Itinerary
Day 1 – Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Almaty at 9:00 AM. A comfortable car will be provided for your transfer to the Medeu Skating Rink, from where we will take a cable car to Talgar Pass, the highest level of the Shymbulak Ski Resort. Following lunch in a traditional Kazakh yurt on the pass, our hike will commence. On this tour, you will see some of the best sights of the Ile Alatau Mountains. Our initial destination is the Small Talgar Pass, where you'll relish a breathtaking panorama of snow-capped peaks, including Til and Ayak glaciers, as well as Chkalov and Athlete peaks. Descending to the river in Left Talgar Gorge, we'll pause for a rest and a snack. Continuing our ascent along the river, we'll gradually gain elevation and set up camp in a spacious glade known as Alpine Rose, situated near a spring. After a fireside dinner, you can unwind and rest.
Overnight stay in the tent camp at an altitude of 2450 m (8040 ft) above sea level
The hiking distance covered on this day – 8 km (5 mi)
Hiking time – 4 hours
Day 2 – Today, we get up at 7:00 AM for breakfast and camp disassembling. At 9:00 AM, our ascent up the gorge begins. Most of the journey will be along a well-established path, except for a challenging stretch where we navigate through debris. Overcoming this obstacle, we'll reach a small picturesque lake formed after a powerful landslide in 2003. Continuing onward, we'll proceed to the Sun Glade, offering a magnificent view of the four-thousanders, Pushkin and Constitution peaks. We will have lunch near the confluence of the Tourists and Left Talgar rivers. Following a rest, we embark on a steep climb up the Tourists Gorge. The camp will be set up in a scenic glade near the foothills of SGU Peak, a stunning and massive mountain that provides a captivating backdrop for photographs. Once the camp is established, we'll prepare dinner and unwind.
Overnight stay in the tent camp at an altitude of 3550 m (11650 ft) above sea level
Hiking distance covered on this day – 12 km (7.5 mi)
Hiking time – 7-8 hours
Day 3 – We'll get up at around 7:00 am, gearing up for an early start on this day's trek to conquer the Tourists Pass—the highest and most challenging section of our entire route. Following breakfast, we'll start our ascent up the gorge, passing moraine lakes and catching sight of the stunning 4,380-meter Peak of Soviet Mountaineers. The Tourists Glacier follows, easily navigable on foot during the summer months.
Upon reaching the pass, we'll pause for a brief rest, a snack break, and the opportunity to capture photos of the breathtaking peaks, all towering above four thousand meters. In clear skies, you'll also spot the highest point of the Ile Alatau Mountains—Talgar Peak, standing at an impressive 5017 meters (16460 ft). Following our break, we'll descend to the valley of the Kyzylsai River, covering a descent of almost 900 meters (2950 ft). Our campsite will be set up at the confluence of two rivers, Kyzylsai and Ozyornaya, where we'll have time to relax, take a stroll in the surroundings, and have dinner.
Overnight stay in the tent camp at an altitude of 3110 m (10200 ft) above sea level
Hiking distance covered on this day – 11 km (7 mi)
Hiking time – 6-7 hours
Day 4 – We'll get up at 7:00 AM, have breakfast, and pack our belongings. Then we will go down the Ozernoye Gorge towards Big Almaty Lake. Before reaching the lake's dam, we'll turn right and ascend to the ridge that separates Ozernoye Gorge and Shukur Gorge. Along the way, we'll pause for a snack break. The trail will then lead us down to the Moon Glade. Passing through a small forest, we'll ascend the narrow, rocky Shukur Gorge, where a small waterfall awaits. You'll have the opportunity to swim in the pool near the waterfall before we rest, have another snack, and descend to the Moon Glade. From there, we'll follow a road to the Alpine Rose Mountain Resort, where a car will be waiting to transport you back to Almaty.
Hiking distance covered on this day – 14 km (9 mi)
Hiking time – 7-8 hours