We will still hit the same famous destinations but will plan to do the longer versions each day
GORGES & GLACIERS: The Ultimate Summer Escape
Leave the heat behind and head into the heart of Kazakhstan’s wild side—where alpine lakes, glaciers, and ancient canyons collide in a 5-day hiking and jeep adventure designed for real hikers. From glacier treks high in the Tien Shan mountains to canyon hikes and lakes and forests, this is your chance to experience raw nature, longer trails, and cool mountain air just a short flight from the UAE.
August 14 - Optional Arrival Day - If you need to arrive on Fly Dubai or Air Alma
arrival and transfer to hotel.
City tour and shopping for outdoor gear.
Overnight at Reunion Park Hotel.
** Most flights on Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and Air Astana arrive at 2-3 am, which is why we include this night.
August 15: Leave Almaty - Hike Bogdanovich Glacier drive to Turgen Gorge
Cable car ride to Talgarsky Pass (3200m).
Trek to Bogdonavich Glacier (6 hours).
Drive to Turgen Gorge and overnight in Glamping tents on an island in the middle of a river.
August 16: Kairak Waterfalls - Glamping
Hiking to the Kairak waterfall which takes up to 5 hours in total. The path is smooth and comfortable that nothing will prevent you from enjoying the views of flowering meadows and dense spruce forests all the way to the fall.
August 17: Canyon Hike, Lake Visit and Head to Kolsai Lakes
Breakfast at a camp, transfer to the Charyn Canyon. National Park's entry procedures. Hiking along the canyon called Valley of Castles known for its fantastic colorful rock formations for 2 hours all downhill to the Charyn riverbank, have lunch in Charyn and then take an old Russiah jeep back up the canyon to our cars. Then we will head to the Kolsai area. . Overnight in a guesthouse in Saty village.
August 18: Kolsai Lakes - Long Hike Around the Lakes
Breakfast at a guesthouse, transfer to the Kolasi-1 Lake (15 min). There are 8km between the lakes, and the whole hike with both lakes will take 6 hours. The nature of Kungey Alatau mountains with its mysterious spruce forests and deep turquoise lakes will leave indelible trace in your memory. Lunch in the form of a picnic at a Lake-2 lakeshore.
Late afternoon back to the same guesthouse. Dinner and overnight.
August 19: Kaindy Lake - Sunken Forest and Drive back to Almaty
Kaindy Lake - We will hike around the lake with the famous sunken forest for 2 hours. The lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of a natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river. The upper parts of the trees sticking out of the water lost lateral branches and bark, and the wood became white. The lower part of the “drowned” pines retained branches that were overgrown with algae under the water, thus created a fantastic underwater landscape. After a lunch, we drive back to Almaty (4 hours).
Evening drop off at a hotel in Almaty.
Accommodation:
Meals: All meals included except dinner in Almaty
Transportation: All transfers in comfortable vehicles
Guides: English-speaking local guides and UAE Trekker Guide: Amy
Price:
Single Joiners: 5500 Dh *(single joiners, with single hotel and guest house)
Join with a friend, share a room together: 5100 Dh
