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Route: Almaty Region (Kazakhstan)
Season: June-October
Best Period: June, September
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1. Almaty - Tekes River Valley
Group meeting and departure from Almaty at 07:00. Lunch in a cafe or a picnic on the way. Arrival to an overnight place on the bank of Tekes river.
Tekes river is the main source of Ili river, a quite large river in the region. Tekes river originates an altitude 3535 meters above sea level, at the foot of the main massif of Khan Tengri mountain group. The soil in the lower valley is fertile, the pastures and meadows along the stream are abundant. The whole Tekes valley is picturesque, each turn of the gorge is keeping the wild beauty of nature and nice surprises.
Setting a camp and walking. Dinner and a short briefing on the next day program. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp on the bank of the river.
Day 2. Tekes River - Tekes Waterfall
Wake up at 08:30, breakfast and disassembling of the camp. Transfer to Tekes river upstream. Setting a camp, lunch and a walk to the waterfall. Dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at the waterfall.
Day 3. Tekes Waterfall - Karakol Lake
Wake up at 08:00, breakfast and disassembling of the camp. Transfer to Karakol lake. Arrival to an overnight place at Karakol lake, setting a camp. Lunch, a walk around the lake, a rise to a mountain to Khan Tengri peak overlooking point. Return to the camp at the lake, dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level.
Day 4. Karakol Lake - Kokpak Gorge
Wake up at 08:30, breakfast and disassembling of the camp. Transfer to Kokpak gorge. Lunch on arrival.
Kokpak gorge has a lot of dead-end branches, beckoning with their beauty. It is as beautiful and picturesque as the Tekes valley, but more extensive and very popular among the local shepherds and gatherers from the nearby villages.
Setting a camp and walking in the neighborhood. Dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level.
Day 5. Kokpak Gorge - Tuzkol Lake
Wake up at 08:30, breakfast, disassembling of the camp and transfer to Tuzkol lake. Arrival to an overnight place at the shore of the lake, lunch and setting a camp
Tuzkol lake is dead and salty. Salt density in the lake changes several times throughout the year and can reach 300 g/l. For example, the salt concentration in the Dead Sea about 340-350 g/l. It is noteworthy that no river flows into the lake, and it is undrained. Locals say that it is fed by underground mineral springs, and the mud of the lake is curative. In ancient times, when the Mongols lived on these lands, this lake was called Doban-Nor. From Mongolian it is translated as Windy Lake. On a clear day, Khan Tengri peak, the seventhousander, is visible from the lake.…
A walk on the lake shore. Return to the camp, dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at Tuzkol lake shore.
Day 6. Tuzkol Lake - Ketmen Pass
Wake up, breakfast and free time. Lunch, disassembling of the camp and transfer to Ketmen pass.
Ketmen ridge separates the two valleys. The highest points of the ridge are offering impressive views of the Northern Tien-Shan peaks: Khan Tengri, Pobeda Peak and other majestic mountains peaks.
Setting a camp. Meeting the sunset at the pass overlooking Khan Tengri peak. Return to the camp, dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at Ketmen pass at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level.
Day 7. Ketmen Pass - Almaty
Breakfast and disassembling the camp. Transfer to Almaty, lunch on the way. Arrival to Almaty approx. at 18:00.
TOUR FEATURES:
The tour program is very intensive, almost all camp-to-camp transfers will be off-roads. You will need to get up very early and walk a lot in search of the best shots. All of this - in the mountains, where the weather often changes: it can be very hot during the day and quite cool during the evening and night, and not accustomed person can feel a lack of oxygen. That is why, it is strongly recommended to refrain from the use of alcohol and to be extremely careful.
