⦁ 3 meals a day according to the program
⦁ Entrance fees for the tourist sites as specified in the program
⦁ Mineral water for the entire itinerary
The price excludes the following:
⦁ International air tickets
⦁ Single supplement charge
⦁ Bar bills
⦁ Items of a personal nature