5 nights / 6 days · Kazakhstan

Almaty with Alma-Arasan

The widest sweep of landscape on offer — singing dunes at Altyn Emel, Charyn, Kolsai, the Alma-Arasan gorge and a falconry show.

Plan this trip See the day-by-day

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Duration: 5 nights / 6 days
Where you stay: Almaty
Style: Nature & hiking
From: AED 3,497per person

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About this trip

The most ambitious of the five-night packages, and the only one that reaches Altyn Emel — a national park four hours east where a 150-metre dune emits a low hum as the sand slides, and Bronze Age petroglyphs sit under the Aktau hills.

Two further full days go to Charyn and Kolsai, and to the Alma-Arasan gorge on the road toward Big Almaty Lake. It closes with a falconry show and an afternoon in the malls. Expect three long driving days out of five.

What you go for

The singing dunes and petroglyphs of Altyn Emel National Park
Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake in one day
Shymbulak Level 3 and the Kok Tobe cable car
A falconry show at a working falcon farm

The route

Day by day

Times are the operator's planned schedule. They shift with the season, the light and the traffic on the day.

Day 1
Arrival in Almaty
1600
Arrive at Almaty
Your English-speaking guide meets you in the arrivals hall once immigration and baggage are cleared.
1700
Transfer to your vehicle. Chocolates, refreshing napkins and Wi-Fi on board.
1800
Check in at your hotel.
2000
Dinner on your own account.
2200
Hotel drop-off.
Day 2
Altyn Emel and the singing dunes
Full day
Altyn Emel National Park
The singing sand dune, ancient petroglyphs, and the striped Aktau hills running down to the Ili river. The park's wildlife list runs from gazelle to the rarely-seen snow leopard, and its birdlife is the reason a fair number of visitors come at all.
Lunch
At a restaurant of your choosing en route — ask your guide for the local recommendation.
The drive back
Out of the park through villages and open steppe, with the mountains on the skyline, until the city takes over again.
2000
Dinner on your own account.
2200
Hotel drop-off.
Day 3
Shymbulak and Kok Tobe
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel.
1000
Shymbulak, Level 3
An hour from the city centre to 3,200 metres by three-stage gondola, with cafés, an observation deck and adventure activities in season.
1400
Lunch at Shymbulak or in the city (on your own account).
1600
Back to the hotel to rest.
1800
Kok Tobe
Cable car to the hill at 1,100 metres under the television tower, for the panorama across the city to the range behind it.
2000
Dinner on your own account.
2200
Hotel drop-off.
Day 4
Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel.
0800
Charyn Canyon
The Valley of Castles, where the vertical cliffs genuinely do resemble walls and towers. The walk through takes about ninety minutes and ends at a clear mountain river. The Witch Gorge and Dragon Gorge are nearby if there is time.
1400
Lunch at Namaste, the Indian restaurant at Kolsai (on your own account).
1500
Kolsai Lake
Time at the first of the three lakes, in spruce forest under the Kungei-Alatau ridge.
1800
Return to Almaty.
2200
Hotel drop-off.
Day 5
Alma-Arasan, falconry and the malls
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel.
1000
Alma-Arasan Gorge
A wooded gorge in the Ile-Alatau national park south-west of the city, on the road that climbs toward Big Almaty Lake — a river, pine slopes and easy walking.
Lunch
At an Indian restaurant (on your own account).
1500
Falconry show
A working falcon farm where the birds of prey are flown, and where you can see how they are kept and worked between displays.
1700
Shopping
Dostyk Plaza, Esentai Mall and Mega Mall for the higher end.
2000
Dinner on your own account.
2200
Hotel drop-off.
Day 6
Departure
0400
Packed breakfast and check-out.
0430
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or onward.

Where you stay

Hotel options

Pick a line and the whole trip is costed against it, so you can see what the difference actually buys.

4★
- Astana International
AED 3,497per person
3★
- Astra Hotel
AED 3,570per person
3★
- Holiday Inn Express
AED 3,857per person
4★
- Park Dedeman
AED 4,066per person
4★
- Resident City
AED 4,114per person

Per person, twin share. Land only — international flights are not included. Rates move with the season, the number of you travelling and the hotel line you choose, so we confirm the final figure against your dates before anything is booked.

The detail

What is included

Included

Airport meet and greet.
Chocolates and refreshing napkins served on board your vehicle.
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board every vehicle.
Daily breakfast.
Private vehicle with driver throughout the trip.
Vehicle and guide at your disposal for nine hours daily (1000–1900).
Sightseeing as set out in the day-by-day above.
Two bottles of water per person, per day.
Hotel taxes.
Five nights in Almaty at your choice of the hotels above.
Dedicated English-speaking guide throughout.
Gondola tickets to Shymbulak, Level 3.
Gondola tickets to Kok Tobe.
Day trip to Charyn Canyon.
Falconry show included.
Souvenir on departure.

Not included

Flights.
Meals other than those listed above.
Expenses of a personal nature.

Meal upgrades

Indian meals: USD 13 per person per meal, for groups of eight and above.
International set menu: USD 35 per person per meal, lunch only, Monday to Friday.

Entry rules, tourism taxes and health requirements change without notice and depend on your passport. Everything above is confirmed by our operations desk before your booking is finalised.

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