CARAVAN SILK-WAY

TOUR

DETAILED TOUR PROGRAM

• DAY 1: Almaty / Aktau mountains / Katutau mountains / Basshy
  FIRST DAY:

  Almaty / Aktau Mountains / Katutau Mountains / Basshi

  • 08:00 - A comfortable SUV with a guide will be waiting for you at the hotel or the airport. After meeting the guide, we set off on our adventure. The first leg of the journey to the village of Basshi will take about 4 hours. On the way, we will taste Kazakh cheese "Kurt" and pass by the Kapchagay Reservoir.
  • 12:00 - In the village of Basshi, we will visit the national park museum, and the guide will show you your rooms at the hotel. After a short rest, we will enjoy lunch.
  • 13:00 - We depart for the Aktau Mountains, whose landscapes resemble another planet that emerged from the ocean millions of years ago. The drive from Basshi village will take about 1.5 hours.
  • 14:30 - In the mountains, the guide will offer several routes for exploring and show you all the most interesting sights. The walk usually takes about 3 hours. Upon returning to the SUV, we will have hot tea and then drive to the Katutau Mountains.
  • 17:00 - In the Katutau Mountains, created by volcanic activity and featuring bizarre shapes, we will walk and take unforgettable photographs. If we're lucky, wild animals might accompany us.
  • 17:30 - We head back to the hotel. On the way, we will drink water from a spring under the shade of a 700-year-old willow tree.
  • 19:00 - Dinner will be waiting for us at the hotel.
• DAY 2: Basshy / The singing dunes / Zharkent / Hot springs in Chundzha
  SECOND DAY:

  Basshi / Singing Dune / Zharkent / Chundzha Hot Springs

  • 07:00 - The second day begins with a hearty breakfast at the hotel.
  • 08:00 - We pack our things into the SUV and head to the mysterious Singing Dune. The off-road journey will take about 1 hour. Along the way, we may encounter kulan, gazelles, and birds of prey.
  • 09.00. Время покорить гору из песка и полюбоваться окрестностями с высшей точки Бархана. Гид ознакомит с историей появления песка в этой местности и покажет секрет, как разбудить песочного гиганта.
  • 09:00 - Time to conquer the sand dune and enjoy the surrounding views from the top of the dune. The guide will share the history of the sand's formation in this area and reveal the secret of how to make the sand "sing."
  • 11:00 - After shaking the sand out of our shoes, we head to the city of Zharkent to enjoy the best lagman in Kazakhstan. In the city, we will visit the Chinese Mosque, entirely built of wood. The drive will take about 3 hours, with a stop to visit the Tiger Mountains.
  • 14:00 - After visiting the mosque, we will buy some fruit at the local market and head to the Chundzha Hot Springs. The drive from the mosque will take 2 hours.
  • 17:00 - We settle into the hotel at the hot springs. We will have 2 hours to refresh ourselves after two days in the desert and relax after the drive. You will have access to several outdoor pools with warm, mineral water.
  • 19:00 - A traditional dinner will be a perfect end to the day. The pools are open 24/7, and a night swim under the starry sky will be a wonderful reward for the journey.
• DAY 3: Hot springs / Bestamak canyon / Charyn canyon / Saty
  THIRD DAY:

  Chundzha Hot Springs / Bestamak Canyon / Charyn Canyon / Saty

  • 08:30 - After breakfast at the hotel, we pack our things and set off to explore the canyons of the Charyn National Park. On the way, we'll stop in Chundzha to pick up lunch boxes from a restaurant. The drive to the first canyon will take 1.5 hours.
  • 10:30 - Visit to Temirlik Canyon. We will stop at the canyon's viewpoint to take stunning photos, hear about the canyon's history, and then continue our journey.
  • 11:30 - After a 30-minute drive through the steppe, we will descend into Bestamak Canyon. We will hike 2 km into the canyon and have lunch by the roaring Charyn River with our lunch boxes. We will exit the canyon by SUV to conserve our energy for the next sights.
  • 14:30 - Stop at the viewpoint of Moon Canyon, where the labyrinth of clay mountains can be best seen from above. We will walk around to capture the canyon from all angles before heading to the most popular part of Charyn Canyon, the "Valley of Castles."
  • 17:00 - We will visit the panoramic views of the "Valley of Castles," listen to the guide's stories about this canyon, and descend to the Charyn River. Along the way, we will encounter sheer cliffs of various shapes. The walk will take 3 hours. After returning to the parking lot, we will drive to the village of Saty, where we will spend the night in a guesthouse.
  • 20:00 - Arrival and accommodation at the guesthouse in Saty village. Here, we will enjoy a traditional dinner and get acquainted with the household customs of our hosts.
• DAY 4: Saty / Kaindy lake / Kolsay lake / Saty
  FOURTH DAY:

