Individual tour of the Almaty region and the southern coast of Issyk Kul. Embark on an emotional journey filled with new experiences from the life of nomads.
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Duration: 8 days
Season: April - October
Activity level: middle
AUTHOR'S TOUR "TWO NOMADS"
Individual tour of the Almaty region and the southern coast of Issyk Kul. Embark on an emotional journey filled with new experiences from the life of nomads.
Explore two Central Asian countries in just eight days on this unique tour. Traverse semi-deserts, highlands, and ancient glaciers, perfect for mountain hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers. Experience a journey that feels like visiting a dozen countries, all packed into one unforgettable adventure.
Detailed TOUR PROGRAM
08.00. A comfortable off-roader and a guide will be waiting for you near the hotel or at the airport. After meeting the guide, we go on our adventure. The first section of the road to the village of Basshi will take about 4 hours, on our way we will taste the Kazakh cheese "Kurt" and pass through the Kapshagai water reservoir.
12.00. In the village of Basshi we will visit the National Park Museum, the guide will show you your hotel rooms. After a short rest, we will enjoy lunch.
13.00. We go to the mountains of Aktau, the landscapes of which resemble another planet that arose from the bottom of the ocean millions of years ago. The trip from the village of Basshi takes about 1.5 hours.
14.30. In the mountains, the guide will offer several routes for exploring the mountains and show you all the most interesting things. The walk usually takes 3 hours. When we return to our off-roader, we will drink hot tea and drive to the Katutau mountains.
17.00. In the mountains of Katutau with bizarre shapes, created by a volcano, we will take a walk and take unforgettable photos. If we're lucky, wild animals will hang around and keep us company
17.30. We return to the hotel. On the way, we will drink water from a spring under the shade of a 700 years old Willow tree.
19.00. Dinner will be waiting for us at the hotel
07.00. The second day starts with a rich breakfast at the hotel.
08.00. We pack our things in the off-roader and drive out to the mysterious
Singing Barkhan. The route takes us through across fields and will takes about an hour to get there. On our way we will meet Kulans, Gazelles and birds of prey.
09.00. Time to climb a mountain of sand and admire the surroundings from the highest point of the Barkhan. The guide will introduce you to the history of the appearance of sand in this area and show you the secret of how to wake up the sand giant.
11.00. After emptying our shoes of sand we go to the city of Zharkent to eat the most delicious lagman in Kazakhstan. In the city, we will visit a Chinese mosque built entirely of wood. The road will take about 3 hours with a stop to visit the Tiger mountains.
14.00. After visiting the mosque, we will buy fruit at the local market and go to the Chunji Hot Springs. The trip from the mosque takes 2 hours.
17.00. We will stay in a hotel at the hot springs. We will have 2 hours for recreation after two days in the desert and relax after the trip. There are several outdoor pools with warm mineral water at your disposal.
19.00. A traditional lunch will be a great way to end the day. The pools are open around the clock, swimming under the starry sky will be a great reward for the journey.
08.30. After Breakfast at the hotel, we pack our bags and go to conquer the country of canyons of the " Charyn National Natural Park". On the way, we will stop in Chunja to pick up lunch boxes from the restaurant. It takes 1.5 hours to get to the first canyon.
10.30. Visit to the Temerlik canyon. We will stop at the canyon panorama to take fabulous pictures. Listen to the history of the canyon and go further.
11.30. After driving 30 minutes on the steppe, we will go down to the Bestamak canyon. Where we will walk 2 km deep into the canyon, and near the noisy Charyn river we will have lunch. We will get out of the canyon on an off-road vehicle to save our breath for the next amenity.
14.30. We will stop at the Moon Canyon panorama, it is from the height that you can see the multiple labyrinths of clay mountains. Take a walk to capture the canyon from all angles and go to the most famous part of the Charyn Canyon in the so-called " Valley of Castles" canyon.
