Altyn Emel tour

Do you want to see a Kazakh desert that feels like planet Mars? Let us go to Altyn Emel national park.
Aqtau mountains: part of Altyn Emel tour
Qatutau mountains at Altyn Emel
Singing Dunes and the blue sky
  • Start/finish: Almaty city
  • ​​​​​​Distance: 750+ km to and from
  • Duration: 2 days / 1 night
  • Starting time: 07-00
  • Restricted access: December-February
  • Languages: English and more
  • Activities: Sightseeing | Walking

Itinerary

1 DAY

06-50

Meet and greet

07-00

Driving to Basshi village

11-00

Arrival to Basshi village

11-10

Lunch

12-30

Driving to mountains

14-00

Aqtau/Qatutau tour

17-00

Driving to Basshi village

19-00

Arrival to Basshi village

19-10

Dinner

20-30

Check-in at guest house

2 DAY

07-50

Meet and greet

08-00

Driving to dunes

09-00

Singing dunes tour

12-00

Driving to Basshi village

13-00

Arrival to Basshi village

13-10

Lunch

14-30

Driving to Almaty

18-30

Drop-off

Included:
  • 1 night guest house accommodation with breakfast
  • vehicle
  • guide
  • tickets
  • off-road vehicle from Bassi village to Aqtau/Qatutau and Dunes
  • water
Excluded:
  • lunch and dinner
  • personal expenses
Notes:
  • tour is subject to change
  • weather must be taken into consideration
  • Basshi village is 250+ km away from Almaty
  • on the road there will be a stopover to see Qapshagai water reservoir
  • do not expect 5 star service in the province
  • state of infrastructure in the province is not as good as in city
  • do not expect mobile Internet, Wi-Fi, hotel service in the province to be as good as in city
  • road from Basshi village to Aqtau/Qatutau and back is 170+ km of "hell on earth" (subject to motion sickness)
  • road from Basshi village to Dunes and back is 80+ km of "hell on earth" (subject to motion sickness)
  • after Basshi village there will be a special off-road vehicle (old Soviet-Russian Uazik or Mitsubishi Delica or similar) for trips
  • special off-road vehicle has bad AC/heater and is dusty
  • in nature there is a risk of an insect bite
  • veg food is available but not Indian
Remarks:
  • USD KZT exchange rate is volatile
Basshi village info: 
  • lunch is from 5-10 USD per person, dinner is from 10-15 USD per person
What to take with you:
  • original passport or ID
  • rain ponchos if rain is expected
  • proper clothes and shoes (if you want to hike)
  • paper money and coins to pay for goods and services in the province
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
  • You will see Altyn Emel National Park. More info
  • You will see the typical Kazakh province and the Kazakh steppe. 
  • You can taste authentic local cuisine.
  • The site is similar to planet Mars, sort of. 
  • It can be very hot in summer - FYI​​​​
  • It is possible to organize a big picnic.

Altyn Emel Tour Reviews

esik2
John
esik1
Sunil
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Peter
    Standard tour
    Price per person (based on 10 people group size)
    from 140 usd
    Different group sizes
    Price per person depends on the size of the group: for example, different rates are applied for 2, 4, 5, 7, 20 people and so on
    from N usd

    BALTAS - Almaty tour operator
    Address: Rayimbek Ave 348, Almaty
    Phone (Whatsapp available):
    +7 (747) 234 7358
    Work schedule: daily from 10-00 till 20-00