Side of wild lakes. Altay auto-trekking in Kazakhstan. AT-2
Tours to Kazakhstan

One variant. Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk - by flight. Reserve tour now >>>

Day 1. Arrival in Almaty. Transfer to the hotel Otrar ****, accommodation. City sightseeing: visit to the 28 Panfilov's guardsmen park, Cathedral, Museum of national musical instruments, National museum, Medeo gorge, Republic square (4 hrs.). Lunch. Flight to Ust-Kamenogorsk (2 hours). Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Accommodation at the hotel Irtysh ***. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 2. Breakfast. Transfer Ust-Kamenogorsk - Leninka village - Samarskoe village - Kaznakovsky ferry crossing (Bukhtarma reservoir) - Kuygan village - Kurchum village - Karatogai village - Shakelmes mountain (H-516) by Zaisan lake (325 km). We leave the city and some time we can see yellow fields of sunflowers, but soon asphalt road goes to low hilly mountains, overgrown with forest here and there. Pass 3 low passes - Chechek, Targyn, Umysh and northern extremity of Kyzylkum desert, creating unique contract of region. Pass large Samarsloye village and passing 8 km, highway leads us to ferry crossing over Bukhtarma reservoir. Lunch on the way. Width of reservoir in a place of Ferry crossing is 5 km. Territory of Eastern Kazakhstan, in particular, of Zaisan hollow was peopled from great antiquity. Tracks of ancient mountain mine workings, irrigation canals and ruins of fortresses and settlements are kept up to now at Altai, Zaisan hollow and on slopes of Saura and Tarbagatai, and are evidence of it.

Here were hordes of nomads, turned from Mongolia steppes and Southern Siberia to west, to Volga river and further to Black Sea, Kaspiysky and Mediterranean Sea). After Kurchum village our way lies along the plain, from Karatogai village we turn to south-west to Tuzshynkyr tract is situated on a shore of Zaisan lake. It is only one place of Zaisan lake with abrupt shores.

Here magnificent outcrops of ancient variegated clays, creating landscapes with extraordinary beauty. Accommodation in tents on shore of the lake. Dinner. Overnight in the tents..

Second variant. Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk - by train.Reserve tour now >>>

Day 1. Arrival in Almaty. Transfer to the hotel "Otrar"****, accommodation. City sightseeing: visit to the 28 Panfilov's guardsmen park, Cathedral, Museum of national musical instruments, National museum Republic square . Early lunch. Transfer to Ust-Kamenogorsk (Zhangiz-Tobe railway station) by train (dep. At. 12.30). Night on the train.

Day 2. Breakfast. Arrival in Zhangiztobe at 8.00. Transfer: Zhangiztobe - Georgievka village - Kokpekty village - Bolshaya Bukon village - Kazanakovskaya ferry crossing (Bukhtarma reservoir) - Kuygan village - Kurchum village - Karatogai village - Shakelmes mountain (H-516) by Zaisan lake (325 km). After Georgievka village we pass Charsky reservoir and see low hilly mountains at ridge of Saryzhal and Karazhalsky mountains. Pass small Kokpekty village and mountains are replaced plain. After Kaznakovka village we pass northern extremity of Kyzylkum desert, creating unique contract of region near ferry crossing over Bukhtarma reservoir. Lunch on the way. Width of reservoir in a place of Ferry crossing is 5 km. Territory of Eastern Kazakhstan, in particular, of Zaisan hollow was peopled from great antiquity. Tracks of ancient mountain mine workings, irrigation canals and ruins of fortresses and settlements are kept up to now at Altai, Zaisan hollow and on slopes of Saura and Tarbagatai, and are evidence of it. Here were hordes of nomads, turned from Mongolia steppes and Southern Siberia to west, to Volga river and further to Black, Caspian and Mediterrenean Sea). After Kurchum village our way lies along the plain, from Karatogai village we turn to south-west to Tuzshynkyr tract is situated on a shore of Zaisan lake. It is only one place of Zaisan lake with abrupt shores . Here magnificent outcrops of ancient variegated clays, creating landscapes with extraordinary beauty. Accommodation in tents on shore of the lake. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 3. Breakfast. Transfer: Shakelmes mountain - Kein-Kerish mountain (H-501) - Buran village - Terekty (Alekseevka) village - Mramorny pass (H-1371) - Tikkabak pass - Urunkhaika village by Markakol lake ( 245 km) After breakfast short excursion around Shakelmes neighborhood, then transfer on desert along northern shore of Zaisan to Kein-Kerish tract. Here also short excursion around tract of Zaisan hollow. Water and wind have created unique sculptures from variegated clay. There is frontier post at small Ashaly village near Terecty village. From here we see unique Kazakhstan and China landscapes.

