Season: May - October
The best period: July-September
The complexity of the route: the route of medium difficulty.
Elevation difference: the lowest point is 1600 masl. The maximum height on the route is about 3000 m.
Tour program:
Day 1. Almaty - Charny canyon - Lake Kaiyndy - Kurmety village.
Departure from Almaty in the early morning. The first object on the way to the mountainous country Kungei-Alatau will be the Charyn canyon.
Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique in its kind not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. It was formed during Paleogene and reminds the Grand Canyon of Colorado River in North America, although inferior to it in size. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is up to 150-300 meters. Extraordinary dissection of the terrain is striking: the numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you are always surrounded by the fancy towers composed of sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley - more than 2 km, width - 20-80 meters. For millions of years the nature has been creating a unique architecture, erecting magnificent castles carefully and slowly. You can spend hours walking among the strange towers and columns, being surprised by the wild imagination of the nature.
After a walk through the canyon we will organize a small lunch, in the form of a picnic. Then transfer to Kaynda Lake.
Kaindy Lake (birch lake) is situated among magnificent pine forest at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to the powerful earthquake that triggered the landslide blocked the alley by the natural dam, and the water has flooded the valley. 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, like the masts of the submarine squadron. 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.
Walk along the shores of the lake, then transfer to the guest house, where we will stay for the night. Dinner and overnight at the guest house.
Day 2. Kurmet - Taldy - mountain hut.
Breakfast at 9.00. After breakfast, fees and exit to the main part of the hiking route.
We are waiting for a hike on fairly simple paths, with small elevation differences. We will make several stops for rest and lunch. The end point of the route is at a mountain hut, from where a magnificent view opens up to the summit of Kyzymschek and the upper reaches of the Taldy gorge. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut. * Trekking per day for about 15 km.
Day 3. Mountain hut - headwaters of Taldy gorge - mountain hut.
Breakfast in the hut. Today we are waiting for a radial exit to the headwaters of the Taldy gorge. Today we do not have any specific end point. Let's go up the gorge, we will admire the views, make stops. Let's go as long as we consider necessary to quench the interest.
The Taldy River Gorge, the right tributary of the Shilik River, is located in the east, on the very edge of the glaciation of the Kungei Alatau Range, on its northern macroslope and has a length of approximately 25 kilometers. The gorge begins at an altitude of 3500 meters and ends at an altitude of 1600 m. In the high mountain zone on the right side of the valley is a hanging glacial valley. In addition, the upper reaches of the gorge are incredibly picturesque and extremely unpopular among tourists. After all, not everyone can walk there.
By sunset we will return to the hut, where we will prepare a delicious dinner and stay for another night.
Day 4. Mountain hut - Taldy - Kurmet - Almaty.
Breakfast in the hut. After breakfast, fees and exit to the next part of the route. Today we have to return to the village with which our campaign began. The return journey will run along the same road along which we came to the hut. In the evening we will return to the village where the car will be waiting for us. Snack and go to Almaty. Return to the city late at night. * Trekking per day for about 15 km.
* At the request of tourists, the program can be extended for 2-3 days, making radial exits from the hut in different directions.