Discover Whole Mangystau in 6 Days
Accommodation, guides, transport included. 6% deposit, balance 30 days before tour starting date.
Discover Whole Mangystau in 6 Days Highlights
Explore the wild desert landscapes of Mangystau in western Kazakhstan on this 6-day small-group camping tour from Aktau, which covers the whole region from the Caspian coast to Bozjyra. You see the collapsed cliffs of Zhygylgan, Kapamsay Canyon, the cave mosques of Shakpak-Ata and Karaman-Ata, the giant stone balls of Torysh, the colorful Jurassic clays of Kokala, the lone Sherkala mountain and the castle-like rocks of Airakty.
Further east you walk on the white Tuzbair salt flat and spend a night in a shared yurt at a camp nearby, see the porous walls of Ybyk Gorge, camp by the layered cliffs of Kyzylkup, the "Tiramisu Canyon", and visit the pyramid-shaped Bokty mountain. In Bozjyra you take in the Mars Panorama and the Dragon Crest, camp beneath the famous limestone Fangs and finish at the Middle Fangs viewpoint. The group is small, with a maximum of 9 travelers and an English-speaking guide, and departures are guaranteed from one person.
Difficulty: Easy Daily drives of about 125–335 km in off-road vehicles, with 38–94 km off-road per day, short walks on uneven desert terrain, four nights in tents and one night in a shared yurt. Not suitable for children under 6, pregnant women or people with disabilities.
Guaranteed departures
Every date runs as scheduled. Same price on all departures.
Guaranteed tour dates 2027
April 2027 1 departure
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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May 2027 3 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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June 2027 2 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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July 2027 2 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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August 2027 2 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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September 2027 2 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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October 2027 2 departures
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
|
| – Available | Sun – Fri | $1,351 |
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Tour Itinerary
Your journey begins in Aktau with pick-up from your hotel or the airport at 9:00 AM, followed by a short briefing, and at 10:00 AM the group heads into the Mangystau desert. The day covers 162 km on-road and 61 km off-road. The first destination is Zhygylgan (Fallen Earth), a vast natural depression near the Caspian coast formed by ancient geological collapse and scattered with house-sized boulders. Here you walk among dramatic cliffs and can look for the fossilized footprints of prehistoric animals preserved in the rock. In the afternoon, visit the Shakpak-Ata cave mosque on the Tyub-Karagan peninsula, one of the most sacred and historical sites in the region. Carved directly into the chalk rock, this ancient underground mosque reflects centuries of spiritual heritage and offers a unique atmosphere of calm and mystery. By evening, arrive at Kapamsay Canyon, a peaceful canyon surrounded by tall rock walls and quiet desert scenery, for dinner and camping under the canyon walls and the desert stars.
Mangystau, Zhygylgan – Fallen Earth, Shakpak Ata Underground Mosque, Kapamsay Canyon
- Aktau → Kapamsay Canyon (223 km)
Overnight: Kapamsay Canyon (Tent camping)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
The day covers 141 km on-road and 39 km off-road. At Torysh, also known as the Valley of Balls, explore the remarkable spherical rock formations scattered across the steppe, a unique geological phenomenon that continues to fascinate travelers. Next, Akespe Gorge welcomes visitors with towering limestone cliffs and winding canyon paths, where dramatic rock formations create one of the region’s most impressive natural landscapes. After lunch at a local café, the journey continues to Kokala, famous for its colorful Jurassic clay formations and layered landscapes shaped over millions of years. Visit the iconic Sherkala Mountain, often referred to as the “Sphinx of Mangystau” due to its distinctive yurt-like silhouette rising from the desert plains. In Airakty, walk among striking mountain formations that resemble ancient castles emerging from the desert terrain, and camp for the night in this peaceful, dramatic landscape.
Torysh – Valley of Balls, Akespe, Kokala – Jurassic Clays, Sherkala Mountain, Airakty – Valley of Castles
- Kapamsay Canyon → Airakty – Valley of Castles (180 km)
Overnight: Airakty – Valley of Castles (Tent camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day covers 157 km on-road and 94 km off-road. After breakfast in the desert, travel to the lower part of Tuzbair, where white chalk cliffs rise above a vast salt flat (sor) and striking rock formations. Walk across this surreal landscape of white crusted ground and ancient seabed formations; the silence and scale of the area make it one of the most memorable experiences of the tour. In the evening, continue to a traditional yurt camp near Tuzbair. Enjoy a local-style dinner and spend the night in a traditional yurt, shared with your group.
