Altyn Emel tour

Tour 8: Altyn Emel tour
Duration: 6 days
In short: Almaty – Altyn Emel – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lakes – Kaindy lake – Almaty

Day 1: Almaty
You will be met at the airport and accompanied to Almaty. Today you will have a guided tour of the southern capital of Kazakhstan. You will visit the Almaty Museum, Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre and Museum of Musical Instruments. Then you will go to Panfilov Park, where you will discover Zenkov Cathedral, the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. The rest of the day you will spend in Medeo Gorge. It is a home to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and Shymbulak resort. After a ride on a cable car to Shymbulak ski resort area you will move to Kok-Tobe hill which is adored by travelers. It is is the oasis in the center of the city! The mountain is 1100 meters high above sea level, with attractions, observation platforms and souvenir shops. There is unforgettable view of the city. After an exciting day full of sightseeing we will take a ride down by the Almaty cableway directly to the city center. Transfer will take you to the hotel.

Day 2: Almaty – Altyn Emel
Today you will discover the north of Almaty. Just 260 km out of the city, between the Ili River and the Ak-Tau mountain range, near Lake Kapchagai, you will discover Altyn Emel National Park in Kazakhstan. Covering about 4600 square kilometers, the park mostly consists of desert and rocky terrain. In one of the corners of the park between the Big and Small Kalkan mountains, there is an area referred as the "Singing Dunes" on account of the rumbling sound emitting from the sand. The dune is 3 km long and 120m high. When the wind is dispersing the sands, one has a feeling that the pipe organ is playing in the heart of the desert. This phenomen is still a riddle of the nature. On the top of  the dune you can see  Sogety and Boguty peaks on the Ketmen mountain ridge in the south, Big Kalkan on the west and the Small Kalkan from the east during your tour. Jungar Alatau mountains, Chulak mountain, Matai and Altyn-Emel are can be seen in the north. If the weather is windy enough you will hear the sond of singing dune. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 3: Altyn Emel
Today you will continue exploring the territory of Altyn Emel National Park famous among travelers. You will drive to Katutau and Aktau mountains. The Aktau slopes look supernatural. Groups of white, ruddy and orange run horizontally across the run with striking impact. Known as one of a kind paleontological store, 56 species of Early Miocene vegetation like pine, spruce, birch, oak, walnut, chestnut, linden, pistachio, ailanthus have been found here, as well as remains of old creatures like crocodiles, turtles and mammoth rhinos with an evaluated age of 25-30 million years. The Katutau slopes are less spectacular, but certainly just as interesting. Pale blue gray and brown dregs are dismembered by sharp canyons around 40 km away from Basshi. It’s calm and excellent here, and it could be a great put to see the elusive arkhars. Night is in a hotel.

Day 4: Altyn Emel – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lakes
In the morning you will drive to Temirlik tributary of Charyn River. Temirlik is a river that has transformed into a canyon located 10 kilometers from the Charyn Canyons. The place is remarkable for its’ unique natural monument – relict ash grove, which is 5 million years old. Then you will head over Charyn Canyon. It is one of the most interesting and picturesque places in Kazakhstan. Water, wind and sun built here a quaint clay-stone city composed of sedimentary rocks. The canyon itself is 154 km long and about 250-300m deep. The most attractive route is the Valley of Castles, which makes up a general walking route of about 2 km and a width of 15-90 meters. It is a wide, dry canyon adjacent to the main river bed. On the top of the canyons there are observation points, where you can get a panoramic view of the whole canyon. After a short hiking in the Valley of Castles, you will be transferred to Saty village. Night is in a guest house.

Day 5: Kolsai – Kaindy lake – Almaty
Today you will travel to Kaindy Gorge for a sightseeing tour at Kaindy Lake. This ring of brilliant turquoise pierced by an eerie forest of stark white trunks is one of Kazakhstan’s most unique sights. The lake was formed after an earthquake in 1911, which caused a major landslide, effectively creating a natural dam. Successively, rainwater filled the valley and created the lake. The lake is famous for the number of dead and bleached spruce trees that were flooded when the lake was formed. The trees, together with the improbable turquoise water of the lake, make an incredibly scenic sight. Underwater, the imagery is even more stunning, as the trees have not decomposed and create the surreal vision of an underwater forest. At the en of the day you will be transferred to Almaty. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 6: Flight
After the breakfast at hotel you will be transferred to the airport.

Transport:
02 pax – Sedan
04 pax – Minivan
06-10 pax – Mercedes Sprinter

Price per person:
02 pax – 1 045 $
04 pax – 735 $
06 pax – 660 $
08 pax – 545 $
10 pax – 500 $
Single – 125 $

Early check-in – 35 $
Single early check-in – 60 $ 

Half board – 130 $
Full board – 230 $ 

English speaking guide – 730 $ per group

Service includes:
- Driver with a car
- Hotels and home stays: 
      Almaty – “Kazakhstan” Hotel 3*
      Altyn Emel – “Aigaikum” Guesthouse
      Saty village – Home stays
- Entrance fees to all museums
- Bottled water during the tour            

Service does not include:
- Full pension
- Single rooms
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Visa and visa support
- Guide with a competence of English language