9 day trip by Almaty region SPRING/FALL OPTION

Day 1

Drive from Almaty to Altyn-Emel National Park. Arrival Bas'shi village, Park's entry procedures. Lunch and drive to Singing Dune. Hiking by the Dune's ridge, which is the best point to observe the Great Kazak Steppe and Ili river. Late afternoon back to Bas'shi village, accommodation at a guest house. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2

Breakfast at a guest house. Drive from Bas'shi to the next Altyn-Emel attraction - Aktau colorful mountains famous for its "Martian" landscapes. Lunch and hiking by the rainbow chalky hills and canyons, 3 hours. Set a tent camp at the foot of the hills, take dinner and stay overnight in tents (tent camping).

Day 3

Breakfast with incredible scenery of Aktau hills in the sunrise. Drive to Katutau volcano, lunch in the red crater surrounded by the intriguing rock formations. Drive from Katutau to Chunja thermals: one of the best places throughout Kazakhstan to enjoy hot mineral waters of different temperatures. Afternoon relax in thermals, dinner and overnight at a SPA guest house in Chunja.

Day 4

Breakfast at a guest house. Drive from Chunja to Bestamak canyon, first one from a series of Charyn canyons. Bestamak, also known as Red Canyon, invites its rare visitors to appreciate the beauty of the tortuous cliffs looking like they were fashioned and brightly painted by some unknown artist. Hike by the canyon takes 3 hours. Take lunch and drive to the next canyon called Temirlik, and set a tent camp inside a Sogdian ash-tree grove. Dinner and overnight in tents (tent camping).

Day 5

Breakfast in Temirlik canyon. Drive from Temirlik to Zhabyr (Yellow) canyon. Take a nice trail, which follows down a small river and leads to the huge Charyn stream in the end. This short walk through the pictorial saxaul thickets takes 2 hours. Then we take lunch and drive to Kolsay National Park. Arrive Saty village in the evening, take dinner and stay overnight at a guest house.

Day 6

Breakfast at a guest house. Drive to Kaindy Lake. Hiking around the famous Underwater Forest. Lunch at a lakeshore, enjoying the view of an ancient pine grove "growing out" of green waters at a height of 1800m ASL. Drive from Kaindy the First Kolsay Lake also called "Saty". Excursion around the lake, reflecting the sunset. Back to the guest house. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7

Breakfast at a guest house, drive to Charyn National Park. Hiking by the canyon's most attractive part - Valley of Castles, known for its fantastic colorful rock formations. Lunch in Charyn and drive to Bartogay Lake. The Lake, bordering Asy plateau from the east, remains the best bird watching point of Almaty region. We set a camp at a lakeshore, take dinner and enjoy the wildlife all the rest part of a day. Overnight in tents (tent camping) in Bartogay.

Day 8

Breakfast. Drive from Bartogay to Issyk highland lake. Lunch near the lake and drive to Turgen gorge. Hiking to the Bear waterfall (1,5 hours). Evening accommodation at a guest house in Turgen, dinner and overnight.

Day 9

Breakfast at a guest house. Drive to the Big Almaty Lake. Excursion around and lunch. Drive down to Almaty (estimated time of arrival Almaty is 15.00pm).