Tuzbair Salt Flat
- Airakty – Valley of Castles → Tuzbair Salt Flat (251 km)
Overnight: Tuzbair Salt Flat (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day covers 240.5 km on-road and 69.6 km off-road. Visit Karaman-Ata, one of Mangystau’s most significant underground mosques and necropolises and an important pilgrimage site carved directly into the rock. Continue to Ybyk Gorge, a limestone canyon with unusual porous walls, coral-like textures, grottos and narrow winding passages that showcase the wild beauty of Mangystau’s desert landscapes. After a stop in Zhanaozen, drive to the Shakpakty panorama above Kyzylkup, the “Tiramisu Canyon”, famous for its colorful layered cliffs, and then down to the layered hills themselves. The landscape changes colors depending on the light, and the day ends with sunset and camping near the canyon.
Karaman-Ata Underground Mosque, Ybykty Sai, Zhanaozen, Kyzylkup – Tiramisu Canyon
- Tuzbair Salt Flat → Kyzylkup – Tiramisu Canyon (310 km)
Overnight: Kyzylkup – Tiramisu Canyon (Tent camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A shorter driving day of 46 km on-road and 78 km off-road. In the morning, continue from the camp near Kyzylkup to Bokty Mountain, an isolated table mountain with bands of colored geological layers rising sharply from the desert like a clay pyramid, one of Mangystau’s most iconic landmarks. After a stop at Naiza mountain and lunch at a local café, the route enters Bozjyra. Start with the Mars Panorama, where white cliffs resemble a surface from another planet, then continue to the Dragon Crest, a dramatic rocky ridge with sweeping views over the chalk formations. In the evening, descend to the foot of the famous Bozjyra Fangs, the towering limestone pinnacles that are among the most photographed landmarks in Central Asia, and set up camp directly beneath them for a surreal sunset and a night under the desert stars.
Bokty Mountain, Bozjyra (Boszhira)
- Kyzylkup – Tiramisu Canyon → Bozjyra (Boszhira) (124 km)
Overnight: Bozjyra (Boszhira) (Tent camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a last sunrise beneath the Fangs and breakfast at camp, drive up to the Middle Fangs, an elevated viewpoint above the Bozjyra Fangs with wide desert panoramas. After lunch at a local café, begin the return journey of 297 km on-road and 38 km off-road via Senek and Zhanaozen to Aktau. Arrival is around 7:15 PM, with drop-off at your hotel in Aktau, marking the end of the tour.
Bozjyra (Boszhira)
- Bozjyra (Boszhira) → Aktau (335 km)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
What's included
Included
- All transport during the tour in 4x4 off-road vehicles, with pick-up at your hotel or the airport in Aktau on day 1 and drop-off at your hotel in Aktau on day 6
- English-speaking guide throughout the tour
- Three meals per day (local food cooking), except breakfast on day 1 and dinner on day 6
- 4 nights camping (tent, sleeping bag, pillow, bedsheet)
- One night in a traditional yurt at a camp near Tuzbair (shared with your group)
- Storage for your luggage and large bags during the tour
- Accident insurance coverage
- All entrance fees
Not included
- Visa fees
- International and domestic airfare
- Expenses due to unexpected weather (e.g., extra guesthouse or hotel stays)
- Accommodation on arrival and departure days in Aktau
- Breakfast on day 1 and dinner on day 6
- Tips for the guide and drivers
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Where you'll stay
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Night 1
Kapamsay Canyon
Tent Camping or similar
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Night 2
Airakty – Valley of Castles
Tent Camping or similar
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Night 3
Tuzbair Salt Flat
Yurt camp near Tuzbair (shared yurt) or similar
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Night 4
Kyzylkup – Tiramisu Canyon
Tent Camping or similar
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Night 5
Bozjyra (Boszhira)
Tent camping under the Bozjyra Fangs or similar
Good to know
- Weather: In case of unexpected weather conditions such as storms, heavy rain or strong winds, the group may have to leave the campsite and move to the nearest guesthouse for safety. This alternative accommodation is at an additional cost.