17.00. We will visit the panoramic views of the " Valley of Castles" canyon, listen to what the guide will tell us about this canyon and go down to the Charyn river. On the way, steep rocks of various shapes are waiting for us. The walk will take 3 hours. Upon returning to the parking lot, we drive to the village of Saty, where we will spend the next night in a guest house.
20.00. Arrival and getting settled in a guest house in the village of Saty. Here we will try the national food for dinner, and get acquainted with the life of the owners of the house.
07.00. We wake up in the middle of the mountains and have breakfast.
08.00. To get to Kaindy lake, we have to overcome 12 km of cross-country driving along a mountain spiral road. The trip is very picturesque, we keep our cameras on hand.
09.00. At Kaindy lake, we will visit three points with a view of the lake, pick up wild berries and herbs for our next tea party. The walk around the lake lasts about 2 hours.
12.00. We return to the guest house for lunch and a short rest. Before departure, we will try Kymyz (a drink made from mare's milk)
14.00. We leave to visit the pearl of Kungei Alatau - Kolsay lakes. You can rent a boat, ride a horse or take a walk along the lake. You will have 2 hours of free time.
17.00. After returning to Saty, we will walk around the village to admire the local charm and get to know the locals.
19.00. After dinner, we will sit by the fire and discuss our impressions and plans for the next days.
06.00. Early breakfast at the guest house, pack your bags and leave for Kyrgyzstan. The road to the border passes through the picturesque Kungei Alatau mountains and will not make you bored.
10.00. We will cross the border of Karakara at an altitude of 2000m above sea level. Make sure you have your windbreaker on, as most likely it will be chilly in this area. Usually the border crossing time is about an hour.
11.00. We continue our way and go down to the city of Karakol. Along the way, we will see a lot of high-altitude apiaries, where we will try mountain honey.
13.00. In Karakol, we will have lunch in a restaurant of traditional Kyrgyz cuisine and go to the Issyk Kol lake, which is so large that it is often called the sea. Most of the time in Kyrgyzstan, we will be at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level.
15.00. On the way to our next hotel, we will visit the Zhety-Oguz gorge and see the red rocks, the grandeur and size of which is amazing. We will have about an hour to walk down and explore the area.
16.00. We leave for the hotel. The trip will take about two hours and will pass along the bank of Issyk-Kul.
18.00. We check in at the hotel and get acquainted with the area. To get to the Issyk-Kul beach, we need to walk five minutes. We'll take a swim before dinner.
19.00. Dinner at the hotel. The hotel's rooms overlook the garden, where you can relax in the evening with a cup of tea and watch the sunset from the terrace.
08.00. We start the day with a hearty breakfast.
09.00. We go to the Barskoon gorge, where we will hike to three waterfalls. The route is of medium difficulty and is suitable for most travelers.
13.00. We will have lunch from boxes, which we have taken from the hotel, sitting by the river. Then we will start climbing to a height of 4000m meters to the glacial valley of Arabel. In the valley, we will visit the Arabel lake and see a dozen glaciers. This is a place of eternal cold, even on the hottest days the air temperature is not higher than 10 degrees.
16.00. On our way to the hotel, we will stop at the wild beach of Issyk-Kul lake to swim in an unmanned place at the foot of the mountains. The water in the lake is 20-24 degrees Celsius and is curative.
17.00. Visiting the Fairy Tale canyon in the evening will make it even more colorful, the rays of the setting sun will paint the canyon in a hundred colors. Here we will go to explore the canyon. The walk will take about an hour.
19.00. Changing heights, swimming and hiking will whet your appetite. We will have dinner at the hotel and move to the Issyk-Kul coast for the night in a Yurt camp. Yurts are located a 2-minute walk from the water.
08.00. We will have breakfast in the Yurt camp and take a final swim in the lake.
09.30. We leave in the direction of the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. It takes 4 hours to get there from the last stop. On the way, we will visit the Burana tower, the evidence of the existence of civilization in this area since the XI century.
