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Route: Almaty Region (Kazakhstan)
Season: January-December
Best Period: March-April, October-November
Sary Esik - Atyrau desert is very typical for Kazakhstan. It is located in the Balkhash region, between Ili and Karatal rivers. Although at the maps it is designated as completely sandy - in fact it is mainly clay, with large areas of verdurous dunes. At the present historical period the desert is completely desolated. There are no permanent residents, but many artifacts indicate to the other times. The culture of medieval towns and ancient channels was interrupted by the invasion of Genghis Khan. The culture of collective wintering and artesian wells - by the advent of perestroika. There remained a lot of dry hoses of ancient delta of Ili river, the largest ones are Orta-Bakanas and Sheth-Bakanas. In the desert, you are awaited a few insanely fascinating nights. And this is, maybe, the main charm of the whole journey. Overnight in the desert under the starry abyss, around the restrained campfire, in such a silence that you could hear the hiss of falling meteorites, entering the transparent atmosphere - this is a real adventure!
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1. Almaty - Karamergen Ancient Settlement
Group meeting and departure from Almaty at 06:30. Breakfast in a cafe on the way. Lunch in the desert. Arrival to an overnight place at Karamergen settlement approx. at 18:30. Setting a camp, dinner and preparations to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at Karamergen settlement.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 350-400 km
Day 2. Karamergen Ancient Settlement - Valley of Thousand Lakes
Early wake up at 05:30, meeting the dawn at ruins of Karamergen settlement, photographing. Breakfast, disassembling of the camp and transfer to Valley of Thousand Lakes through the desert. Arrival to an overnight place, late lunch and setting of a camp. Dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Optional - photographing of the night sky. Overnight in the tent camp on the shore of the one of thousand lakes.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 100 km
Day 3. Valley of Thousand Lakes
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn on the lake shore. Return to the camp, breakfast. Free time or walking around the neighborhood. Lunch in the camp. Dinner and preparation for the next day. Free time. Optional - photographing of the night sky. Overnight in the tent camp on the shore of the one of thousand lakes.
Day 4. Valley of Thousand Lakes - Backwater of Balkhash Lake
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn at a dune at a salt lake. Return to the camp, breakfast, disassembling of the camp and departure. Transfer along Balkhash lake shore through rugged terrain. Lunch in a picturesque place. Arrival to an overnight place at a silent backwater of Balkhash lake. Setting a camp. Dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at the shore of Balkhash lake.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 130 km
Day 5. Backwater of Balkhash Lake - Ak-Zhar Dune
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn on the shore of the silent backwater of Balkhash lake. Return to the camp, breakfast, disassembling of the camp. Transfer along Balkhash lake shore through rugged terrain. Arrival to an overnight place at a foot of mysterious Ak-Zhar dune. Lunch and setting a camp. Walking around the neighborhood, photographing and rest. Dinner in the camp and preparation to the next day. Free time. Optional - photographing of the night sky. Overnight in the tent camp at Ak-Zhar dune.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 130 km
Day 6. Ak-Zhar Dune - Balkhash Lake Shore
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn at Ak-Zhar dune. Return to the camp, breakfast, disassembling of the camp and departure. Transfer along Balkhash lake shore through rugged terrain. Lunch in a picturesque place. Arrival to an overnight place at a dark backwater. Setting a camp, dinner and preparation to the next day. Free time, rest. Overnight in the tent camp on Balkhash lake shore.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 150 km
Day 7. Balkhash Lake Shore - Karatal River
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn on the shore of the dark backwater. Return to the camp, breakfast, disassembling of the camp and departure to Lepsy village. Lunch. Transfer from Lepsy village to the bank of Karatal river near Ushtobe village. Arrival to an overnight place on the bank of Karatal river. Dinner, setting a camp and rest. Free time. Optional - fishing. Overnight in the tent camp on the bank of Karatal river.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 200 km
Day 8. Karatal River - Almaty
Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn on the bank of Karatal river. Breakfast, disassembling of the camp and departure to Almaty. Lunch on the way in a cafe. Arrival to Almaty approx. at 20:00.
Total automobile mileage in this day approx. 300 km
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 desert, where the weather often changes: it can be very hot during the day and quite cool during the evening and night. There are many dangerous insects and reptiles. That is why, it is strongly recommended to refrain from the use of alcohol and to be extremely careful.
