"The Golden Ring" from the Kegen Border Crossing

12:00 — Meeting at the Kegen border crossing

• We meet you right at the border and immediately set off towards the Kungei Alatau mountain range to the main tourist village of Saty.

14:00 — Lunch in Saty

• We stop for a hearty lunch to try local cuisine dishes and rest after the journey.

15:00 — Visit to Lake Kolsai-1

• We drive to the first Kolsai lake, located at an altitude of 1,818 meters. It is often called the "blue necklace of the Tien Shan" for its pristine water surrounded by a dense coniferous forest. You will have time to walk along the panoramic eco-trails, take photos, and, upon request, ride boats, catamarans, or rent horses.

17:00 — Return to Saty, accommodation, and dinner

• We arrive in the village and check into cozy, comfortable yurts. In the evening, a hot dinner and a rest in the silence of the mountains await you.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Morning breakfast, packing things and getting ready for a busy day.

09:00 — Departure to Lake Kaindy

• We set off to the mystical Lake Kaindy, which appeared after a strong earthquake in 1911. A light walking route of 2 km through a coniferous forest awaits us (on-site you can switch to horses upon request). A unique view will open up before you: dry trunks of century-old spruces rise from the turquoise water, perfectly preserved by the icy mountain water.

Departure from the mountains towards the famous Charyn desert system. An excursion through the "Valley of Castles" awaits us — a natural monument whose sandstone rocks were formed over 12 million years. We will walk among the majestic towers to the cool Charyn River.

14:00 — Lunch

• We organize lunch, rest by the canyon, and gather at the car for the further journey.

15:00 — Departure to the hot springs in Chundzha

• We set a course for the Chundzha valley, known for its underground thermal springs.

18:00 — Arrival and free time

• We check into the recreation zone. Free time for swimming in the therapeutic open-air pools, rest, and relaxation.

08:00 — Breakfast and swimming

• Morning breakfast. Before departure, there will be time to swim in the springs once again.

10:00 — Departure to Zharkent

• We transfer to the border city of Zharkent to get acquainted with its history. We will visit a unique museum — a wooden mosque built at the end of the 19th century in the style of a Chinese pagoda without a single nail. This is an amazing example of a mixture of cultures and styles.

13:30 — Lunch and transfer to the Singing Barkhan

• We have lunch in the city, try local cuisine, and set off to the Altyn-Emel National Park.

17:00 — Sunset at the Singing Barkhan

• We approach a huge sand dune 150 meters high, which inexplicably grew in the middle of a stony steppe. We will climb to its crest, and in dry weather, you will be able to hear its famous deep hum, resembling an organ. Here we will witness a stunning steppe sunset with a view of the Ili River.

• We check into a hotel in Basshi village, where a hot dinner and rest await us.

08:00 — Breakfast

• Breakfast at the hotel, packing things and departing to the colored mountains.

09:00 — Departure to the Aktau Mountains

• The route lies deep into the national park toward the chalk Aktau Mountains. Millions of years ago, an ancient sea was located here, and today the wind has exposed multi-colored layers of sedimentary rocks.

10:30 — A walk through the canyons

• We will walk among the surreal white, red, and orange landscapes that look more like Martian scenery. Along the way, we will also stop to see the famous 700-year-old willow in the Kosbastau oasis.

13:30 — Return to the hotel and lunch

• We return to Basshi, have lunch, and gather for the final journey.

15:00 — Departure to Almaty

• We head toward the metropolis. The road will pass through picturesque passes and steppes.

19:00 — Arrival in Almaty

• We enter the city and deliver you to your hotels or apartments. This concludes our big 4-day journey.