1-Day Self-Drive Trip to Besshatyr and Tanbaly Tas

GO TO ALTYN-EMEL

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.

Tanbaly Tas PetroglyphsTanbaly Tas Petroglyphs
Besshatyr MoundsBesshatyr Mounds
Kapchagai and IliKapchagai and Ili

Lodging & 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

Things To Take >>>
Outfit >>>
Security Measures >>>
Environmental Awareness >>>

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.

Car Rental in Kazakhstan
Car Rental in Kazakhstan
Car Rental in Kazakhstan
Arba Travel

Your Guide to Altyn-Emel National Park

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Arba Travel Contact Info:

Phone: +77089711687

Contact us by WhatsApp >>>

Chat with us on Telegram >>>

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