Private tour price depends on the number of people in the group, including children aged 16 and over. A child participates in the tour at the price of an adult. The price (per person) indicated below is for a group of 2 persons.

On request

Adults:

Children (aged 4-11):

Tour Date:

Departure Time:

Adults:

Children (aged 4-11):

7 days

Distance

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DETAILS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TOUR

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BOOKING TERMS:
Tour Rates Include: transportation according to the program in a comfortable air-comditioned minibus or SUV, accommodation in a guest house and and at the recration resort, professional English-speaking guide service and excursions according to the program; environmental fees; meals (lunch and dinner on Day 1; full board on Days 2 -6; breakfast and lunch on Day 7); drinking water, all necessary camping equipment (except for sleeping bags).
Tour Rates Exclude: accommodation in Almaty (if required), mountain bike rent (10 USD per day), sleeping bag, meals not indicated in the program and/or not included into the tour price, visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (if required), personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program.
Booking Terms: Full payment is required for tour reservation. Accepted methods of payment: cash in local currency, wire transfer, bank card.
Cancellation Terms: 50% of the tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation less than 3 days before tour departure date. Tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation 48 hours or less before tour departure time, as well as in case of no-show.
Group Size: Minimum - 1 person, maximum - 10 people.

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Itinerary:

1 Day

Almaty - Kurmety Settlement

Kurmety Settlement - Tekes River Valley

5 Day

Tekes River Valley - Tuzkol Lake

Almaty - Bartogai Reservoir - Charyn Canyon - Kurmety Settlement

After meeting with a guide and landing in the excursion transport at 07:00 You will go from Almaty to the beginning of the cycling part of the route. About 20 km You will ride by asphalt road, without traffic (usually only 1-2 cars drive this road per hour, sometimes nobody is met here). This road is going to Bartogai reservoir. You will make a stop on the shore of the reservoir for picnic and rest. Then, transfer to Charyn National Park where You will continue cycling. Descent to "Valley of Castles" on bicycles. After resting by the river You will return to the starting point on bicycles, from where there will be a transfer to the village of Kurmety. Here You will have dinner at the guest house.
Overnight in a guest house

Bartogai Reservoir is located in the gorge of the same name on the Chilik River, The reservoir was created to store water in winter, and to feed the fields in the summer along the channel of 160 km length. The banks of the reservoir are devoid of any vegetation, but are buried in the so called "fin". These are trees and logs brought by the Chilik River current from the overgrown banks above the reservoir. Sometimes, among these snags, you can find very interesting specimens, reminiscent of the tools of ancient people or bizarre forms of unseen animals.
Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique of its kind not only in Kazakhstan, but also throughout the world. It was formed in the epoch of the Paleogene and reminds Colorado Grand Canyon in North America, though inferior to it in size. Wind and water has created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you all the time are surrounded by bizarre towers, built of sedimentary rocks.

Kurmety Settlement - Kaindy Lake - Kurmety Settlement

Breakfast at 09:00. First, You will be transferred by car to the beginning of the road leading to the Kaindy River Gorge. From there will start very interesting and the most difficult part of our the cycling route - ascent to lake Kaindy lake. Upon arrival at the lake - lunch, rest and walk along the shores of the lake. Then You are waited by an evening cross country - descent to the settlement! For the night You will stay at the guest house of the locals, where You will have dinner and go to the bath or shower.
Overnight in a guest house

Compared to other lakes in the Kolsai Gorge, Kaindy Lake, or as it is called Birch Lake, is the youngest of them. It is famous for its origin, as it was formed in 1911 as a result of a strong earthquake that caused a landslide, which blocked the gorge with a natural dam. Part of the gorge was flooded with water, but after a while the water receded, leaving a gift in the form of a lake, where one could see trees as if they were originally growing from it. The water in the lake is very cold, which is why the tree conifers are well preserved and can be clearly seen through the transparent surface of the water, and the dry trunks of flooded spruces rise above the water surface like masts of an underwater squadron. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake – it is necessary to go there and see everything with own eyes. The lake is located only 11 km from Saty Settlement and is one of the favorite tourist destinations.

Kurmety Settlement - Chilik River Valley - Kurmety Settlement

Breakfast at 09:00. Packing stuff and starting of cycling route, which will be very interesting and quite easy - not long ride along the plain valley of Chilik river. For lunch and rest You will stop at one of the picturesque glades. Then return to the guest house, sauna, dinner and rest.
Overnight in a guest house

Chilik River is the biggest river in Ile Alatau range (northern Tien-Shan). Its total length is about 450 km. Average annual quantity of water is 32,7 cube meters a second. The river-head is situated on the eastern slope of Chilik-Kemin mountain bulkhead at height of 3350 m a.s.l., the river starts from Jangyrak, Bogatyr’, Korjenevskiy glaciers. Before the river enters Jalanash valley it flows under the name Tauchilik (Mountain Chilik). The upper part of the river is the most interesting, there is something to see. Wide meadows, on which the cattle of local residents peacefully graze. Small groves of water-loving poplar. Thickets of barberry, sea buckthorn and many other berry bushes. In some places it seems that in these places there are no footprints of tourists. So it is, the upper reaches of Chilik, are accessible only for hikers or cyclists.

