Almaty - Scythian open air museum - Issyk Lake - Turgen falls

• Archeological Museum of Local Lore

  2 hoursAdmission Ticket Included

  Morning 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 Included

  Lake 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 Included

  It'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 Free

  By 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.
• Accommodations

  Trekking Club campsite in Turgen, glamping

  Food And Drinks

  Lunch

  Dinner