Sands (as huge dunes with height up to 1000 m) of Blandykum and Kyzylkum deserts border with Kazakh terrotory, overgrown with forest and green brushes. Lunch on the way.
From Terekty village to Markakol lake - 60 km on mountain road without asphalt. From Mramorny pass we can see panorama taking breath away to green landscape of Kazakhstan. After pass road goes to the mountains of Sonaly and Azutau ridge. Along the road we see high larches, cedars and broad-leaved trees of Altai taiga. Accommodation in tents on the shore of Markakol lake. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 4. Breakfast. Hiking around Markakol lake neighborhood. Ascent to the mountain to the south of Urunkhaika village, from here we can see magnificent panorama of lake and neighboring mountains. Short traverse along ridge and descent to eastern extremity of lake. Lunch on the way. After lunch walking along northern sore of lake to tourist center, which is at a distance of 3 km from our tent camp. Markakol lake (H-447) (in Kazakh "yearling lamb") situated at intermountain hollow, between Azutau south ridge and north Kurchum ridge and is alpine lake. There are 2 rare species of fish: grayling and lenok. Lenok is very rare endemic fish and is only in the lakes of Canada. Local fishermen cooks delicacy of lenok caviar. Sometimes weight of lenok trophy is about 8 kg. In the evening Russian bath in local bath-house with steam and broom. Dinner and overnight at base camp.

Day 5. Breakfast. Horse-riding tour along north shore of Markakol lake. Horseriding Markakol lake - Guba bay (25 km). Our way lies from base camp along main street of Urunkhaika village ( almost all houses are log and remind of traditional Russian life of local people). We can see west extremity of lake through woods. Pass small bay of lake, small Tikhushka river, then small apiary (here local people obtains honey), Sedelka mountain (H-1689), Topolevka river with small bog and further our way lies on path, what close comes to the lake. From here we see Urunkhaika village on far bank. Lunch on the way. Accommodation in tents. Dinner. Overnight in the tents.

Day 6. Breakfast. Horseriding: Guba bay - Verkhniaya Elovka village - Nizhniaya Elovka village (26 km). Our way continues along shore path, we come up to ruins of Verkhniaya Elovka small village ( hunters, herders and bee-keepers lived here, now people live in Urunkhaika village, it is closer to roads and civilization). Local exotic charmed and we hope to see something another new and interesting. Lunch on the way. Dinner. We make the acquaintance of local people (they seldom see people and our visit - important event for them) in Nizhniaya Elovka. Overnight in tents.

Day 7. After breakfast walking at neighborhood and then we boat to Urunkhaika village (to our base camp) with local fisherman. Lunch on the way. Farewell dinner at Urunkhaika. Traditional Russian bath with steam and broom. Overnight in tents.

Day 8. Breakfast. Transfer: Urunkhaika village - Alataisky pass - Karakoba river - Burhat pass (H-2141) - Uryl village - Berel village - Yasevka vilage - Yazevoe Lake (H-1656) (140 km). It is one of the most fascinating part of our way along Kazakhstan Altai.
We pass 15 km of earth roads, only our landrover is capable to pass these roads. Further we start ascent to Alataisky pass. There is a legend that this road was built by the Austrian captive builders (they were taken prisoner in imperial Russia in 1915). We see beautiful alternate panoramas of wide rivers valleys, extensive mountain plateaus, mountain tops, overgrown with cedars and larches. We cross 2 log bridges and we are on the pass, majestic panorama of Altai ridge opens from here. We descend to Verkhniaya Zimovka tract to the river with pure water and the poetical name "Karakoba". Once here lived shepherds, they brought cattle from the hot Zaisan deserts. Deserted buildings of shepherds and wood-cutters are here now. Here - stop for lunch. Further the road is better and we soon ascend to the next pass, Burkhat pass situated at Tarbagatai ridge. From pass we see the panorama of Bukhtarma river valley. River meanders by blue ribbon.