14.00. We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and visit Osh market, one of the largest markets in Bishkek. Here you can buy souvenirs, fruits and traditional treats.
18.00. We will stop at the Central Asian cuisine restaurant and have dinner.
19.00. Hotel accommodation and free time.
07.00. We have breakfast at the hotel, pack our things and go to get acquainted with the city of Bishkek.
08.30. In the city, we will visit the Central mosque, the largest in Central Asia built in 2018, and the city center. The guide will tell you the historical facts of the city and guide you to the most important places.
10.30. We are returning to Kazakhstan. The trip along with the border crossing will take about 5 hours. On the way, we will visit the archaeological site "Tamgaly Petroglyphs" where we will explore more than 4,000 drawings carved on stones.
15.00. A walk through the gorge with petroglyphs takes about 2 hours. The guide will tell you the history of petroglyphs and prepare hot tea. After the walk, we will have lunch and return to the city of Almaty.
20.00. The guide will take you to a hotel or any place in the city convenient for you. The tour of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is over.
Program can be changed or supplemented according to your desire
Kazakhstan and kyrgyzstan package price
1 tourist - 3570 USD/per person 2 tourists - 1960 USD/per person 3 tourists - 1540 USD/per person 4 tourists - 1240 USD/per person 5 tourist - 1710 USD/per person 6 tourists - 1540 USD/per person 7 tourists - 1370 USD/per person 8 to 20 tourists - 1240 USD/per person
PRICE INCLUDES:
Rent an all-wheel drive SUV
Fuel
Services of an English-speaking guide
Accommodation according to the program (double occupancy)
Meals according to the program
Entrance tickets to national parks
Tasting "Kurt" and "Kumys"
Horses in Kaindy
1.5 liters of water per person per day
In just a few clicks, you can get a quality vacation if you don't want to spend time planning a trip.
For groups up to 6 people we use Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Toyota Sequoya, Nissan Patrol. For groups more than 6 people, prepared for off-road Hyundai Starex, Mitsubishi Rosa.
Every evening, Internet will be available at the hotel or guest house. Your guide will distribute the Internet during the ride and you can use it wherever possible.
You can rent a horse for a walk on Lake Kaindy or ride a horse to the middle lake Kolsai. The approximate rental price is 50 USD per person.
By prior arrangement, it is possible to order vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free foods.
We recommend going on this tour from 5 years old. We had experience organizing this tour for a 7 month old baby.
We will send a program by email after booking.
We only organize private tours and do not collect groups. In any case, write to us and we will try to help you.
You can pay the full amount when booking a tour on our website. Or by prior arrangement, you can pay 10% of the cost as a prepayment via PayPal, and pay the balance in cash on the day of the tour.
We are pleased to change the program for you to make it even more individual, please contact us by e-mail.
A system of three high-mountain lakes in the Kungei Alatau Mountains, 300 km from Almaty. Favourite recreation place for Almaty residents and tourists.
The youngest high-mountain lake in Kazakhstan and the most popular attraction. In 1911 after the earthquake, the water flooded the forest and formed this natural wonder.
The most popular tourist attraction in Kazakhstan. The depth of the canyon reaches 300 meters. It is called so because of the multiple figures formed by nature, which are reminiscent of castles and animals. The length of the canyon is 3 km.
Altyn Emel is the pride of the South of the Dzungarian Alatau and the largest national park in Kazakhstan. Altyn Emel National Park is located 250 km from Almaty city.
CHUNDZHA HOT SPRINGS
Thermal springs 300 km from Almaty with an average water temperature of 38 degrees. The water in the springs is considered medicinal.
BESTOMAK CANYON
One of the canyons of the Charyn National Park. The length of the canyon is 3 km. The canyon stands out for its variety of colors and depth.
Moon Canyon
Clay canyon in the National Park "Charyn Konyon". A gorgeous place to enjoy the scenery and walk through the labyrinths of the canyon.
