"The Golden Ring" – A Circular Tour of Almaty Region National Parks

09:00 — Meeting with the guide and departure

• Meeting at the hotel or apartments. Departure in our SUV to the Altyn-Emel State National Natural Park.

12:00 — Arrival in Basshi village. Lunch

• Arrival at the main gates of the national park, completion of registration procedures. Lunch.

14:00 — Departure to the Aktau mountains

• Journey through the protected steppe to the famous colored mountains. On the way, panoramas of wild nature await you, where you can meet Red Book kulans or goitered gazelles.

15:00 — Arrival and excursion

• A walk among the unreal paleontological landscapes of the chalky Aktau mountains, which millions of years ago were the bottom of an ancient ocean. White, red, and ochre canyons create the feeling of another planet. On the way back — a stop at an oasis and a visit to the famous 700-year-old willow tree.

19:00 — Accommodation and dinner

• Return, check-in, and a hearty dinner. Time to rest after the first day of the expedition.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Morning breakfast before departing to the locations, packing things.

10:00 — Arrival at the Singing Barkhan

• Excursion to the legendary sand giant. Climbing to the crest of the hundred-meter dune, getting acquainted with its amazing acoustic phenomenon and viewing the panorama of the Ili River. After the excursion — departure towards the city of Zharkent.

13:30 — Lunch in Zharkent and excursion

• Lunch with local cuisine dishes. A visit to a unique architectural monument — the wooden Zharkent Mosque, built without a single nail in a Chinese style (pagoda).

17:00 — Arrival at the hot springs

• Transfer to the famous thermal springs of Chundzha. Accommodation at the recreation zone.

19:00 — Dinner and free time

• Hot dinner. Free time for swimming in the therapeutic open-air pools and relaxation.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Morning breakfast, departure from the recreation zone towards the canyons of the Charyn system.

11:00 — Exploration of the canyons

• A fascinating walk and a photo session in the picturesque Bestamak (Small Canyon) and Temirlik canyons, known for their hidden grottoes, rock labyrinths, and relict ash tree grove. Lunch on the way.

14:00 — Departure to Lake Kaindy

• Journey towards Kungei Alatau to the high-altitude village of Saty and the mysterious Lake Kaindy.

16:00 — Arrival at Kaindy

• A walking tour through a coniferous forest or a horseback ride (at the request of guests) to the observation decks of the sunken forest. Getting acquainted with the mystical history of the lake, from the turquoise water of which rise the trunks of century-old spruces.

18:00 — Accommodation in Saty village

• Arrival in Saty, check-in.

19:00 — Dinner

• Hot dinner, rest in the quiet atmosphere of the mountain village.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Morning breakfast before an active hiking day.

09:00 — Departure to Lake Kolsai-1

• Departure to the first Kolsai lake. Beginning of a beautiful and rich hike to the mountain lake Kolsai-2 (route about 16 km both ways) through picturesque alpine meadows and coniferous forests. For those who prefer comfort, a horseback ride is possible (at the request of guests).

14:00 — Lunch

• Lunch in a picnic format in nature among high-altitude landscapes.

18:00 — Return to Saty

• Descent back to the first lake, transfer to the village.

19:00 — Dinner

• A hearty restorative dinner, free time, and rest.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Morning breakfast, packing things, departure from Saty village.

09:00 — Departure to Charyn Canyon

• Excursion along the famous "Valley of Castles" of Charyn Canyon. A walk among the majestic sand towers and grottoes. A picnic on the shady bank of the Charyn River at the bottom of the gorge.

13:00 — Departure via Asy Plateau

• Departure towards Almaty along a unique off-road route across the legendary high-altitude Asy Plateau. You will see endless jailoo, herds of horses, the tents of the astronomical observatory, and pristine nature.

17:00 — Arrival in Turgen Gorge

• Descent from the plateau into the picturesque Turgen Gorge. Accommodation at a hotel.

19:00 — Dinner

• Dinner, rest surrounded by the century-old forests of Turgen.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Breakfast at the hotel, preparation for the final day of the journey.

10:00 — Visit to the waterfall

• Light trekking along a picturesque trail to one of the famous waterfalls of the Turgen Gorge. A boost of energy from the splashes of mountain water.

13:00 — Lake Issyk

• Transfer to the high-altitude Lake Issyk, located in a neighboring gorge at an altitude of 1,760 meters. Getting acquainted with the history of this place, a walk along the shore by the turquoise water.

14:00 — Lunch at the trout farm

• Departure to the trout farm. An interactive recreation awaits the guests with the opportunity to fish and a delicious lunch made from the fresh catch on the grill.

17:00 — Arrival in Almaty

• Return to the city, delivery of guests to hotels or apartments.