Day 1: Aktau
Arrival in Aktau and registration. Aktau is a beautiful city on the Caspian Sea coast in western Kazakhstan. The day's program depends on flight schedules, but a short city tour is planned. Participants will meet the support team, receive safety instructions, and check motorcycles. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 2: Aktau - Bozzhira Canyon
Our motorcycle adventure across the Ustyurt Plateau begins with breathtaking landscapes. We will visit an abandoned uranium mine, see the Karagiye Depression (132 meters below sea level), and explore the Shopan-Ata underground mosque. In the evening, we will arrive at Bozzhira Canyon, where we will camp overnight, surrounded by towering 100-meter rock formations.
Day 3: Bozzhira Canyon - Sherkala Mountain
Early morning, we will hike the canyon to capture stunning photographs. Highlights of the day include visits to:
• The sacred site of Beket-Ata, a famous Sufi pilgrimage site
• Tuzbair, a dried-up sea where you can find seashells, bones, and even shark teeth
• In the evening, we will reach Sherkala Mountain and spend the night in a hotel
Day 4: Sherkala Mountain - Blue Bay Beach (Caspian Sea)
We continue our adventure to one of the strangest places on Earth: The Valley of Spheres.
These mysterious stone balls, scattered across the plains, still puzzle scientists. No one knows exactly how they formed.
In the evening, we will camp at Blue Bay Beach on the Caspian Sea.
Day 5: Blue Bay Beach - Bautino (Fort Shevchenko)
The journey continues across the Ustyurt Plateau. We will visit:
• Shakpak-Ata underground mosque, carved into a solid rock long before Islam arrived in the region (10th-13th century)
• Sultan Epe underground mosque, built in the 12th-13th centuries by the Sufi preacher Sultan Epe. The mosque, carved inside a cliff, served as a refuge for wandering ascetics. It has 11 rooms, including the tomb of Sultan Epe.
• Zhygylygan Landslide (meaning "Fallen Earth" in Kazakh), where a massive chunk of land collapsed millions of years ago, leaving behind breathtaking scenery. Overnight stay at a hotel in Bautino (Fort Shevchenko).
Day 6: Bautino (Fort Shevchenko) - Aktau
We will explore the historic town of Fort Shevchenko, where people still follow ancient traditions.
• Founded in 1846 as the Novo-Petrovsk military fortress
• The site has been inhabited since the 8th century
• Renamed Fort Alexandrovsky in 1857
• The famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was exiled here from 1850-1857, giving the town its current name
• In 1870, the fortress withstood a siege by rebel Adai tribes
• It was the capital of the Mangyshlak region from 1882-1920
We will visit the local museum, then ride back to Aktau, where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 7: Aktau - Karyn Zharyk Depression
After a good night’s rest, we continue our enduro adventure to one of the most remote and breathtaking locations: Karyn Zharyk Depression.
Located slightly east of the Mangyshlak Peninsula, this depression lies 70 meters below sea level. The steep Ustyurt Plateau cliffs drop 280 meters, revealing 100-meter-thick rock layers.
We will camp overnight in this isolated and awe-inspiring landscape.
Day 8: Karyn Zharyk Depression - Kenderli Resort (Caspian Sea)
After riding through dusty roads for hundreds of kilometers, both we and our motorcycles deserve a break. We will spend our final day relaxing on the shores of the Caspian Sea at Kenderli Resort, recharging before the journey back.
Day 9: Kenderli Resort (Caspian Sea) - Aktau
Our journey is coming to an end. Filled with unforgettable emotions, we return to the most beautiful city on the Caspian Sea – Aktau. To celebrate our successful adventure, we will gather at a local bar, where you will receive certificates and souvenirs as a memory of this incredible tour. Afterward, you will check into the hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Day 10: Aktau
After a full night of rest, your plans for the day will depend on your flight schedule. If time permits, you may have a chance to explore Aktau once more. At the designated time, we will pick you up and take you to the airport. With this, your Kazakhstan adventure comes to an end. We wish you a safe flight and a smooth landing back home. The days you spent in Kazakhstan with the professional team of Silk Off Road will remain in your memory for decades to come! 🚵♂️✨