5-day Active Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Almaty - Basshi village - Singing Dunes - Basshi village

Stop At: Altyn-Emel, Almaty Kazakhstan
Get picked up from your hotel by air-conditioned 4WD vehicle with an experienced driver and meet your guide. Along the scenic drive you will pass the little villages and farmers’ markets, artificial lake and Kapchagai town – one of two places in Kazakhstan where gambling is officially allowed.

It usually takes 3-4 hours to reach a hotel at Altyn Emel National Park, here we stop for a lunch and rest break.

Its time to see first miracle of our trip – Singing Dunes, rising about 150 meters and stretching for a distance of approximately 2-3 km. Learn how is it possible that sand dunes are appeared in steppe vast area and, with luck, listen to the organ-like song of Singing Dunes. Never have climbed a dune before? Here we will have a lot of time for hiking, taking magnificent photos and enjoy amazing panoramic view!

Coming back to the hotel, dinner. If you wish it is possible to organize nomad’ banya – sauna with aromas of herbs and contrasting water pool (own expenses).
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Basshi village

Day 2: Basshi village - Aktau Mountains - Katutau Mountains - Basshi village

Stop At: Altyn-Emel, Almaty Kazakhstan
Breakfast at hotel’s café

Departure to Aktau mountains - a museum of the earth's distant past. Fantastically-shaped natural sculptures rise from the bottom of an ancient sea in all the colors of the rainbow, from the pale blue "Lunar landscape" to the "red mountains". These mountains are 30 km long, 1.5-2 km deep - and 400 million years old.

It’s time to unpack a delicious picnic lunch and enjoy it by the side of Aktau mountains!

Next visit the incredible Katutau mountains formed by lava and some associated volcanic rocks. Time, water and the sun have created intricate rock rarities here. Snap photos as your guide explains the origin of such a fanciful landscape, and then continue the trip to see 700-year-old willow!

Take a rest under 700-year old willow – possibly the same as warriors of great Genghis khan did?

Time to drive back to hotel at Bashi village, dinner, overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Basshi village

Day 3: Basshi village - Charyn Canyon: Valley of Castles and Moon Valley - Satty village

Stop At: Charyn National Park, Kazakhstan
Breakfast at the hotel at Bashi village.

Kick off your third day of travel to see the spectacular landscapes of Charyn Canyon. Throughout your tour, you’ll learn about Charyn’s history, geology, flora and fauna. Enjoy plenty of rest stops and photo ops along the way.

Charyn Canyon National Park – time to explore this magnificent natural wonder! Marvel at dramatic rock formations shaped by the elements and time, and keep your camera handy for amazing photos. There's time at leisure for exploring on your own at your own pace.

Take a break from touring with a stop for a picnic lunch on a bank of Charyn river.

Leave for the another part of Charyn Canyon - Moon Canyon located in 30 mins from the Valley of Castles, but with such a different landscape!

Leaving to Satty village, which is the closest place to stay around Kolsay & Kaindy lakes.

Arrival to the village, homestay with a local family, dinner, Russian banya.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a guesthouse at Satty village

Day 4: Satty village - Kolsay Lake #1 - Kolsay Lake #2 - Satty village

Stop At: Kolsai Lake, Saty Kazakhstan
Breakfast

We drive to first Kolsai lake and start hiking to the second lake. It is 16 km (around 16 miles) both ways, with the highest point 2700 metres (1.7 miles), it takes around 3-4 hours to reach the second lake.

Important: please take an actual passport (not a copy) for hiking, cause the border line with Kyrgyzstan is located in around 10 km from second Kolsai lake.

Picnic at the shore of second Kolsai lake.

Coming back to the first Kolsay lake - time to enjoy the lake view, take last photos and drive to Satty village.

Dinner in local family's home, Russian Banya.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a guesthouse at Satty village

Day 5: Satty village - Kaindy Lake - Almaty

Stop At: Lake Kaindy, Saty Kazakhstan
Breakfast

Departure to Kaindy Lake.

Unusual and mysterious Kaindy Lake (Birch lake) is located at the altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. Kaindy lake was formed as the result of a huge landslide after the powerful earthquake in 1911. The landslide blocked the river and the water has flooded the valley. That is how appeared the lake with Tien Shan fir trees in the middle. The water of the lake is very cold, that is why the needles of the flooded trees are well preserved and clearly visible through the transparent surface of the water, and dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake – it is necessary to go there and see everything with own eyes.

Leaving to the city - there is a long way back to Almaty - around 5 hours, on the way we will stop for a lunch in one of the village cafes.

Arrival to the city.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.