Kasachstan Tour

Your driver meets you at Almaty airport and takes you to your hotel in the city (early check-in from 06:00 is included), where breakfast is served until 10:00. Then drive up to the Medeu gorge, where the high-mountain sports complex lies at an altitude of 1,691 m – a favorite weekend spot of Almaty residents. Back in the city, visit the Zenkov Cathedral, one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of Almaty. Afterwards take the cable car up to Kok Tobe, the highest point of the city. The ride starts near the Soviet-style Hotel Kazakhstan and passes over some of the oldest parts of Almaty and its fruit gardens. At the top, next to the 372 m high TV tower that is visible from far away, you enjoy great views of the mountains and the city (about 70 km of driving today). Dinner at a restaurant in the evening (not included unless you book the meal package) and overnight at the hotel.

Medeu, Zenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), Kok Tobe Berg, Almaty

• Almaty International Airport → Almaty (20 km)
• Almaty → Medeu (17 km)
• Medeu → Almaty (17 km)

Über Nacht: Almaty (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast drive about 70 km east of Almaty to Lake Issyk, an alpine lake at 1,760 m above sea level that is popular with locals and visitors alike. Walk around the lake and enjoy some time for a picnic and rest. Next travel to the Turgen Gorge for a walk to the Medvezhy (Bear) Waterfall; you can also visit an ostrich farm. Return to Almaty later in the day (about 200 km of driving in total) and stay overnight at the hotel.

Issyk-See, Turgen-Schlucht

• Almaty → Issyk-See (70 km)
• Issyk-See → Turgen-Schlucht (40 km)
• Turgen-Schlucht → Almaty (85 km)

Über Nacht: Almaty (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast drive to Altyn Emel National Park to visit the Singing Dune between the Big and Small Kalkan mountains. The dune is made of very fine sand that “sings” when the wind blows, with a sound very reminiscent of an organ. Later continue to Zharkent (about 120 km) and visit its central mosque, built in 1895 – a 19th-century architectural and historical monument under state protection. A long driving day of about 500 km (around 6 hours on the road). Overnight at a simple hotel.

Altyn Emel National Park, Singing Dune (Altyn Emel), Zharkent

• Almaty → Singing Dune (Altyn Emel) (380 km)
• Singing Dune (Altyn Emel) → Zharkent (120 km)

Über Nacht: Zharkent (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast drive to Charyn Canyon in the Charyn National Park, often called the little brother of the Grand Canyon in the United States. Erosion by the Charyn River has created dramatic and impressive landscapes. After taking in the panoramic view over the gorge, walk about 2 km down to the bottom of the canyon through the labyrinth known as the Valley of Castles. Then continue to the mountain village of Saty (about 270 km today). Dinner at the guesthouse (not included unless you book the meal package) and overnight. Guesthouses in Saty are simple, mostly with shared bathrooms.

Charyn-Schlucht, Saty

• Zharkent → Saty (270 km)

Über Nacht: Saty (Guesthouse)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast board a rugged Russian 4x4 in Saty – perfect for the 15 km mountain road up to Kaindy Lake at about 2,000 m above sea level. The lake was formed in 1911, when an earthquake caused a landslide that blocked the valley with a natural dam and the water flooded the valley. Then continue to the famous Kolsai Lakes, three lakes at 1,800, 2,250 and 2,700 m that are among the most beautiful places of Kazakh nature, with a unique mountain landscape of three natural zones and a variety of rare plants and animals. You walk around the first lake, as the others require more time to reach. Later drive back to Saty (about 60 km in total today) and stay overnight at the guesthouse.

Kaindy See, Kolsai Seen, Saty

• Saty → Kaindy See (15 km)
• Kaindy See → Kolsai Seen (30 km)
• Kolsai Seen → Saty (15 km)

Über Nacht: Saty (Guesthouse)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast drive back to Almaty (about 300 km, 5–6 hours) and enjoy free time in the city after arrival. Dinner at a restaurant in the evening (not included unless you book the meal package) and overnight at the hotel.

Almaty

• Saty → Almaty (300 km)

Über Nacht: Almaty (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

Transfer to Almaty airport for your departure.

• Almaty → Almaty International Airport (20 km)