Day 1: Arrival in Almaty
🏙️ Welcome to Almaty – the "City of Apples"!
✈️ Airport transfer & hotel check-in
🌍 Visit the famous Medeu Ice Rink (2,100m), the world’s highest outdoor skating rink
🗻 Explore the Shymbulak Ski Resort & Medeu Dam
🦅 Enjoy a Falcon Show with traditional Kazakh hunting birds
🍽️ Dinner at a national restaurant
🌙 Overnight in a hotel
Day 2: Almaty – Assy Plateau
🏞️ Start your adventure with a scenic drive to the Assy Plateau!
✅ Visit Issyk Kurgan, the archaeological site where the Golden Man was discovered
✅ Stop at a local bazaar to experience traditional Kazakh markets
🌊 Hike to Turgen Waterfall before enjoying a picnic lunch
🔭 Visit the Assy-Turgen Observatory (2,750m), home to the largest telescope in Central Asia
🏕️ Overnight camping on the Assy Plateau under the stars
Day 3: Hiking in Assy Plateau
🥾 Trek through the breathtaking landscapes of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains
📸 Enjoy panoramic views stretching across Kazakhstan’s northern plains
🍽️ Dinner and relaxation at the campsite
Day 4: Assy Plateau – Saty Village
⛰️ Cross the challenging Kyzyl-Auz Pass (3,217m), known as the "Red Maw"
✅ Enjoy views of the Kungoy Alatau and Toruaygyr Mountains
🌊 Cross the Zhenishke River and stock up on supplies at a local village
🏡 Overnight in a home-stay in Saty Village, where you’ll experience Kazakh hospitality
Day 5: Saty – Kaindy Lake – Kolsai Lake
🌲 Journey through birch forests to the mysterious Kaindy Lake
✅ Learn about the 1911 earthquake that created this sunken forest
🏞️ Drive to Kolsai Lake, often called the "Pearl of the Tien Shan"
🏡 Overnight in a guesthouse with views of the lake
Day 6: Exploring Kolsai Lakes
🥾 Hike along the mountain trails between Kolsai-1 and Kolsai-2 Lakes
🌲 Experience the tranquil beauty of the alpine forest
🍽️ Dinner and evening entertainment at the guesthouse
Day 7: Kolsai – Charyn Canyon
🏜️ Drive to the breathtaking Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan’s Grand Canyon!
✅ Explore the "Valley of Castles," featuring 12-million-year-old rock formations
🌳 Hike through the relic ash tree grove, a species that survived the Ice Age
🏕️ Overnight in a traditional Kazakh yurt inside the canyon
Day 8: Charyn – Karkara Alpine Camp
🚙 Off-road drive along the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border
🌦️ Experience extreme terrain changes as you ascend to 2,200m
🏕️ Overnight camping in Karkara Alpine Camp, surrounded by towering peaks
Day 9: Helicopter Flight to Khan Tengri (Optional)
🚁 Board a Mi-171 helicopter for a flight to Khan Tengri (7,010m) (optional, additional cost)
❄️ Experience the breathtaking views of glaciers and snow-capped peaks
🏕️ Return to the camp for dinner and overnight stay in tents
Day 10: Karkara – Tuzkol Lake – Hot Springs
🚙 Drive along the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border through the Kegen Pass
🌊 Stop at Tuzkol Lake, one of the saltiest lakes in the world (similar to the Dead Sea)
🛁 Relax in the Chundzha hot springs, known for their healing properties
🏨 Overnight in a comfortable hotel with thermal pools
Day 11: Chundzha – Zharkent – Altyn-Emel National Park
🏛️ Explore the historic town of Zharkent, near the Chinese border
🕌 Visit the unique Zharkent Mosque, built in Chinese architectural style without nails
🏜️ Enter the stunning Altyn-Emel National Park, known as the "Golden Saddle"
🌙 Overnight in a guesthouse at the base of the Aktau Mountains
Day 12: Aktau Mountains – Basshi Village
🌄 Hike through the colorful Aktau Mountains, known for their blue, red, and purple rock formations
🦅 Explore ancient petroglyphs and stone dwellings of early Kazakh nomads
🌙 Stay overnight in Basshi Village, a gateway to Altyn-Emel National Park
Day 13: Basshi – Kapchagay Lake
🌊 Relax at Kapchagay Lake, Kazakhstan’s largest reservoir
🏖️ Spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the lakeside scenery
🏨 Overnight in a lakeside resort
Day 14: Kapchagay – Almaty (Return & Departure)
📷 Visit the famous Green Bazaar for last-minute souvenirs
🍽️ Farewell dinner with traditional Kazakh barbecue
✈️ Airport transfer for your departure flight
A Journey Through Time and Nature
🚙 From high mountain passes to ancient cities, from desert landscapes to crystal-clear lakes, this SUV expedition through Kazakhstan is the ultimate way to experience the country’s rich heritage and stunning landscapes! 🌍🔥