Itinerary
Day 1 – After meeting your guide at your hotel at 7:00 AM, you'll depart from Almaty to Taldykorgan. Upon reaching the city at approximately 10:00 AM, we will visit the Museum of Local History. After lunch, we'll proceed to Taubulak Eco-Camp, covering a distance of 132 km (82 mi), with 61 km (38 mi) passing through mountainous terrain. Throughout the 6-hour journey, there will be 2-3 stops of 10-15 minutes each at picturesque locations in the Dzungarian Alatau. Upon arrival at Taubulak Eco-Camp by 5:00 PM, you'll be accommodated for some rest. After dinner, you'll have free time to prepare for the start of your route.
Overnight stay in Taubulak Eco-Camp
Day 2 – Following breakfast at the camping site, we'll trek to Burhan-Bulak Waterfall. Near the waterfall, you will have a picnic and free time to explore the area. In the afternoon, we will go back to the camp. Upon your return, you'll have dinner and some well-deserved rest.
Overnight stay in Taubulak Eco-Camp
Day 3 – Begin your day at 6:00 AM. Following breakfast and the disassembly of the camp, we will head to Bayan-Jurek Ridge, where ancient rock paintings dating back thousands of years await exploration. After lunch, our journey continues to the Kalakai Prehistoric Monument and the nearby ruins of ancient settlements. The vicinity also houses numerous burial mounds and graves of various types and eras, some of which we will explore. Be prepared for a bit of searching, as many intriguing spots are concealed by tall grass. Subsequently, we will proceed to Zhansugurov village for accommodation in a guest house, followed by dinner and a well-deserved rest.
Overnight stay in a guest house in Zhansugurov
Day 4 – Following breakfast, we'll proceed to the town of Sarkand, where we'll visit the Zhongar-Alatau National Park office. Our journey continues along a picturesque mountain road to Ekiasha village, established in 1911. Here, you'll see the Aulie Tas Rock and enjoy a picnic in its vicinity. Subsequently, we'll head to Topolevka village, home to the largest concentration of Sievers wild apple-trees in Kazakhstan. This apple variety is recognized as the precursor to all cultivated apple varieties in the world. This apple owes its name to the German scientist Johann Sievers, who first described this tree during a Central Asia expedition in the late 18th century. After settling into the village, dinner will be served, and you'll have the chance to unwind and rest.
Overnight stay in a village
Day 5 – Following breakfast, we'll venture to the highest apiary in the Dzungarian Alatau, once supplying honey to the last emperor of Russia. Here, you'll have a home-cooked dinner and try honey. After lunch, we'll continue our journey to Lake Jasylkol. Upon reaching the lake, you'll participate in setting up the camp, enjoy a dinner by the fire, and then unwind for the evening.
The walking distance is about 3 km (1.9 mi)
Overnight stay in a tent camp along the lake shore
Day 6 – On this day, we will trek to the source of the Agynykaty River. After the exploration, we'll return to the camp for lunch. Then, we'll descend to the apiary and proceed to the village of Lepsi. Upon reaching Lepsi, you'll be accommodated in a guest house, where you can enjoy the bathhouse facilities. Later in the evening, you'll have dinner and the opportunity to rest.
The walking distance is about 3 km (1.9 mi)
Overnight stay in a guest house
Day 7 – After breakfast at the guest house, you'll explore the Museum of Local History in Lepsi. For lunch, you'll return to the guest house, and later in the day, you'll embark on a brief excursion to historical sites near the village. Following the excursion, you'll return to the guest house for dinner and a rest.
The walking distance is about 3 km (1.9 mi)
Overnight stay in a guest house
Day 8 – After breakfast, we will journey to the village of Cherkassk to explore the memorial dedicated to the Cherkas Defense of 1918-1919. This memorial commemorates the uprising of peasants against the newcomers from the Russian Empire. Following the tour of the museum and the memorial, a countryside picnic awaits you before moving on to the abandoned Koilyk settlement. Although deserted today, exploring the settlement up close reveals numerous intriguing aspects. Subsequently, we will proceed to the town of Sarkand, where you will stay overnight, enjoy dinner, and rest.
Overnight stay in a hotel in Sarkand
Day 9 – After breakfast and hotel check-out in Sarkand, departure is scheduled for 9:00 AM. Lunch will be provided on the way to Taldykorgan. Anticipate arriving in Almaty in the evening, around 8:00 PM.