Horse riding in the Aksu Dzhabagly nature preserve
Combined tour in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan H-R-2
Reserve tour now >>>
Geographical location. This tour covers a small amount of territory in the western Tien Shan; the Talas Alatau ridge in the Aksu Dzhabagly Preserve, in the northwestern mountains of the Talas Alatau.
Talas Alatau. The massive and rocky ridges of the western Tien Shan form the headwaters of the Aksu and Dzhabagly rivers, the names of which have been given to the Preserve and mountain chain which stands more than 4000 meters above sea level. There are a number of spurs from this chain - Dzhabagly tau, up to 2915m, Alatau, Buguluturtau, and Baldabrektau. Their comparative heights are around 2000-3000m. Mountain slopes are very steep (here and there up to 70 degrees). The northern slopes of the Alatau and Baldyrbektau ridges, at 1800-2500m, form an almost horizontal terrace.
The mightiest river in the Talas Alatay, the Aksu, flows through a narrow, meandering and picturesque gorge. The most beautiful valley of the Aksu river lies below the confluence of the Aksu and Kishi-Aksu rivers. Here lies a deep canyon (length about 30 km and width to 500 m) with steep walls.
Distance between the upper cliffs is about 700-800 m.
Climate of Talas Alatau ridge. The climate of the Preserve is extreme continental. Cold and snowy winters alternate with hot and dry summers. The warmest month is July at 21.6 degrees.
Annual sum of precipitation in the mountains is 400 - 700 mm, in alpine zones: 850 - 900 mm, and in especially wet years rises to 1000 - 1400 mm.
Route and difficulty of the tour. No difficulties, any healthy person may join this program.
The program:
Duration: 12 days;
Accommodation: 2 nights in Almaty hotel, 2 nights in train, 3 nights in camp, 3 nights in private hotel of Preserve, 2 nights in tents;
Category of difficulty: AA;
Season: July 10 - September 10;
Group size: no more than 10.
Travel itinerary: Almaty - Big Almaty gorge - Small Almaty gorge - Kim-Asar Peak - Chimbulak - Almaty - Kapchagai - Altyn-Emel nature reserve - Temerlik canyon - Charyn canyon - Kolsai lake - Karakol - Djety-Oguz - Lake Issyk-Kul - Kochkorka village - Song-Kol lake - Kochkorka village - Balykchi - Tokmak town - Bishkek - Almaty
Day 1. Arrival in Almaty. Meeting in the airport. Transfer to hotel "Otrar" ****. Accommodation. Rest. Breakfast. City sightseeing: visit to the 28 Panfilov's guardsmen memorial, Cathedral, Museum of national musical instruments, National museum, Republic square. Lunch at a local cafe. Departure from Almaty on train "Otrar" at 6:10PM to Baurzhan Momyshuly station (Burnoe) (760 km, 12 hours) Dinner and overnight on train.
Day 2. Arrival at Baurzhan Momyshuly station at 4.30AM. Transfer: Baurzhan Momyshuly Station - Aksu Dzhabagly Preserve to Topshak hunting area. Breakfast.
Start of horseriding in Aksu Dzhabagly Preserve. Horseriding: Topshak cordon - Ulken - Kayndy tract (1800m) (8 km). Lunch en-route. In our first day in the Preserve, our route runs via mountain meadows along mountains with archa trees. We cross a small stream, which takes its source from the gorge. Soon we see the Ulken - Kayndy valley (in Russian - Big birches), opposite a big mountain with a bare top. Lunch on the way. From there, our route runs through the Topshak-saz tract and further along the valley of the Dzhabagly river. Return to Topshak area. Dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 3. Breakfast. Horseriding: Topshak area - Ulken - Kayndy gorge - Ulken - Kayndy pass (2900m). Lunch en-route. Return to camp of Preserve. Dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 4. Breakfast. Horseriding: Topshak cordon - Kasbulak river - Kasbulak tract - valley of petroglyphs (12 km) Black stones in which are carved pictures, concentrated in an area of 1 sq. km. Featured in the pictures are mainly figures of mountain goats. Lunch. Return to camp of Preserve. Dinner and overnight. Overnight in tents.