Black Canyon
One of the deepest parts of the Charyn Canyon on the way to the Kolsai lakes. A great place to take pictures and watch the greatness of the Charyn River.
Singing Dune
A miracle of nature in the Altyn Emel National Park. A mountain of sand 150 meters high and 3 km long, which makes singing in dry windy weather.
Altau mountains
Chalk mountains that millions of years ago were the bottom of the ocean. The beauty of this place lies in its martian landscapes and untouched nature.
Katu-Tau mountains
Altyn Emel National Park features lava mountains. Bizarrely shaped mountains with many caves, a picturesque location for a photo.
Kapchagay Reservoir
One of the most popular places for summer holidays in Almaty. A warm reservoir formed by the Ili River.
Karakol city
City on the shore of Issyk-Kul. The capital of mountain tourism in Kyrgyzstan.
Zhety Oguz
Zhety Oguz gorge near Karakol, which is fraught with a tragic legend of lovers
Barskoon waterfals
Barskoon Gorge is 90 km away from the city of Karakol. There are 3 waterfalls here.
Arabel plateau
Glacial plateau at an altitude of 4000 m above sea level. Here you can see more than 10 glaciers from one point.
Issyk-Kul lake
The lake is also called the sea, due to its size. One of the most popular lakes for summer holidays in Central Asia.
Fairytale Canyon
Canyon on the shore of Issyk-Kul. Despite the abundance of colors and bizarre shapes, no one can remain indifferent.
Burana Tower
Archaeological complex 60 km. from Bishkek. The ancient city of the Karakhanids, where monuments from all over Kyrgyzstan are collected.
KAZAKSTAN and KYRGYZSTAN 8 DAY TOUR
CENTRAL ASIA TOUR ON A MAP
7 REASONS TO TRAVEL WITH SUV TOURS
To ensure our customers do not spend hours searching for hotels, attractions, and entertainment in Almaty and Almaty region, we have developed ready-made tours. All you have to do is to choose a suitable tour and buy a plane ticket.
We provide a car with a guide 30 minutes before departure
We carry out technical inspection of vehicles after each tour
We know how to glue a tire in the middle of the steppe
We will show you how to avoid a tick bite and treat the wound if you get hurt
We will find an individual approach to any customer
Show the secret areas to take the best pictures
Cooking the delicious coffee
THE BEST OF BEST TRAVELERS' CHOICE AGENCY ALMATY
From year to year, we are honored with the award choice of the year. 99% of tourists recommend us to their friends. The third part of them travels around Kazakhstan with us regularly.
A system of three high-mountain lakes in the Kungei Alatau Mountains, 300 km from Almaty. Favourite recreation place for Almaty residents and tourists.
The youngest high-mountain lake in Kazakhstan and the most popular attraction. In 1911 after the earthquake, the water flooded the forest and formed this natural wonder.
The most popular tourist attraction in Kazakhstan. The depth of the canyon reaches 300 meters. It is called so because of the multiple figures formed by nature, which are reminiscent of castles and animals. The length of the canyon is 3 km.
Altyn Emel is the pride of the South of the Dzungarian Alatau and the largest national park in Kazakhstan. Altyn Emel National Park is located 250 km from Almaty city.
Altau mountains
Chalk mountains that millions of years ago were the bottom of the ocean. The beauty of this place lies in its martian landscapes and untouched nature.
Medeo
Alpine skating rink Medeo, located in the city. This is a unique building surrounded by the mountains of Zayili Almatau.
Almaty city
The largest city of Kazakhstan is Almaty. Almaty is located in the foothills of the northern Tien Shan (Zaili Alatau)
Issyk-Kul lake
The lake is also called the sea, due to its size. One of the most popular lakes for summer holidays in Central Asia.
Song-Kul
An alpine lake with incredible scenery and thousands of cattle and horses. Here it is fashionable to try the real Sarymai.