Name: Explore Altyn Emel National Park and singing dune on a private 2-day tour
SKU: 28318
Price: 10 USD
Availability: InStock

Duration: 2 days

Activity Level: Moderate

Experience: Adventure, Unesco, Backpacker, Ecotourism, Family, Nature, Wildlife

Language: English

Photo permit included

Tour by public transport

Canal Boat tour included

Train tickets included

Suitable for little children

Wheelchair accessible tour

Museum ticket included

Light snack included

Lunch included

Transportation included

Walking Tour

Overview

Singing dune is a unique natural phenomenon. The Singing dune is a place sprouted by legends, one of the wonders of Kazakhstan. After all, the dune is in the middle of the steppe, where there should be no sand. And the most amazing thing is that the sandy mountain is not blown away by the wind: it stands still and makes wonderful sounds in dry weather. Enjoy beautiful Ak-tau and Katutau mountains and immerse yourself in the rich flora and fauna of Altyn Emel National Park.

What's included

Professional driver-guide
Pick-up and drop-off
Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch, 1 breakfast, 1 dinner, and soft drinks
Admission tickets
Accommodation
All fees and taxes

Personal expenses

Comfortable shoes, a warm jacket, sunscreen are required

Highlights

700 Year Old Willow

700 year old weeping willow nourished from a natural spring, Altyn Emel National Park, Kazakhstan. A famous 700 year old willow tree growing in the desert environment of Altyn Emel National Park. Its large size and age are due to its being nourished by a natural spring.

Aktau Mountains

The Aktau Mountains, meaning "White Mountains", are in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. The mountains are located on the Eastern edge of the Altyn – Altyn-Emel National Park. The zone is part of a Specially protected natural area with the status of a nature conservation and scientific institution. Protection of the object is assigned to the administration of the state unitary enterprise "Altyn-Emel". Due to its location, the object has a favorable acoustic environment (silence, melodic sounds in nature).

Almaty

Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest metropolis, is set in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It served as the country's capital until 1997 and remains Kazakhstan's trading and cultural hub. Landmarks include the Central State Museum, displaying thousands of historic Kazakh artifacts. In the center is Panfilov Park, home to the bright-yellow towers of Zenkov Cathedral, a tsarist-era Russian Orthodox church.

Altyn Emel National Park

Altyn-Emel National Park is a national park in Kazakhstan. It was created in 1996. The park covers about 4,600 km² between the Ili River and the Ak-Tau mountain range, near Lake Kapchagai, and consists mostly of desert and rocky terrain. Altyn-Emel National Park is located in the Ili River Valley, Kazakhstan. It comprises various landscapes, including sand desert, mountains, and flora. The park was founded on April 10, 1996, with the objective to preserve a natural park complex, as well as archaeological and historical monuments. It is the largest reserve in Kazakhstan and part of UNESCO's world heritage.

Basshi village

Basshi, previously Kalinino, is a village in Almaty Region, in south-eastern Kazakhstan.

Katutau Mountains

The Katutau mountains are located in Altyn-Emel National Park, Kazakhstan. They are volcanic in origin. The highest point of Katutau reaches a height of 1720 m. These volcanic mountains of the Permian period are composed of lavas, tuffs, rhyolites, andesites, dacites, diabases, and basalts. In places, they break through Permian and Triassic intrusions of granites, diorites, and gabbro. In the Eastern and Western parts of Katutau, there are two paleovolcano. The most common form is large lava domes. The natural monument is protected by the state national natural Park "Altyn-Emel". It is located in the Ili river valley, Almaty region.

Singing Dune

The singing dune on the territory of the Altyn-Emel reserve is one of the most unique natural phenomena. Many legends and tales are associated with it. For a long time, scientists did not understand this phenomenon. And in the Middle Ages, people who heard the singing of the dune, believed that it was the Desert Shaitan howling. This natural phenomenon is located on the right bank of the Ili River, 182 km from Almaty. The dune reaches almost 3 km in length and 150 m in height. This is the largest known dune. It stretches for several kilometers perpendicular to the Big and Small Kalkan ridges. The dune offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area: the Ili river and mountains, as well as the Altyn-Emel nature reserve.

Itinerary

Day 1: Singing Dune in Altyn Emel National Park and hiking to the pick of Singing Dune

You will be picked up at your hotel in Almaty at 07:00 in the morning.

Scenic drive to Basshi village in Altyn Emel National Park. Stop for lunch.

Arrival to Singing Dune in Altyn Emel National Park. Walking tour on the dune and hiking to the pick of Singing Dune.

Continue exploring Altyn Emel National Park before going back to Basshi village for dinner and overnight in Bashi village at the cozy guesthouse.

Day 2: Hiking excursion in the mountains Aktau and Katutau

After breakfast, you will be driving on unpaved park roads over 80 km (approx. 2 hours) to the Aktau and Katutau mountains. Take photos of the Lunar landscape changing to the red mountains.

After sightseeing and hiking in the mountains, you will visit 700-year-old willowin Altyn Emel National Park where you will have lunch.

Drive back to your hotel in Almaty with an estimated arrival time around 20:00.

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Explore Altyn Emel National Park and singing dune on a private 2-day tour