4 day Golden ring of Zhetysu tour (camping)

^from$ 1000

Duration	4 days
Category	HIKING
Season	Year-round

This tour gives a unique opportunity to visit the most beautiful places of Kazakhstan for 4 days. During this tour you will visit Altyn emel national Park and - best safari destinitaion in Kazakhstan, Charyn National Park and the pearl of the northern Tien Shan - Kolsay lakes.

"Altyn-Emel” is a state national park located in the valley of the Ili River on the territory of Almaty region.

It is four times the size of Hong Kong the Altyn Emel is a Kazakhstan's safari destination.

The total protected area of the park is 520.2 thousand hectares.

You will be able to observe amazing landscapes "Martian hills" and relic willows.Here is history as well, with ancient burial mounds and petroglyphs. You may also see the wild animals living in national park: persian gazells, argali, Przewalski's horses. You will see unique singing sands, chalk Aktau and volcanic Katutau mountains. Aktau mountains could surprise you by its red, green, pink or even pale blue coloured stony slopes. Another attraction of Altyn-Emel Nature Park is Besshatyr – a complex of five royal burial mounds, Scythian rulers of VI-III centuries BC.

Just 260 km north of Almaty, Altyn Emel is one of the most accessible places to experience a piece of the great under-discovered Kazakh wilds.

1 Day	Breakfast and departure to Charyn canyon. The canyon has been described as the Grand canyon’s little brother and is considered to be the floor of the ancient ocean Tethys. The erosion made by the river Charyn below and the elements created a dramatic and impressive landscape. The Charyn canyon itself is approximately 150 km and in some places up to 300 m deep. Lunch. Departure to Kaindy lake.Transfer to Kaindy lake (11 km off-road). Kayndy lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The rockslide “place of origin” can still be seen today, because it has not been overgrown yet. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river. Dinner. Camping.
2 Day	Breakfast and transfer to Kolsay lake1.Kolsay Lakes – one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. These lakes are located at heights 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. They are distinguished by the unique mountain watershed consisting of three natural zones and amazing variety of rare plants and animals. Hiking from Kolsay lake 1 to Kolsay lake 2 (8 km one way). Lunch and hike back. Dinner. Camping
3 Day	Early breakfast and departure to Altyn Emel national park. Tamgaly on Ily river (165 km from Almaty). Tamgaly tas – written cliffs, on the Ili river. Located 170 km from Almaty, natural boundary consists of huge cliffs. It was a place where beautiful images of Buddha and Burhans were found. Visit Bes Shatyr. Departure to Altyn emel national park. Lunch. Singing sand (also called whistling sand or barking sand). The dune is composed of light-colored sand and has a length of about 3 km and a height of 150 m. In dry weather sands emit a sound similar an organ melody. Since ancient times this place was considered supernatural. The legends explained the sound by the activities of the desert spirits, mythical animals, the bells of buried towns, and underground rivers etc. sunset at the singing dune.Dinner. Camping
4 Day	Breakfast at trip to Aktau and Katutau mountain range. Aktau mountains are located 80 km from the village that takes approximately 1,5 hours to reach them. The Aktau hills look supernatural. You will observe rock layers of white, red and orange colors across the range, known as a unique paleontological deposit with an estimated age of 25-30 million years. Katutau hills are less spectacular, but certainly interesting since it’s a good place to see argali. Ancient willow.Return to the guesthouse and lunch at Altyn emel sanctuary. Departure to Almaty. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Transport with professional driver
Entrance fees for all mentioned national parks (except photo and video charges).
Guided hikes in Charyn, Kolsay lakes, Touyuk-Su
Accommodation: 3 nights camping.
Meals: full board – 3 meals a day: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
English-speaking guide services
Water – 2L per person per day
Accommodation in Almaty
Airport meetings and transfers
Portages at airports and hotels
Photo and video charges
Alcohol + Beverages
Tips and gratuities
Any personal expenses
Any services not included in the above itinerary

Cancellation policy

Payments & Cancellations

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No refunds are available once a tour or service has commenced, or in respect of any package, accommodation, meals or any other services utilized.

If you wish to cancel a reservation made via the Website, the supplier's cancellation policy contained in the applicable product listing will apply to, and govern the terms of, your cancellation and any refunds. When canceling a booking, you will be notified via email the total refund amount you will receive, if any.

The standard cancellation policy for Customers is:

a 90 % refund for cancellations made at least 15 days in advance of the start date of the experience. (Except for the tours to Baikonur Cosmodrome, see point 1)
a 60% refund for cancellations made later than at least 15 days in advance of the start date of experience. Unless the Customer could not inform the Steppe and Sky travel due to the force-majeure reasons.
Cancellations made within 48 hours of the start date of the experience will receive no refund.
In case of no-show the Customer will receive no refund.
For the tours to Baikonur Cosmodrome the following penalties apply:

1 a 90% refund for cancellations made after the payment is made before the permission from Roscosmos State Corporation is received.

2. a 80% refund in case of cancellation of the tour after receiving permission to visit the Cosmodrome Baikonur by Roscosmos , regardless of the time.

3. a 0% refund for cancellations made 14 days prior to the tour start.

4. a 80% refund in case when Roscosmos refuses the Customer in permission to visit the spaceport (Cosmodrome Baikonur),

5. a 80% refund is applicable when Roscosmos either transfers or cancels the launch of the spacecraft, unless the Customer chooses to use the tour package of ‘between launches’ period, in this case the cost of the tour is recalculated and the difference is transferred to the account of the Customer.

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