Alert
We kindly ask you to book a tour to Altyn-Emel in advance, at least a few days before the planned trip.
The Singing Dune, the Aktau cretaceous mountains, and the Katutau lava mountains are rare natural phenomena in the Altyn-Emel National Park. The huge sand dunes of Aigaikum and the grandiose massifs of volcanic and sedimentary rocks of Katutau and Aktau are the consequences of violent geological processes in the Ili valley.
We offer you an exciting 2-day camping tour from the Basshi village to Altyn-Emel with an overnight stay in a comfortable motorhome at the foot of the Aktau mountains.
The fantastic Martian beauty of the Aktau mountains leaves no one indifferent. Here you definitely need to meet sunset and dawn and take impressive photographs of the bizarre multi-colored canyons and landscapes of alien beauty.
Tour Program
Day 1:
Starting off no later than 12:00 pm noon in a motorhome from the village of Basshi to the Aktau mountains.
Overnight in the campervan at the foot of the Aktau mountains.
Day 2:
Visiting the Katutau mountains, 700-year-old willow, Singing Dune, Oshaktas steles, Chokan Valikhanov's spring.
Return to the village of Basshi around 18:00 pm.
The Singing Dune, or Aigaikum ("singing sands") is the main attraction of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
Monument of nature of republican significance. It is considered one of the 7 natural wonders of Kazakhstan and entered the list of nominees for the world competition "7 new wonders of nature", held in 2007-2011.
Singing DuneThe cretaceous mountains of Aktau ("white mountains") are one of the main attractions of Altyn-Emel.
This is a unique natural open-air geological museum about 400 million years old, thick sedimentary deposits of an ancient ocean in the form of banded rocks of various colors: green, red, blue and white.
Aktau MountainsThe volcanic mountains of Katutau ("severe mountains", "frozen mountains") are the most extensive and highest desert mountains of Altyn-Emel.
There is a large extinct volcano here. The products of its powerful eruptions occupied a large area and subsequently eroded, taking on bizarre shapes. You can still see the remains of the frozen lava here.
Katutau MountainsThe sacred 700-year-old willow, 20 meters high and 15 meters girth of the trunk, is the main attraction of the Kosbastau post, a green oasis in the middle of the Altyn-Emel desert.
The longevity of the willow and other old-timers is explained by warm underground springs with healing radon water, which, according to medical indicators, is in no way inferior to the famous Saryagash water in the south of Kazakhstan.
700-Year-Old WillowThe Oshaktas steles ("stone hearth") is a cultural and historical monument of the era of Genghis Khan (13th century), according to the official version.
It is believed that the steles were installed by Mongol warriors, for a cauldron or for a signal fire. However, they are more similar to the menhirs of the Saka era (I millennium BC), since there are similar structures in the western part of Altyn-Emel, near the Saka necropolis of Besshatyr.
Oshaktas StelesThe spring of Chokan Valikhanov, not far from the Singing Dune, is one of the historical places of Altyn-Emel.
Here in 1856, the famous Kashgar expedition headed by Chokan Valikhanov, the great Kazakh scientist, educator and traveler, stopped to rest.
Since then, the spring has been revered as sacred by the local people.
Chokan Valikhanov's SpringKAMAZ Mustang Campervan
KAMAZ Mustang 4x4 is a comfortable motorhome based on the chassis of a KAMAZ truck, produced in 2013. It is fully equipped for traveling and living in nature in the Altyn-Emel National Park.
Sleeps up to 4 adults in the living compartment PLUS 1 sleeping area for the driver in the driver's cab.
The living compartment (12 sq.m.) is cozy and exclusively decorated. Consists of a kitchen and a dining room, a separate bedroom and bathroom, with high-quality decorative trim and all home conveniences. Durable furniture is sheathed with natural leather, and the ceilings and walls are covered with special Alcantara fabric. The walls are 10 cm thick and have high heat and sound insulation properties. The interior space is very comfortable and thought out to the smallest detail.
Outfit:
full kitchen equipped with Dometic camping equipment - a gas stove with 3 burners, an extractor hood, a sink, a cold and hot water supply system, a filter for drinking water, a large refrigerator with a freezer, cupboards, kitchen utensils
dining area with windows, table and two sofas, which can seat up to 4 passengers while the motorhome is moving
king-size bed PLUS two sofas and a table in the dining zone converting into an additional double bed
wardrobes for clothes and belongings, trays
full bathroom with toilet, shower and washbasin
air conditioning, supply and exhaust ventilation modes, ceiling ventilation hatches with fans and anti-mosquito nets
400 liters of clean water on board
solar power plant for 1000 W
electricity 220V, 3kW
two separate stoves of an autonomous heating system on diesel fuel, with water heating
audio system
TV set
bright multi-level lighting inside and lights outside
windows with thick curtains
a set of camping equipment and tools
wardrobes and lockers for transported tourist equipment
KAMAZ Mustang is rented only with a driver who works as a guide and an assistant and does not interfere with tourists during camping.
KAMAZ Mustang is also available for accommodation at the Caravansarai Campsite in Basshi >>>
Tour Price
The cost of the 2-day campervan tour to the Altyn-Emel Park from the Basshi village and back is KZT 340000 tenge for 4 people.
What's included:
- Transfer in the campervan around the park
- Driver services
- Environmental fee
- Accommodation in the campervan (1 night, 4 people)
Meals are not included in the tour (you bring your own food and drinks). The motorhome is equipped with a supply of water and has a kitchen with all the necessary utensils, where you can prepare any meal at any time.
If you need another variant of a camping tour, please feel free to contact us.
Phone: +77089711687
Contact by WhatsApp >>>
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.
Arba Travel offers accommodation and tourist services in the Altyn-Emel National Park.
We are based in the village of Basshi near the central office of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
We have our own tourist transport and the largest Caravansarai campsite with stationary and mobile caravans, a Kazakh yurt and a spacious guesthouse in a large country estate for comfortable stay in Basshi.
Caravansarai Campsite in Basshi >>>
Tours to Altyn-Emel from Basshi >>>
Please feel free to contact us:
Phone: +77089711687
Contact by WhatsApp >>>
