3-Day Nomadic Adventure: Turgen Falls, Assy Plateau & Glamping
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3-Day Nomadic Adventure: Turgen Falls, Assy Plateau & Glamping
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Highlights
On this tour you will have a unique opportunity to visit not only the best natural attractions of the Almaty region, but also get acquainted with the history, life and culture of Kazakh nomads. And spend 2 nights in glamping style under the starry sky in the mountains!
There is an excursion around the King's Valley in the itinerary - with ancient Scythian burial mounds including one where the Golden Man, the symbol of Kazakhstan, was found. A visit to the highland lake Issyk and hikes to the famous waterfalls in the Turgen gorge. A 6-hour jeep tour of the Assy plateau where you will be meeting nomads, studying rock paintings and looking at the observatory.
Accommodation is at the Trekking Club camp in Turgen gorge, which became the finalist of TOP-100 Green Destination in 2019.
Itinerary
Almaty - Scythian open air museum - Issyk Lake - Turgen falls
Archeological Museum of Local Lore
2 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedMorning pick up in Almaty, start driving to the east along the Trans-Ili mountain ridge - by the Kuldja Road, a part of the Silk Way. First stop is at a nice museum of Saki (Scythe) culture located at the entrance of the Issyk town. The museum is situated in the centre of the King's valley, famous for its giant burials of ancient rulers and warriors of Saki tribes (IX – III BC). One of the burials is excavated and is open for the visitors so that everyone could see how people like a famous Golden Man (symbol of Kazakhstan) were buried. An excursion by the museum and a King’s valley takes 45 minutes and after it we head up the mountains to see another attraction - a highland Issyk Lake.Lake Issyk
1 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedLake Issyk is the pearl of the Trans-Ili Alatau ridge. The color of its water changes depending on the season and can be from steel gray to turquoise. The surrounding peaks are reflected in the surface of the lake, and this is definitely worth seeing landscape.Turgenskiy Medvezhiy Waterfall
2 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedIt's time to leave a hospitable Issyk gorge and move to another famous one - Turgen gorge. There are 15 kilometres more to the east from Issyk, and we enter huge Turgen ravine. Turgen is one of the most beautiful places in Zailisky Alatau range. While you’re moving further by the road that stretches deep into the canyon along the overflowing Turgen River, you feast your eyes on the richness of the luxuriant vegetation. In the beginning of the gorge, a well-known rainbow trout farm is located. Turgen valley is also known for its waterfalls: there are 7 big falls in this area but 2 of them are definitely “must visit” places: a Bear waterfall is 30 meters tall and located a height of 1450m ASL, and Kairak waterfall – the gem of Turgen collection. So, we will not miss a chance and take a guided hike to the Bear waterfall (1.5 hours).Turgenskoye Gorge
1 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeBy the end of the day we arrive in the upper reaches of Turgen gorge and accommodate at Trekking Club campsite, which will become your unforgettable "glamping" experience! What is a camp about? Our camp is a huge forest "island", fenced off from civilization by a turbulent river on the one hand and the slopes of the Assy plateau on the other. It really is an island! Cars remain in the parking lot on the shore, and you can get to us only by crossing the suspension bridge, the idea of which we spied on in Nepal. The camp became a finalist of Sustainable Destinations TOP 100 by Green Destinations, and can proudly say that it remains the most environmentally friendly tourist destination in Kazakhstan. Accommodation is provided in big two-room safari-styled tents with lighting, beds. In such a lovely place we take a dinner (riverside buffet in a big canteen tent), take hot shower and stay overnight - surrounded by high mountains and wild nature.- AccommodationsTrekking Club campsite in Turgen, glampingFood And DrinksLunchDinner
Jeep-tour by Assy highland plateau
Plateau Assy
6 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedBreakfast at a camp, drive up by the gorge (real off-road!) to the Assy Plateau. The road starts in the forest zone of Turgen gorge, and climbs up through the thicket that ends suddenly at a height of 2600 meters ASL. And a boundless green highland valley appears. The Kazakh nomads use Asy plateau for the thousands of years as a summer pasture, and they are still there with their goats, sheep, horses and white yurts. Enjoy the nomadic wanders: immense highlands full of beautiful happy animals, white beads of yurts scattered here and there across the vast plateau, shepherds followed by their faithful Tazy dogs, ancient Saki (Scythian) ruins and burial pyramids, Bronze Age rock carvings, and of course wildlife. After a picnic on the plateau with incredible views of Tien Shan snow peaks and glaciers, we stop to see the Assy space observatory and drive down to the camp.Turgenskoye Gorge
1 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeBy the end of the day we drive back to the Turgen gorge and our lovely camp. Take dinner and stay another night. Those inspired by the nomads may also try a Scythian sauna, which is available at a camp.- AccommodationsTrekking Club campsite in Turgen, glampingFood And DrinksBreakfastLunch - Lunch in a form of a picnic at Assy PlateauDinner
Kairak Waterfall hike - Almaty
Kairakskiy Waterfall
5 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedAfter a breakfast at a camp, be ready for a walk! A way starts at a confluence of rivers Kishi-Turgen and Turgen. A good, wide path follows up the Turgen stream. There are 8 kilometres in total from Batan (start point) to the fall, with no significant ascents or dangerous points. All you need is to enjoy the amazing wild nature around – deep Schrenk spruce groves paved with endemic mossy grasses, ash-tree shrubs, colourful meadows… Having crossed 11 old bridges, we finally come at a confluence of Turgen and Kairak rivers where turn left and hike up for another 20 minutes. The Kairak waterfall is one of the biggest in the region: it’s height is 70m and it never dries. A way to the waterfall takes 2,5-3 hours of walking. Normally we spend another 30-40 minutes near the fall to take pictures and lunch. Way back takes another 2 hours, so you should consider 5-6 hours of walking in total. After a hike we come back to the camp and take late lunch.Almaty
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeAfter a late lunch at a camp, we start driving back to Almaty (2 hours). You may expect arrival to your hotel in late afternoon.- Food And DrinksBreakfastLunch
What's included
INCLUDED
Drinking water
Private transportation
Scythian museum (Issyk, King’s Valley) entry tickets
Ile-Alatau National Park's entry fees and permissions
Lunch (3)
Dinner (2)
Breakfast (2)
Private guiding
Accommodation at a Trekking Club campsite, 2 nights
NOT INCLUDED
Menu does not include soft/alcohol drinks, snacks
Rent of personal clothes/shoes, personal hygienic set etc.
Personal expenses like telephone calls, souvenirs etc.
Scythian sauna at a camp (by request)
Additional information
Must Know
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Good To Know
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Location
Address
M.Mametov, 19, Esik, Kazakhstan
Provider
Trekking Club Kazakhstan
Best price guaranteed
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