The royal mounds of Besshatyr, scattered in the valley between the Dzhungarian mountains and the Ili river, are the sacred heritage of the era of the powerful nomadic tribe named Saka (I millennium BC).
This is an isolated part of the Altyn-Emel National Park with a very ancient history. You can climb the largest Saka pyramid and look at the ancient rock paintings of Tanbaly Tas.
Route
Tourist Route 2 (Besshatyr), marked in green on the map.
Checkpoint 1 → 17 km → Tanbaly Tas petroglyphs → 9 km → Zhantogai post → 9 km → Besshatyr burial mounds → 35 km → Checkpoint 1.
Distance
Distance from Almaty to the beginning of the route (Checkpoint 1): about 150 km one way.
Distance inside the park: about 35 km one way.
Duration of the trip: 1 day (only during daylight hours).
Permit
The pass is issued either remotely, in advance through the online cashiers of the national park and payment through the Kaspi Bank mobile application, or at the national park office in the village of Basshi.
Online Cashier (permit issue):
+77079390039, +77778019670 (daily, from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm)
There is almost no mobile phone service and Internet in the park.
Route 2 (Tanbaly Tas Petroglyphs and Besshatyr mounds) is open to visitors only in the daytime, during daylight hours.
Passage through the park to the Singing Dune is prohibited.
Road
The road from Almaty to Checkpoint 1 of the Altyn-Emel National Park takes about 2 hours (150 km). The main part of the road is a toll highway. After turning to the village of Shengeldy there is a bad, broken road.
The road to Tanbaly Tas and Besshatyr is very bad, unpaved, hilly and rocky in places; it is recommended to have a strong and reliable 4x4. The road is dusty.
Places to See
On the way from Almaty:
You will pass through the city of Kapchagai (now Konaev), the Ili river in its widest place, where it flows from the Kapchagai reservoir, and along the bank of Kapchagai.
After the village of Shengeldy, you need to turn right towards the Kapchagai reservoir and drive along it towards the Dzhungarian mountains to Checkpoint 1 (ranger's post).
In the Altyn-Emel Park:
The road to the petroglyphs of Tanbaly Tas in the Terekty gorge of the Sholak mountains - about 17 km from Checkpoint 1. The road passes through a picturesque valley between the Dzhungarian mountains and the Kapchagai reservoir.
Petroglyphs should be looked for on rocks covered with patina.
The road to the Besshatyr Saka mounds at the foot of the Degeres mountains - about 15 km along the delta of the Ili river, via the Zhantogai post.
The interior of the main, largest mound may be closed.
The most commonly seen animal is the goitered gazelle.
Places of Interest:
The main historical monuments of Altyn-Emel are the Saka mounds of Besshatyr and the petroglyphs of Tanbaly Tas. The road goes along the Kapchagai reservoir and the Ili river.
Petroglyphs of Tanbaly Tas ("stone with signs") on the territory of Altyn-Emel is part of one of the world's largest centers of rock art, which stretches along the belt of mountains and foothills from Sayans and Altai to Tien Shan and Pamirs.
Carved on stone, drawings of people, animals, sun-headed deities, etc., belong to the era of bronze, iron and the Middle Ages.
Tanbaly Tas PetroglyphsMounds of Besshatyr ("five tents"), dating back to the 1st millennium BC is the main historical and cultural attraction of Altyn-Emel.
Large, medium and small tombs were erected for leaders, commanders and nobility of the nomadic tribe of Saka Tigrakhauda who lived on the territory of Semirechye (Jetysu, "Seven Rivers") about 2.5 thousand years ago. The Besshatyr necropolis also served as a place for religious ceremonies.
Besshatyr MoundsThe place where the Ili river flows into the artificially created Kapchagai reservoir, forming a vast fore-delta, is located in the protected part of the Altyn-Emel Park.
This is a quiet and picturesque place with the the Kapchagai lake, on the one hand, and the south-end of Dzhungarian Alatau (the Sholak mountains), on the other.
Kapchagai and IliLodging & Dining
Overnight stay, camping on the banks of Kapchagai and fishing are prohibited.
You can stop for the night and have a snack on the way back in the town of Konaev. Hotels and cafes are easy to find on Google and Yandex.
Helpful Information
- Passport
- Small handy backpack for personal items
- Personal hygiene items: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel, etc. in case of overnight stay in a hotel or a campsite
- Antibacterial wet wipes
- Paper tissues and toilet paper (plain, white, non-perfumed brands)
- Sunscreen cream
- Cream or spray against blood-sucking insects
- Smartphone / camera + chargers
- Personal medikit
- Drinking water (in the hot arid climate of the Altyn-Emel Park, you may need a lot of drinking water)
Wear comfortable nonstainable outdoor clothing: pants, a T-shirt or a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a raingear. Summer outfit should be suitable for a very sunny, hot, as well as windy and dusty weather.
A headdress that protects from the sun and wind is a must.
Shoes should be lightweight, with good grip soles designed for hiking. Don't wear slippers.
Bring a set of clothes for the evening and flip-flops in case of overnight stay at a hotel or campsite (keep in mind that nights can be cold).
For the cold season, you will need warm hiking clothes and shoes, as well as thermal underwear.
The distances in the Altyn-Emel Park are large, so clothes, shoes and headgear should be as comfortable as possible for long hikes.
Be careful in the mountains and near the cliffs. Keep to the elaborate tourist routes.
Wear a sun hat and drink enough clean water to prevent dehydration in the desert climate.
Use an anti-tick spray on all clothing during the active period (May-June). Take care also of mosquito and midge repellents.
Do not touch animals, lizards and rodents, which can be infection carriers.
With normal wildlife safety and hygiene practices, you will enjoy your vacation and your exciting journey through the national park.
Tourism in the Altyn-Emel National Park is pro-environmental.
Garbage. Wherever you are, do not leave garbage (including organic) behind you, such as plastic, glass, metal, food waste, cigarette butts, napkins, tampons, pads, etc. Pack the garbage carefully in bags and take them out to specially designated places. Bring drawstring trash bags. Do not burn any kind of garbage.
Toilet. If you are away from a toilet, find a spot that is away from paths and water sources, and be sure that human feces do not contaminate water. In a hot desert, human waste does not biodegrade easily because there is little organic soil to help break it down. Do not bury them, but lightly cover them with soil so that the heat of the sun and light can speed up the decay process. Used toilet paper should also be sprinkled with soil. Use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands.
Car Rental
There is no public transport to Altyn-Emel. You can only get to the national park by your own or rented car.
You can rent a car in Kazakhstan using the Economy Bookings and Rentalcars services which unite the largest brands of the car rental industry around the world. Many of them have their locations in Kazakhstan, so you can choose a suitable car for your trips at the best prices. It is easy, convenient and reliable.
NB: Please book a car in advance, then you will have more choice than in the high season. Also please note that car rental prices are constantly increasing.
