8-Day Golden Ring of Semirechye: Almaty, Charyn Canyon & Kolsai Lakes Jeep Expedition

Your adventure begins with a meet-and-greet at Almaty International Airport (ALA) or the land border. We transfer you to the city center to begin exploring the cultural capital of Kazakhstan.

• Medeo Gorge: We drive up to 1,691 meters to see the world-famous Medeo, the highest Olympic-sized ice skating rink, surrounded by the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains.

• Zenkov Cathedral: Back in the city, we visit Panfilov Park to admire the Zenkov Cathedral, a colorful wooden architectural masterpiece built without nails that survived the 1911 earthquake.

• Kok Tobe Hill: A scenic cable car ride takes us to the highest point in the city. From here, view the iconic TV Tower and enjoy a panoramic sunset over the city and mountains.

• Welcome Dinner: Conclude the day with a traditional Kazakh dinner at a premium local restaurant before checking into your hotel.

• Inclusions: Airport transfer, lunch, welcome dinner, Kok Tobe entrance tickets, cable car ride.

We leave the city behind for a true off-road adventure.

• Issyk Lake: A morning stop at the stunning turquoise Issyk Lake. Your guide will brew signature coffee using a moka pot right on the shore—a perfect start to the day.

• Turgen Gorge & Waterfall: We enter the lush Turgen Gorge for a short hike to a crashing waterfall hidden in the forest.

• Assy Plateau: Switching to 4x4 mode, we ascend the serpentine roads to the Assy Plateau. This high-altitude summer pasture is dotted with nomadic yurts, herds of horses, and an observatory, offering endless green vistas.

• Return to Almaty: We return to the city in the evening after a full day of mountain air.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, scenic lunch box, dinner, National Park fees.

We head north towards the semi-desert, passing the Kapshagay Reservoir and the Ili River.

• Turksib History: We pass through Sary-Ozek, learning about the legendary Turkestan-Siberia Railway construction.

• The Singing Sand Dune: We arrive at Altyn-Emel National Park. The highlight is climbing the massive sand dune at sunset. When the wind blows, the sand emits a low-frequency vibration resembling an organ or jet engine.

• Sunset Toast: We celebrate the climb with a glass of sparkling wine atop the dune.

• Baschi Village: Overnight in a traditional guesthouse with a hearty home-cooked meal.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner, guesthouse accommodation, National Park fees.

Wake up to a prehistoric world. Today is dedicated to geology and the Silk Road.

• Aktau Mountains: We hike (6-10 km) through the chalk mountains of Aktau. The red, white, and orange bands of rock contain ancient fossils and look like a movie set for Mars.

• Kati-Tau Volcanic Rocks: We explore the surreal solidified lava formations of Kati-Tau.

• Zharkent: In the evening, we drive to the border town of Zharkent.

• Hot Springs: Relax your muscles in the local thermal mineral pools under the starry sky.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, picnic lunch, traditional Lagman dinner, hot springs entry, accommodation.

Today we explore the lesser-known, wilder sections of the massive Charyn Canyon system via 4x4.

• Bestamak (Red) Canyon: Known as the "Little Colorado," this section offers diverse rock sculptures and wildlife spotting (foxes, gazelles).

• Temirlik (Moon) Canyon: We visit the yellow clay cliffs of the "Lunar Canyon" and the Kurtogai tract.

• Sogdian Ash Grove: A picnic lunch by the Charyn River, surrounded by rare relict ash trees that survived the Ice Age.

• Satty Village: We arrive at the eco-tourism hub of Satty for a warm welcome from our local hosts.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, riverside picnic, home-cooked dinner, guesthouse accommodation.

A day dedicated to the most photogenic alpine lakes in Central Asia.

• Lake Kaindy (The Sunken Forest): We take a specialized off-road van (UAZ) and hike to Kaindy. Formed by an earthquake in 1911, the lake is famous for the bleached spruce trunks rising eerily from the turquoise water.

• Kolsai Lakes: We proceed to Kolsai Lake 1. Enjoy a relaxing boat/catamaran ride on the mirror-like surface reflecting the snow-capped peaks.

• Nomadic Evening: Return to Satty village for a traditional dinner featuring Kazy (horse sausage), Baursaks (fried dough), and herbal tea.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch, traditional dinner, boat rental fee, guesthouse accommodation.

We return towards Almaty, but not before seeing the most famous landmark.

• Charyn Canyon (Valley of Castles): We hike the classic 3km route through the towering red sandstone formations. Your guide will show you the best photo spots away from the crowds.

• Bayseit Food Market: A culinary highlight! We stop in the village of Bayseit to taste authentic Uyghur cuisine. Enjoy the region's best Plov, Samsa, and hand-pulled Lagman noodles.

• The Silk Road Market: Browse the local bazaar for spices, dried fruits, and souvenirs.

• Return to Almaty: Arrival in the city center in the evening.

• Inclusions: Breakfast, Uyghur feast lunch, dinner.