  Saty / Kaindy Lake / Kolsai Lake / Saty

  • 07:00 - Wake up amidst the mountains and have breakfast.
  • 08:00 - To reach Kaindy Lake, we will travel 12 km off-road along a mountain serpentine. The road is very scenic, so keep your cameras ready.
  • 09:00 - At Kaindy Lake, we will visit three viewpoints overlooking the lake, gather wild berries and herbs for our next tea break. The walk around the lake lasts about 2 hours.
  • 12:00 - Return to the guesthouse for lunch and a short rest. Before departing, we will try kumis (a drink made from mare's milk).
  • 14:00 - We set off to visit the gem of the Kungey Alatau, the Kolsai Lakes. At the lake, you can rent a boat, ride a horse, or just walk around. You will have 2 hours of free time.
  • 17:00 - Upon returning to Saty, we will take a stroll through the village to admire its charm and get to know the locals.
  • 19:00 - After dinner, a campfire will be waiting for us, where we will discuss our experiences and plans for the coming days.
• DAY 5: Saty / Kyrgyzstan, Karakol / Zheti-Oguz/ Issyk-Kul
  FIFTH DAY:

  Saty / Karakol / Jeti-Oguz / Issyk-Kul

  • 06:00 - Early breakfast at the guesthouse, pack our things, and depart for Kyrgyzstan. The road to the border passes through the scenic Kungey Alatau mountains and will keep us entertained.
  • 10:00 - Cross the Karakara border at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. Prepare your windbreakers, as it is usually cool in this area. Border crossing typically takes about an hour.
  • 11:00 - Continue our journey and descend into the city of Karakol. Along the way, we will see many high-altitude apiaries where we will try mountain honey.
  • 13:00 - In Karakol, we will have lunch at a restaurant featuring traditional Kyrgyz cuisine and then head to Lake Issyk-Kul, which is so large that it is often referred to as a sea. We will spend most of our time in Kyrgyzstan at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level.
  • 15:00 - On the way to our next hotel, we will visit Jeti-Oguz Gorge and admire the red cliffs, whose grandeur and size are impressive. We will have about an hour to walk around and explore the area.
  • 16:00 - Depart for the hotel. The journey will take about two hours and will follow the shore of Issyk-Kul.
  • 18:00 - Check into the hotel and familiarize ourselves with the area. It’s just a five-minute walk to the beach at Issyk-Kul. We will take a swim before dinner.
  • 19:00 - Dinner at the hotel. The hotel rooms open onto a garden, where we can relax in the evening with a cup of tea and enjoy the sunset from the terrace.
• DAY 6: Kadzhi Say / Barskoon / Arabel / Skazka canyon / Kadzhi Say
  SIXTH DAY:

  Kaji-Sai / Barskoon / Arabel / Skazka Canyon / Kaji-Sai

  • 08:00 - Start the day with a hearty breakfast.
  • 09:00 - Depart for Barskoon Gorge, where we will hike to three waterfalls. The route is of moderate difficulty and suitable for most travelers.
  • 13:00 - We will have lunch with pre-packed lunch boxes from the hotel, sitting by the river. Then we will begin our ascent to an altitude of 4000 meters to the glacial valley of Arabel. In the valley, we will visit Arabel Lake and see numerous glaciers. This is a place of eternal cold, where even on the hottest days, the temperature does not exceed 10 degrees Celsius.
  • 16:00 - On our way back to the hotel, we will stop at a wild beach on Lake Issyk-Kul for a swim in a secluded spot at the foot of the mountains. The water in the lake is 20-24 degrees Celsius and is considered therapeutic.
  • 17:00 - Visiting Skazka Canyon in the evening will make it even more colorful, as the rays of the setting sun paint the canyon in a hundred hues. We will explore the canyon, which will take about an hour.
  • 19:00 - The change in altitude, swimming, and hiking will surely whet our appetites. We will have dinner at the hotel and then move to the shore of Issyk-Kul for an overnight stay in a yurt camp. The yurts are located just a 2-minute walk from the water.
• DAY 7: Kadzhi Say / Burana tower / Bishkek
  SEVENTH DAY

  Kaji-Sai / Burana Tower / Bishkek

  • 08:00 - Enjoy breakfast in the yurt camp and take a final swim in the lake.
  • 09:30 - Depart towards the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. The journey from our last stop will take about 4 hours. On the way, we will visit the Burana Tower, a testament to the civilization that existed here since the 11th century.
  • 14:00 - We will have lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Osh Bazaar, one of Bishkek's largest markets. Here, you can buy souvenirs, fruits, and traditional treats.
  • 18:00 - Stop at a Central Asian cuisine restaurant for dinner.
  • 19:00 - Check into the hotel and enjoy free time.
• DAY 8: Bishkek / Tamgaly petroglyphs / Korday / Almaty
  EIGHTH DAY:

  Bishkek / Tamgaly Petroglyphs / Almaty

  • 07:00 - Have breakfast at the hotel, pack your things, and set off to explore 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 share historical facts about the city and take us to the most significant sites.
  • 10:30 - Return to Kazakhstan. The journey, including crossing the border, will take about 5 hours. On the way, we will visit the archaeological site "Tamgaly Petroglyphs," where we will explore over 4,000 rock carvings.
  • 15:00 - The walk through the gorge with petroglyphs will take about 2 hours. The guide will explain the history of the petroglyphs and prepare hot tea. After the walk, we will have lunch with lunch boxes and head back to Almaty.
  • 20:00 - The guide will take you to your hotel or any convenient location within the city. The tour of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan concludes.