Golden ring of Zhetysu
Duration:
13 days/ 12 nights
Season:
May - October
During this tour you will discover unique Almaty region, it will be memorable and exciting journey, which will bring you unforgettable memories
Day 1
Meeting with guide in Almaty and transfer for city tour.
City tour starts from visit of Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, named after the 28 Panfilov guards from Almaty, who died heroically defending Moscow against the Nazi invasion in 1941. The next stop is the world’s most elevated wooden church, Zenkov Cathedral, Green bazar and the Central mosque. Then we will pass through the modern highlights of the city: futuristic and busy Al-Farabi street, the Presidential palace, Monument of Independence.
Transfer to Medeo gorge, where you will have a brief stop on the huge Medeo dam, which protects the city from destructive mudflows formed on the tops of the western Tien Shan.
Getting to Shymbulak from Medeo by cable car.
The Ski Resort Chimbulak is located on a picturesque valley in the Zailiyskiy Alatau within the height 2260 m above sea level, 25 km from the center of Almaty.
Transfer to visit Kok-Tobe mountain (the highest point of the city, located at height of 1100 meters above sea level). From its top opens the surprising panorama on mountains and the city. The highest TV-tower is located here.
18.00 Transfer for dinner at local restaurant.
Back to hotel, overnight.
Meal: lunch, dinner
Any questions?
Day 2
Breakfast
11.00 After breakfast depart to excursion at the Big Almaty Lake (about 30 km from Almaty)
Big Almaty Lake is located in gorge of river Big Almatinka, at height of 2511 m above sea level, in 28,5 km to the south from Almaty.
Lunch during excursion.
16.00 Transfer to Falconry farm “Sunkar”
Viewers will get a lot of information about the history of falconry, the biological features and the way of life of birds of prey.
Drive back to city, dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Drive to Camel Farm (2 hours, about 200 km)
Tasting of the national drink, made from camel milk named “shubat’. Lunch during excursion at farm.
Drive to Tamgaly via Khanshengely about 70 km.
Excurison in Tamgaly - The biggest and known collection of petroglyphs of Kazakhstan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the tract Tamgaly. It is the most famous center of the 50 centers of petroglyphs of Zhetysu, at the basin of Lake Balkhash.
Return back to Almaty
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Transfer to Issyk lake – (65 km)–Many archaeological monuments, barrows, burial grounds Golden Man were found here. Visit Issyk museum.
Lunch in Issyk. After lunch departure to Turgen gorge (25 km)
Turgen Gorge in the Ili-Alatau National Park (90 km from Almaty) is an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of nature. The gorge has hot springs, a trout farm, waterfalls and thick forests. Dinner around campfire. Accommodation at guesthouse.
Optionally: horse riding and rafting
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Transfer to Assy plateau (near Turgen). The plateau is located at heights of 2800-3200 meters. Since ancient times, it is being used as pasture. Scientists have found remains of ancient humans, who lived here more than 5000 years ago. The well-known in Kazakhstan mountain observatory also located at Assy plateau. Along the river Assy, there are ancient burial mounds and rock carvings. Historians call them one of the most high-density petroglyphs in Kazakhstan. Lunch-box during excursion. Dinner around campfire. Accommodation at camping club.
Optionally: horse riding
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6
Breakfast. Transfer to Saty village at Kolsay Lakes National Park (about 250 km)
Arrival to the Kaiyndy Lake. It's a very young lake that appeared only in the beginning of the last century as a result of the 1911 earthquake. Lunch during excursion. Dinner and overnight in guesthouse.
Optionally: boat trip
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Transfer to the 1st Kolsay Lake. Trek to the 2nd Kolsay Lake (about 8 km). Here you can enjoy horse riding or get to the top by yourself. Such kind of beauty cannot be found anywhere. Here you can enjoy unsurpassed forest. These lakes are situated in the eastern part of the picturesque Kungei Tau gorge, 300 km from Almaty. Lunch during excursion
Drive back to the guesthouse.
Dinner, overnight in guesthouse
Optionally: horse riding and boat trip
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Transfer to Charyn canyon (about 80 km from Kolsay lakes). The Canyon has been described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The Canyon itself is approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 meters deep. Lunch during excursion.
Afternoon transfer to Chundja hot springs. Time to relax. Accommodation at guesthouses.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
On the way from Chundja to Altyn Emel nature reserve park (175 km), we will stop at Zharkent town to see one of the most unique constructions – Zharkent mosque in Chinese pagoda style (19th century) designed by Chinese architect Hsu Pika. It has been built for 7 years.
Altyn-Emel is a national natural park located in the Ili River Valley. The Park was founded on 10 April, 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 sightseeing of Altyn Emel we will see a unique phenomenon of the nature – Signing Barchan Dune which is 1.5 km long and 120 m high. While the wind is blowing from the West dispersing the sands, one has a feeling that the pipe organ is playing in the heart of the desert
Lunch-box during excursion.
Dinner and overnight at guesthouse in Basshi village.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10
Breakfast
We will drive to see red and white colored mountains called Aktau-Katytau mountains. These mountains are famous for its unique appearance, which was probably created by small volcanoes, erupted and immediately cooled down several thousand years ago. Lunch-box during excursion.
From Aktau-Katytau, we will drive to to Kapchagay city. Accommodation and dinner at hotel.
Visit casino (if you want)
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11
Breakfast.
Transfer to Ili river.
The Ili River is the largest river of Zhetysu, flowing from east to west. You are going to visit four attractions - the Genghis Khan crossing, the rock "Devil's finger", decorative fortress built for the filming of "Nomad" movie and finally the tract Tamgaly-Tas, where you can see traces of the Buddhists in the territory of Zhetysu - five rocks with Buddha image. Lunch-box during excursion.
18.00 departure to the city
20.00 Arrival to Almaty
20.00 Dinner at the city.
Accommodation at hotel. Rest. Overnight.
Optionally: rafting
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12
Breakfast. Departure to Gunny ethno center (40 km from Almaty)
Ethno center "Gunny" - is theatrical show of a way of life, traditions and customs of nomadic Kazakh people. We have tried to transfer the aura of the past, which is stored in the history of our present, and realized all this in the creation of the base. Lunch at the base.
After show at ethno center depart to Almaty.
18.00 farewell dinner at the city.
Transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Optionally: different types of master class on Kazakh traditional craft.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13
Breakfast. Transfer to airport.
Meal: breakfast