Day 5. Breakfast. Horseriding: Ulken - Kayndy gorge - Kyshy - Kayndy gorge (1800m)- Dzhabagly village (14 km) After Ulken - Kayndy gorge, ascent to a small plateau with meadows. Visit to a waterfall in the Kyshy - Kayndy river and descent and exit from the gorge to the steppe. Lunch en-route. Accommodation in private hotel.
Day 6. Breakfast. Trip to the Stalactite Cave near Akbiyik village. Transfer by car: Dzhabagly village - Akbiyik village (15 km) Excursion to cave. Lunch. Return to hotel in Dzhabagly. Dinner (national Kazakh food). Overnight in hotel.
Day 7. Breakfast. Horseriding: Dzhabagly village - Taldybulak tract - Aksu canyon (1620m) (9 km) Today, riding leaves from Dzhabagly village. We pass the village and the road climbs into the mountains. We pass the Irsu plateau and again climb into the Aksu canyon. Lunch. Dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 8. Breakfast. Horseriding: Aksu canyon - Chuuldak tract - Darbaza tract (12 km) From camp, some time we will ride on a road, which later splits, and on an old neglected road we descend into Aksu canyon. Lunch. Soon we see a narrow passage between the high, sheer cliffs - the Darvaza ("gates" in Kazakh). This river has made a crevice which is nearly 100m deep, but with a width of only 6-8m. Cross a bridge over the Baldarbek river. Dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 9. Breakfast. Horseriding: Darbaza - Sayramsu tract (11 km) Ride along valley of the Sayramsu river, which has a beautiful meadow, and in the afternoon arrival at camp "Altex". Lunch. Accommodation in mountain hotel "Altex". Dinner. Overnight.
Day 10. Breakfast. Visit to Sayramsu tract. Lunch. Transfer to Shymkent (60 km) Dinner at a local cafe in Shymkent. Departure from Shimkent to Almaty on train "Otrar" (780 km) Overnight on train.
Day 11. Arrival in Almaty at 9.50AM. Meeting at railway station Almaty - 2. Breakfast. City tour, visit to the "Green Bazaar". Ride on tramway to Kok - Tobe mountain above Almaty, panorama of the city. Visit to Medeo gorge. Late lunch in Kazak Aul restaurant. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 12. Departure from Almaty.
| Cost includes: |
Cost does not include: |
- Visa support to Kazakhstan;
- horses, all land transfers;
- meeting and seeing off at the airport;
- services of interpreter;
- guide services;
- accommodation in hotels and guesthouse (double rooms with breakfast);
- sightseeing;
- entry fees;
- ecological taxes;
- police registration;
- serving of tea/coffee in the tent in the morning;
- special permits;
- tents during trekking on a double basis;
- full board in cities and during trekking;
- packed lunches;
- kitchen and camp equipment for trekking;
- guide consultations;
- bottled water during transfers: 1.5 L/person/day.
|
- Airline tickets,
- tips;
- insurance and other medical subcosts;
- additional excursions not mentioned in the program;
- personal extras like overweight luggage;
- laundry;
- phone, fax, and e-mail services;
- alcoholic drinks;
- mini bar and other extra services at the hotels.
|
Additional information:
1. We use comfortable buses or minibuses without a/c for transfers.
2. Roads are paved along the whole length of the route.
3. We don't supply special personal equipment for horseriding: boots, helmets, and breeches.
4. We don't supply sleeping bags or mattresses.
5. We provides tents on a double basis.
6. Horses carry a maximum of 15 kg of personal luggage.
7. Stalactite cave at Akbiyik village. Length of the cave is 300m, and there are branches off main tunnel with lengths up to 100 m. At the end of the cave is a large central hall.
8. Summer camp of the preserve - 1 cabin with 4 double rooms and dining room. Beds in the rooms have no bedding. Toilet and shower are located outdoors. If group size is larger than 8 pax, we will pitch tents outside.
9. In summer, at basecamp Altex - accommodation in double cabins. Toilet, dining room, and bathroom are located outdoors.
We hope you like the program and assure you that we are absolutely open to any suggestions to increase the range of our services for the complete satisfaction of our clients and are happy to meet your special requirements.
You can alter the duration of your tour and places of visits by adding one of the extensions. Our tour operator will work closely with you or your travel agent to carefully prepare an itinerary based on your stated interests.
Reserve tour now >>>
|