- Luggage: Suitcases and large bags cannot be taken on the tour; luggage storage is included.
- Not allowed: Alcohol.
- Not suitable for: Children under 6 years, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
What to bring
- Sunglasses
- Hiking shoes
- Towel
- Hygiene supplies
Toilets, showers and electricity
Because of the remote desert environment, permanent shower facilities are limited in Mangystau. These options help you stay refreshed during the tour.
- Wet towels (included): disposable wet towels for basic body hygiene – up to 5 per person per night (200 × 280 mm), at no extra cost.
- Mobile camping shower (optional): a shower tent with a manual pump and watering can and 5 liters of water per person per day; one shower tent and one pump per group (1–9 people share one setup). Recommended for cycling, hiking, trekking and multi-day adventure tours. Price: 30 USD per car / per group (up to 3 people).
- Shower stops (optional): on the way you can take a shower at selected places – the Tuzbair lunch stop, Zhanaozen town and Kyzylsay village – for about 2–3 USD per person, subject to availability.
- Toilets: on the road and at the camps, toilets are in nature; a camping toilet can be provided for an extra charge.
- Electricity: a 12 V socket in the vehicle (charging may be slow) and, depending on the package, a 220 V generator at the camping stops. Please bring your own power bank.
Water is scarce in the region, so please use it responsibly. Availability may vary with the route, season and local conditions.
Kazakhstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kazakhstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kazakhstan before booking.
The official currency is the tenge (KZT), and Kazakhstan has the most advanced banking system in the region.
ATMs and exchange
ATMs are widespread in the major cities, in banks, hotels and shopping centres, but most dispense only tenge. Every city has exchange offices for US dollars, euros, roubles, pounds, Chinese yuan and Kyrgyz som, and changing dollars or euros into tenge is easy at banks and exchange offices.
Paying by card
International cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and large supermarkets. Smaller shops usually take cash only and often have little change, so carry smaller notes.
The security situation is stable, but it can change. A few precautions go a long way.
Documents
Always carry original identification such as your passport, as police patrols may ask for it. When approached by a police officer, driver or official, ask to see their identification.
Crime and scams
- Petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag theft and car break-ins is common. Keep valuables out of sight and be vigilant, especially at night.
- Never leave food or drinks unattended or with strangers.
- Be careful of online scams.
- Stay away from demonstrations and political gatherings, and leave the area if there is unrest nearby.
Getting around
- Avoid walking alone and arrange transport in advance. Do not use unofficial taxis.
- On trains, keep your passport and travel documents safe and lock the compartment, especially on night trains.
- Roads are well maintained in and around the major cities, but rural roads may be in poor condition.
Laws and customs
- Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is banned near schools, playgrounds and medical facilities, in public places such as museums, public transport, airports, stations and underpasses, and in cars carrying children.
- Possessing or using illegal drugs can lead to a long prison sentence.
- Photography is restricted near military sites, border areas, airports and some official buildings. Avoid sharing images that could be seen as disrespectful to religion, culture or national symbols.
- Same-sex relationships are not illegal, but tolerance varies, especially outside the major cities.
Kazakhstan's visa rules depend on your passport. Check whether you need a visa for your visit.
Passport
If you enter visa-free, your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your stay. With a visa, it must be valid for six months beyond the end of your stay.
Visas and registration
For a tourist visa from an embassy or an electronic visa, you first need a letter of invitation (LOI). You may need to register after arriving in the country.
The best times to visit Kazakhstan are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November), avoiding the hot summers and snowy winters.
Summer and winter
Kazakhstan has a harsh continental climate, at its most extreme in the central steppe and around the capital, Astana. Temperatures can rise above 40°C in June to August and drop to −20°C in December to February.
Before you travel, make sure the places you are going can provide any medical help you might need, and that your travel insurance covers treatment and unexpected medical evacuation.
Medical care
Medical staff often speak little English.
Medicines
Non-prescription medicines are easy to buy. For prescription medicines you need a prescription from a local doctor, or a foreign prescription translated into Kazakh or Russian.
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