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Altyn Emel National Park Private Tour (2 days)

January 1, 2020

Classic Tours | All Tour Packages | Ecotours | Two-day trip to the largest natural reserve in Kazakhstan - Altyn Emel National Park. Having an area of 460 000 hectares it is intended to preserve the rare species of animals and plants at the western spurs of the Dzhungarian Alatau ridge...
Route: Almaty Region (Kazakhstan)
Season: January-December
                                  
 
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
 
Day 1. Almaty - Tamgaly Tas - Altyn Emel National Park
 
Having met the guide at your hotel at 08:00, you will board a comfortable minivan to start your unforgettable journey to Altyn Emel National Park. While driving over an hour on a highway, you will pass by artificial Kapshagai water reservoir, the biggest in Almaty region, with the casinos of "Kazakh Las-Vegas" on its bank. Then you will arrive to Tamgaly Tas, the first sightseeing destination on the bank of Ili river.
Tamgaly Tas – the unique monument of distant past, where you will see images of Buddha’s and texts in Tibetan, Kalmyk and other languages which have basically a prayer meaning that are carved on the old rocks. It is unknown when and how these drawings appeared and who was the author: scientists trying to unravel this mystery for over 150 years. Your guide will tell you a lot of interesting things about this amazing place, then you will be able to walk around and enjoy the beautiful views. Also on the opposite side of the river, you will see the scenery in the style of medieval Kazakhstan that were built for the filming “The Nomad” movie.
After sightseeing at Tamgaly Tas you will have another couple of driving hours to Basshi village, which is located at the territory of Altyn Emel National Park. Lunch in the village and excursion to the Singing Dune.
Singing Dune, reaching a height of 150 meters and a length of about 3 km, located in one of the corners of the Altyn-Emel National Park, a few kilometers from the Ili river between the mountains of Big and Small Kalkan. This sandy hill consists of very fine pure sand, which starts to "sing" in windy weather and its sound reminds the organ music. Before a sandy storm the dune sounds like a drum. From the top of the Dune you can observe the grand panorama of the surroundings. In the south - thin strip of the Ili River is visible as well as purple mountains of Sogety and Boguty, looking out from the white peaks of the Ketmen ridge. On the west the horizon is obstructed by the steep slope of the Big Kalkan, and the Small Kalkan from the east. In the north, violet-blue ridge of Djungarian Alatau mountains, Chulak mountain, Matai and Altyn-Emel are visible. If the weather is dry and windy, the sand-dune will "sing" you its song, which could be heard as far as several kilometers...
After hiking up to the 150-meter dune, you will return to Basshi village for dinner and overnight in one of the villagers' guest houses or cozy local hotel.
 
Day 2. Altyn Emel National Park - Zharkent - Almaty
 
After breakfast, you will be driving on unpaved park roads over 80 km (approx. 2 hours) to the Aktau mountains.
Aktau Mountains (White Mountains) are world-renowned paleontological field. In the layers of Paleogene lacustrine deposits well-preserved remains of ancient animals whose age is estimated at 25-30 million years have been found. Among the finds there are the remains the giant rhinos, crocodiles, turtles. Huge conical mountains remind the Egyptian pyramids and are a magical scene of the variety of shapes and colors.
A walk on Martian landscape requires nothing special from you, except to be attentive on a soft sandy surface and to add some fantasy listening to the guide's stories about inhabitants of an ancient ocean. After sightseeing at the mountains, you will return to Basshi village for lunch. After lunch, transfer to Zharkent town (97 km) and visit to a wooden mosque-pagoda, which delights with its architecture. The bright patterned roofs and towers designed by Chinese architect Hon Pik, the walls inside the unique structure, artfully decorated with national ornaments of different nations cultures, openwork carvings and flowers drawings evoke particular interest in history and invite you to lose yourself in time for a moment. Having mentally and spiritually recharged by two-days outdoor trip you will drive back to your hotel in Almaty with estimated arrival time around 21:00.

 

Private Tour Price: 475 USD Per Person, provided 2 persons traveling together

Group discounts available

Tour Price INCLUSIONS: 

1. Twin accommodation in the hotel or guest house of Altyn Emel National Park (1 night)
2. Hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation according to the program in comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan 
3. Sightseeing according to the program with English speaking guide 
4. All environmental and admission fees during the tour 
5. Meals: lunch and dinner in Day 1; breakfast and lunch in Day 2  
6. Drinking water 1.5L per person per day 

Tour Price EXCLUSIONS:

1. Accommodation in Almaty, if required
2. Meals not indicated in the program and/or not included into the tour price
3. Single accommodation supplement (26 USD)
4. Visa support and registration on the territory of Kazakhstan, if required
5. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program

Tour reservation requires full payment, which is refundable in case of tour cancellation more than 7 days before tour departure date.
50% of the tour price is refundable in case of tour cancellation 7 days or less before tour departure date.
Tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation 24 hours or less before tour departure time, as well as in case of no-show.
 
Recommendation on clothing: Comfortable, sporty clothing for the weather, windproof and waterproof jacket in a cold weather season; closed, walking-friendly shoes: boots in the cold season, sneakers or similar - in a warm; sunglasses and sunscreen, headdress; personal backpack to carry water and lunch during sightseeing at Aktau mountains.
 
Attention: Since a part of the tour route lies through roads with clayey soil which may be blurred during the rain, access to some sightseeing sites may be restricted.

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