The Altyn-Emel Nature Reserve is a steppe plateau surrounded by mountains. Those who have been on safari in Kenya or Tanzania will not be surprised by this, but we were delighted with the number of free and unafraid animals: hares, white-bellied goats (probably gazelles) flocks of partridges, some lazy birds that walk, ground squirrels (or not, but similar), fluffy rodents of all colors and degrees of tailedness. And eagles soar above all this, soaring into the sky right from under your feet. And then a peak appears on the horizon, shining in the sun. This is Aktau Mountain, a white-pink giant that was once the bottom of the Tethys world ocean. If you are in Kazakhstan, take a look - you will not regret it.

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Полина Сутугина

Level 6 Local Expert

The place is really very impressive. The nature is incredible, its scale cannot be conveyed and they are immense, but there is a big one, BUT this is the road! The road (if you can call it that) It took us about 1.5 hours from the village of Basshi to the barrier. If there is an SUV, then it is possible to get there faster, there is nothing to do on low cars, or prepare an iron reserve of nerves that you will drive at a speed of 5-20 km per hour. In total, the road from Almaty took us 8 hours in 1 direction. It is a pity that in such a place there is not the most banal, it would seem, road. If it were, it seems that tourists would have pulled up to see all this beauty. Only because of the road minus the star

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Константин Косов

Level 4 Local Expert

Kind tourists! Altyn-Emel Park, for my taste, is one of the three most powerful landscape attractions in the Almaty region. the main attractions of the national park - The multicolored mountains of the Aktau desert are a geological pie made of multicolored sedimentary rocks that have formed in this place over millions of years. The wind, sun and water have not been idle all this time either, they approached the issue with invention and perseverance, and now, sitting somewhere on top of this pie, especially at sunset, you can get an aesthetic shock looking at the results of all these processes. Those who love wild landscapes and wild geological fantasies need to come straight here. - the phenomenon of nature is a singing dune where you can climb to the top to see a wonderful view in good weather - Katutau Mountains, a small pretty location where weathering processes have worked on frozen lava - A 700-year-old willow tree, a good place to rest in a desert oasis - the inhabitants of the park, if you are a little lucky, you will have the opportunity to see kulans and gazelles in their natural habitat Now about the practical aspects of this trip. - how much time should I allocate for the tour We need to go for three days! 15 hours of clean driving, of which 7 hours of “washboard" on the park's primers. But in addition to driving, you need to leave time for walks, inspections, photographing, food, coffee and just “hanging around" with pleasure. The minimum is two full days and one evening to drive 4 hours from Almaty to the park. Spend the night at the border and go into battle in the morning! - walking on the route You can experience special pleasure if you also know how to walk with your feet over rough terrain, that is, you can take a walk for several hours or even a long hike. You will not only become a conqueror of the desert mountains (who did not go to ordinary mountains), but you will also be able to see this geological museum in full. - accommodation in the village of Basshi, which is on the border of the park. Guest houses and a couple of hotels, meals in the same place. There are no cafes, bars and doneries in the village yet, so you can eat in the same place as you sleep. Approximately $30 per person with breakfast and dinner. - overnight in tents You can spend the night at the foot of the desert mountains - this expands the possibilities of a hiking program in the mountains, it is very romantic and aesthetically pleasing, especially if you are lucky with the weather, but if you are ready to spend the night in a tent. Meals in this case will be organized by the guide, or by yourself. seasonality From March to November, although visits to the park are possible in the winter months if road conditions allow, but the winter light leaves much to be desired In July and August, the temperature can reach 40 degrees, so you need to be careful not to get overheated. For independent travelers: take at least 5 liters of water per person per day, only for drinking and cooking. Heads and clothes in extreme heat, it is advisable to constantly moisturize, while drinking and not what everyone thought about, but tea (preferably) and water. road - road conditions For 250 km of unpaved roads in the park, this is usually a bad primer - it is also a washing board, reliable transport is desirable. In the park you can meet a scorpion and a karakurt, so open your mouth. - warning Attention! It can be DANGEROUS in the dry beds of desert mountains! Keep a close eye on the weather over the mountains and north of the mountains. If there are so many obstacles, then why go there? Don't ask, I'm biased, for many, many years this park has not bothered me and, hopefully, I am to him. Contact us if you need to arrange a tour, or find out something about this or other routes! I'll tell you what I know if I'm in touch.

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Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park

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