It is possible to see massive of Belukha mountain , when weather is fine. Quick descending from pass and we are on the highway again. This highway leads us to big Uryl village and further to Berel village with the loghouses. We cross the bridge over Belaya Berel river and after that - Yazevoye village (this village is exotic, like previous Berel village. Here we stop for acquaintance with a life of the local people. Our further way lies along picturesque river to Yazovaya river valley. The name of lake, village and river has happened from the name a fish - Yaz. This fish lives in the lake. Beauty and magnificence of taiga lake amazes. Camping in tents on the shore of the lake. Lunch. Walking to waterfall on Yazevoya river. Back to camp. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 9. Breakfast. Full day rest on the Lake. Yazevoye lake is at mountain valley. It is possible fishing with the rod during the stop. We can see snowy peaks of Belukha mountain, when the weather is fine. Radial walking at neighbourhood of lake and Yazovaya river. Lunch on the way. Back to camp. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 10. Breakfast. Transfer: Yazevoe Lake - Yazovka village Rakhmanovskoye lake (H-1760) (45 km). After descend from Yazevoe lake, we visit place for maral horns cutting off. And , if we are in luck, we see process of horns cutting off, drying and further processing of horns. On the way see panorama of Belukha peak. Arrival on the Rakhmanovskoe Lake. Walking around lake. Back to Yazevoe lake. In the evening traditional Russian bath. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 11. Breakfast. Transfer: Yazevoye lake - Yazevka village - Dzhambul village - Chernovaya village - Katon-Karagai village (160 km). On the way visit Berel archaeological digs. These digs are interesting thanks to the fact that partly extant mummy of sak's tsar at complete uniform was found here in 1996. Burial place of IV BC. Lunch on the way. Also on the way visit exotic bazaar at Katon-Karagai village. Camping in tents on the bank of picturesque Naryn river. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 12. Breakfast. Transfer: Katon-Karagay village - Bolshenarynskoye village - Bukhtarma reservoir - Ust-Kamenogorsk (350 km.). We pass many Altai villages. Kazakhstan Altai is first-rate in Kazakhstan producer of sunflower oil. We can make sure of it - on the way we see fields of sunflowers. Lunch on the shore of beautiful Bukhtarma reservoir. After lunch our way lies to Ust-Kamenogorsk. Pass small town of miners - Serebriansk town. Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Accommodation in the hotel "Irtysh" ***. Rest. Farewell dinner. Overnight.

Day 13. Breakfast. Transfer to airport. Flight to Almaty (2 hours). Arrival in Almaty. Transfer to the hotel "Otrar"****. Accommodation. Rest. Lunch and dinner at local cafe. Overnight.

Day 14. Departure from Almaty.

The cost of the program (US$)
Num. pax	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10+1	11+1	12+1	13+1	14+1	15+1	16+1	17+1	18+1	19+1	20+1
Cost p\p	3895	2630	2056	1669	1582	1407	1324	1235	1270	1260	1259	1201	1183	1167	1120	1089	1057	1031	997	976
Additional horse for transportation of luggage - US$ 38 p/day

Prices include:

Price does not include:

Visa support to Kazakhstan; All land transfers; Meeting and seeing off at the airport, services of interpreter, cook and his helper; Guide; Accommodation at hotels and guest house (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 the autotrekking on double and single basis (in full growth); Marching beds in tents; Full board in the cities and during aurotrekking; Packed lunch on the way; Kitchen and camp equipment; Guide consultations; Bottled water on transfers 1,5 l/day/person.

Airline tickets, tips; Insurance and other medical subcosts; Additional excursions, not mentioned in the program; Personal extras like luggage overweight; Laundry, phone, fax, e-mail services; Alcohol drinks; Mini bar and other extra services at the hotels.

The price of ticket (economy class) for flight:
Almaty - Ust-Kamenogorsk is 191 US$ p/p
Ust-Kamenogorsk - Almaty is 191 US$ p/p

The price of tickets for train Almaty -II to train station Zhangiz-Tobe:
2-berth compartment - US$ 63 p/p
4-berth compartment - US$ 45 p/p

Please note, that the prices and timetable are subject to change without notice

Additional information

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 entire 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.

Notes:

All rates for tours are valid until December 31, 2008; The above rates can be changed without prior notification