A condensed version of our 5-day itinerary that visits the same national parks while skipping the Zharkent town and Oriental mosque visits.
1,500 km of open-road scenery balanced with roughly 24 km on foot: short viewpoint walks with one or two longer day hikes.
Evenings in village guesthouses with home-style meals, early starts and sunset finishes for soft light, quieter trails, and unhurried photo time.
Our signature route in the Almaty region blends gentle trekking with a string of standout natural sites. From canyon country to alpine lakes, the shifting landscapes offer an accessible, unhurried way to experience the area’s wild beauty.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: AKTAU MOUNTAINS, ALTYN-EMEL
07:00 - Departure from Almaty
08:00 - Scenic drive to Basshi village, the headquarters of Altyn-Emel National Park (255 km)
11:30 - Check-in at the reception office of the national park, visit the Altyn-Emel National Park Visitor Center
12:30 - Lunch at a guest house
13:30 - Departure to Aktau Mountains (70 km)
15:00 - Trek 7 km inside Aktau Mountains, exploring the main canyon, visiting a small canyon, and reaching the top of one of the mountains
18:00 - Visit a 700-year-old willow tree for a photo opportunity (40 km)
19:00 - Accommodation at the guesthouse
20:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
08:00 - Scenic drive to Basshi village, the headquarters of Altyn-Emel National Park (255 km)
11:30 - Check-in at the reception office of the national park, visit the Altyn-Emel National Park Visitor Center
12:30 - Lunch at a guest house
13:30 - Departure to Aktau Mountains (70 km)
15:00 - Trek 7 km inside Aktau Mountains, exploring the main canyon, visiting a small canyon, and reaching the top of one of the mountains
18:00 - Visit a 700-year-old willow tree for a photo opportunity (40 km)
19:00 - Accommodation at the guesthouse
20:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
DAY 2: SINGING DUNE & CHARYN CANYON
07:00 - Breakfast at the guesthouse. Departure to Singing Dune (55 km)
08:00 - Walk to the top of the dune for beautiful views of the Ili River
10:00 - Departure to Charyn National Park (180 km)
12:00 - Explore the Valley of Castles panoramic view
13:00 - Lunch (packed lunches)
14:00 - Visit a panoramic site with a view from the top of the Valley of Castles
15:00 - Departure to Lunar Canyon panoramic site (25 km)
16:00 - Transfer to Stone Shelf (15 km)
16:45 - Departure to Napoleon viewpoint (5 km), then to the Austrian spot
(2 km)
17:00 - Take photos and depart to Saty village (Kolsay Lakes, 110 km)
19:00 - Arrival at Saty village (Kolsay Lakes area). Check-in and dinner
20:00 - Overnight stay at a guest house
08:00 - Walk to the top of the dune for beautiful views of the Ili River
10:00 - Departure to Charyn National Park (180 km)
12:00 - Explore the Valley of Castles panoramic view
13:00 - Lunch (packed lunches)
14:00 - Visit a panoramic site with a view from the top of the Valley of Castles
15:00 - Departure to Lunar Canyon panoramic site (25 km)
16:00 - Transfer to Stone Shelf (15 km)
16:45 - Departure to Napoleon viewpoint (5 km), then to the Austrian spot
(2 km)
17:00 - Take photos and depart to Saty village (Kolsay Lakes, 110 km)
19:00 - Arrival at Saty village (Kolsay Lakes area). Check-in and dinner
20:00 - Overnight stay at a guest house
DAY 4: KAINDY LAKE
08:00 - Breakfast at the guesthouse
09:00 - Departure to Kaindy Lake (15 km)
10:00 - Visit three locations at the lake: the shore, the panoramic viewpoint, and the inflow of the Kaindy River into the lake
13:00 - Depart for the guest house
13:30 - Lunch at the guest house
14:00 - Departure to Almaty (295 km)
18:00 - Arrival in Almaty
09:00 - Departure to Kaindy Lake (15 km)
10:00 - Visit three locations at the lake: the shore, the panoramic viewpoint, and the inflow of the Kaindy River into the lake
13:00 - Depart for the guest house
13:30 - Lunch at the guest house
14:00 - Departure to Almaty (295 km)
18:00 - Arrival in Almaty
DAY 3: KOLSAY LAKES + HIKE
08:00 - Breakfast at the guesthouse
09:00 - Departure to Saty Lake (1st Kolsay, 15 km)
10:00 - Trekking to Mynzhylky Lake (8 km, 3 hours of trekking)
13:00 - Arrival at Mynzhylky Lake (2nd Kolsay)
13:30 - Lunch (packed lunches)
14:00 - Return to Saty Lake (8 km, 3 hours of trekking)
17:00 - Departure to Saty village (15 km)
18:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
09:00 - Departure to Saty Lake (1st Kolsay, 15 km)
10:00 - Trekking to Mynzhylky Lake (8 km, 3 hours of trekking)
13:00 - Arrival at Mynzhylky Lake (2nd Kolsay)
13:30 - Lunch (packed lunches)
14:00 - Return to Saty Lake (8 km, 3 hours of trekking)
17:00 - Departure to Saty village (15 km)
18:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
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Price List
Included in the tour price
Prices vary depending on the number of people in your group.
6 People
- Comfortable SUV transportation
- Services of an English/Chinese/Russian-speaking guide
- 1 Nights’ accommodation in a guest house in Altyn-Emel
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in a guest house in the Kolsay Lakes
- Three meals a day, excluding breakfast on the first day, dinner on the last day
- National Park Permits & Entrance Fees
- 1.5 liters of drinking water per guest per day
- Personal expenses
- Pet-Friendly Travel: Bringing your furry friends (dogs and cats) along is welcome! A fee of $10 per day applies.
Not included in the tour price
$500 per person ($3 000 total)
$520 per person ($2 600 total)
5 People
4 People
$550 per person ($2 200 total)
$650 per person ($1 950 total)
3 People
Solo Tour
$1 500 total
$850 per person ($1 700 total)
2 People
Photogallery
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