Kurmety Settlement - Bestyubinsk Reservoir - Tekes River Valley

After breakfast and gathering at 08:00 You will go to the beginning of the next part of the cycle route. To start with, You will drive about 40 km in cars. Then You will switch to bicycles and ride on a serpentine with a new asphalt surface. This road is picturesque and almost deserted. From here You will find the most interesting adventures. The asphalt will end and the real cross-country will begin. The stop will be at another mountain reservoir - Bestyubinsk, on the bank of which there will be a small halt with a light snack. Unfortunately, the shores are steep and You can't get close to the water, but You can admire the panorama with pleasure. Then You will move to the next point - Kegen village. There You will have a delicious late lunch at the local café and a walk through the real village market, after which You will move on to the final point of the day - the valley of the river Tekes. Setting a camp. Dinner around the campfire.
Overnight in the tent camp

Tekes river is the main source of Ili river, a quite large river in the region. Tekes river originates an altitude 3535 meters above sea level, at the foot of the main massif of Khan Tengri mountain group. The river flows mainly in a wide intermountain valley separating the axial ridges of the Eastern Tien Shan and the Ketmen ridge. The banks of the Tekes River and its tributaries are covered with bushes and individual groves of birch and willow. The soil in the lower valley is fertile, the pastures and meadows along the stream are abundant. The whole Tekes valley is picturesque, each turn of the gorge is keeping the wild beauty of nature and nice surprises. Despite the fact that this river flows in one of the most beautiful gorges in Almaty region, it is still little known and is not popular among mass tourists. Lakes, waterfalls and untouched nature are the main advantages of Tekes!

Tekes River Valley - Tuzkol Lake

After breakfast at 09:00 and gathering the camp You will go to another part of the cycling route. Today You will spend almost the whole day on bicycles. The road will be quite simple. The first part of the route goes down the Tekes Gorge, along the river bank. Then there will be not long uphill and getting the shore of Tuzkol lake. On the way you will make some stops for rest and lunch. At the end of the day there will be setting a camp, dinner and rest.
Overnight in a tent camp

Tuzkol lake is dead and salty. Salt density in the lake changes several times throughout the year and can reach 300 g/l. For example, the salt concentration in the Dead Sea about 340-350 g/l. It is noteworthy that no river flows into the lake, and it is undrained. Locals say that it is fed by underground mineral springs, and the mud of the lake is curative and it's used in mud balneotherapy at Almaty clinics. In ancient times, when the Mongols lived on these lands, this lake was called Doban-Nor. From Mongolian it is translated as Windy Lake. On a clear day, Khan Tengri peak, the seventhousander, is visible from the lake. You only have to be here once, and you can't not come back here again...

Tuzkol Lake - Shalkodesu Valley - Ketmen Pass - Chunja

Breakfast at 09:00, gathering teh camp and and starting the last part of cycling route through Shalkodesu valley. You will overcome about 60 km up to the valley till the beginning of ascent to Ketmen pass, of the mountain range of the same name. You will go to the pass by cars because the ascent is quite steep and difficult, and it will take a lot of time to get to it by bicycles. Having got an altitude of 3200 m above s.l., You will be able to enjoy a breathtaking scenery, if the weather lets. At the lunch time, picnic will be arranged in a suitable picturesque place on the route in a mountainous plain or by the river bank. This is followed by descending from the pass, moving to a recreation center with hot mineral springs, dinner and rest..
Overnight at the recration resort

Ketmen ridge separates the two valleys. The highest points of the ridge are offering impressive views of the Northern Tien-Shan peaks: Khan Tengri, Pobeda Peak and other majestic mountains peaks. Apparently, not in vain followers of Tengrianism lived here since ancient times. Interestingly, the name of the highest point of the ridge - Heavenly Mountain - has been preserved to our time. The ridge also has two names. The better known one and used by locals is Uzynkara. The history of this ridge was closely connected with the history of the region. In the south of the ridge, near the village of Sumbe, there are ruins of a Buddhist monastery, and some of the surviving names of villages, streams and hills have their roots in the languages of different peoples who lived here before.In former times, on the slopes of these mountains lived a steppe bison of an unthinkable size.

Chunja - Baiseit village - Almaty

After breakfast at the recreation center at 09:00 and packing the stuff You will go back to Almaty. The road will take about 3-4 hours on the new highway. For lunch You will make a stop on the way in the village of Baiseit. Arrival in Almaty about 17:00 hours.

The village of Baiseit, located 130 km from Almaty, was founded in the late 19th century. Once a part of the Great Silk Road passed through the village, and today it is an obligatory stop point during trips to Charyn canyon, Kolsay lakes and hot springs. The village of Baiseit is recognizable from afar thanks to an alley of pyramidal poplars, as well as a bazaar that stretches along the route and is very popular among tourists. The locals never close the gates or wickets. Everything is open and from the track you can look into every courtyard. Perhaps this applies to the eastern customs of the Uighurs, who are mainly the population of this settlement.

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