Bozzhyra (also written Boszhira or Bozjyra) is the best-known sight of Mangystau: a wide valley on the western edge of the Ustyurt plateau where white limestone peaks rise from the former floor of the Tethys Ocean. Its symbol is a pair of pointed rocks known as the “fangs”. The rock layers were laid down 40–100 million years ago, and wind and rain have carved them into canyons, towers and cliffs that glow gold and pink at sunrise and sunset.
Bozzhyra at a glance
- Where: on the western edge of the Ustyurt plateau, about 300 km from Aktau (5–6 hours, via Zhanaozen).
- What: white limestone peaks, including the two “fangs”, and wide views over the former Tethys seabed.
- Time needed: at least one night; sunrise and sunset are the best times.
- Access: by 4×4 only; the last stretch is a dirt track.
- Fees: a park fee since September 2026 (see below).
Tours to Bozzhyra
Every one of our Mangystau tours includes Bozzhyra, from the 2-day jeep tour to the 8-day Mangistau – Karynzharyk Tour, and on the 3- to 8-day tours you camp right below the fangs. Compare them on our Mangystau tours page.
Mangystau 4 day group tour
See the best of Mangystau in western Kazakhstan on this 4-day small-group camping tour from Aktau. On the first day…
Ultimate Mangystau 2 Days Jeep Tour
This 2-day small-group jeep tour from Aktau takes you to some of the most striking landscapes of Mangystau in western…
Mangistau day tour
Discover the otherworldly desert landscapes of Mangystau in western Kazakhstan on a private day tour by 4×4 jeep from…
Mangystau photo tour
Get ready for a breathtaking photography adventure through Kazakhstan’s most stunning landscapes, capturing 31…
Jeep tour to Mangystau (from Aktau)
This 2-day small-group jeep tour takes you from Aktau deep into the desert landscapes of Mangystau, one of the most…
Mangistau 7 days tour
Explore the wild desert landscapes of Mangystau in western Kazakhstan on this 7-day small-group camping tour from…
Through the dried Tethys Ocean – 5 days Mangystau tour
Discover the desert landscapes of Mangystau in western Kazakhstan, once the floor of the ancient Tethys Ocean, on this…
Unforgettable 3 days in Mangystau Tour
A compact 3-day small-group jeep tour from Aktau through the best of the Mangystau region: the white cliffs of Akespe…
Mangistau – Karynzharyk Tour
An 8-day 4×4 camping expedition from Aktau through the deserts and canyons of Mangystau. The first days lead past the…
The fangs and the viewpoints
The main viewpoints are the Mars panorama, the Dragon Crest and the fangs themselves, which you see both from the valley floor below and from the upper plateau above. Our tours visit them on foot and by 4×4, usually at sunset and again at sunrise, when the low light brings out the colours of the rock.
How to get to Bozzhyra
With a tour, a driver collects you in Aktau and drives via Zhanaozen. Most tours combine Bozzhyra with Kyzylkup (the “tiramisu” hills), Bokty mountain and the Tuzbair salt flat. There is no public transport, and an ordinary car is not suitable for the last stretch. A new access road of about 15 km to the upper viewpoint has been under construction since January 2026 (by the end of May gravel had been laid on 11 km), a temporary visitor centre with food and showers has worked since spring 2026, and a larger visitor centre is planned to open in February 2027.
Camping at Bozzhyra
Tours camp near the fangs in tents. Nights are windy and cold in spring and autumn, so bring warm layers, and there is no water on site – everything is brought in by the tour vehicles.
Fees and rules (2026)
Bozzhyra lies in the Zhabaiushkan nature sanctuary, managed by the Kyzylsai nature park. Since 1 September 2026 the park charges 865 tenge per person per day for its trails, about 433 tenge per person per day for camping and about 3,028 tenge per car per day, and foreign visitors pay double. Children under 6 and pensioners go free, and children aged 6–17 pay half. Commercial photo and video shoots pay extra, and drones are not allowed. Check the inclusions of your tour, or ask us whether the park fees are included.
Bozzhyra, Torysh, Sherkala or Kyzylkup?
| Sight | What it is | Distance from Aktau | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozzhyra | white limestone peaks and the “fangs” | about 300 km | at least one night |
| Torysh | a valley of giant stone balls | about 110 km | 1–2 hours, as a day trip |
| Sherkala | a lone mountain shaped like a yurt | about 180 km | 1–2 hours, often with Kokala and Airakty |
| Kyzylkup | striped “tiramisu” hills | about 250 km | 1–2 hours, on the way to Bozzhyra |
Bozzhyra FAQ
Can you visit Bozzhyra in a day?
Yes, but it is a very long day: about 5–6 hours’ drive each way. Our private day tour does it; most visitors camp at least one night to see both sunset and sunrise.
Can you drive there in a normal car?
Not on the last stretch: it is a dirt track, and the sights are linked by unmarked tracks. Go by 4×4 with a driver who knows the area.
When is the best light?
At sunrise and sunset. At midday the light is flat and, from May to September, the heat is strong.
Is there phone signal?
Little or none at the viewpoints and camps.
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated