High-Altitude Asy Plateau

If you are looking for the ultimate off-road adventure and want to see the wild, pristine nature of Kazakhstan, a jeep tour to the Asy Plateau is the perfect choice. This is a giant intermountain valley at an altitude of over 2,500 meters, which since ancient times and to this day serves as a summer pasture (jailoo) for nomads. We at Kazakhstan Travel Agency take you individually—only with your company, in a vehicle prepared for harsh mountain roads, and at a pace comfortable for you.

• 09:00 — Departure from Almaty

  • We meet you at the doors of your hotel or apartments, get acquainted, and leave the city. Our route lies to the east of the region. On the way, you can tune in for a great vacation in the mountains of Almaty and relax while the landscapes change outside the window.

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• 11:00 — Arrival at the "Turgen" National Park and the beginning of the climb

  • We enter the territory of the Ile-Alatau National Park and begin an exciting climb into the highlands. Here the asphalt ends, we engage four-wheel drive and begin climbing a real mountain serpentine through the Turgen Gorge, winding among rocks and Tien Shan spruces.

• 12:30 — Arrival at the Asy Plateau. Panoramic view

  • We overcome the pass, and a huge green valley disappearing beyond the horizon opens up before us. The landscapes here seem endless. On the Asy Plateau in the Almaty region, the traditional nomadic way of life is still preserved: authentic yurts stand here, and large herds of horses roam freely across the endless hills. We will make a stop at the best viewpoints for relaxation and stunning panoramic shots.

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• 13:30 — Arrival at the astronomical station

  • We reach the famous high-altitude Asy-Turgen observatory. Its huge white dome rises monumentally in the middle of the wild steppe at an altitude of 2,750 meters, surrounded by harsh mountain peaks. This is a place with an ideal astroclimate and the cleanest air, offering another fantastic circular view of the gorge.

• Lunch (Options of your choice):

  • We can arrange an unforgettable picnic on the Asy Plateau in a lunch-box format right at the altitude, among alpine meadows with a view of the observatory. Alternatively, if you want hot cuisine, we will begin our descent and arrange a late, hearty lunch in a cozy cafe in the city of Issyk (Esik) two hours later.

• The return journey to the metropolis

  • After lunch and rest, we set off on the final road toward home. In the car, you can comfortably relax and sleep after an active day in the mountains.

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• 18:00 — Arrival in the city

  • We return to Almaty. We bring you right to the doors of your hotel or apartments. Our one-day sightseeing jeep tour concludes.