Spring is perhaps the most extraordinary time to visit the national park. The blooming of the seemingly lifeless desert is a spectacle well worth planning your trip for in April and May. The weather during this period is ideal for travel: rain is rare, the sun is not yet scorching, and the air is already balmy and soft, reminiscent of early summer.
The landscapes around the Singing Dune and the Aktau Mountains undergo a total transformation. During this time, you can see the blooming of saxaul, acanthophyllum (prickly-leaf), rock rose, eremurus (foxtail lily), and cistanche. Rare irises and wild tulips appear; notably, many scientists consider Kazakhstan to be the historical birthplace of the tulip.
In the Dzhungarian Mountains, the famous Sievers apple tree — the ancestor of all domestic apple varieties in the world — begins to bloom. You can also find the Tianshan cherry and wild apricot (uryuk). Approximately 30 plant species in the area are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan.
Most of Altyn-Emel’s spring flora is unique and protected by the state. Please remember that this beauty is very fragile. We kindly ask our guests to enjoy and photograph the flowers without causing any harm to the plants.
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