The Aktau Mountains are one of the most remarkable places in the Altyn-Emel National Park.
The name "Aktau" translates from Kazakh as "White Mountains" – and for good reason: their slopes shine with white and light-blue hues, as if covered in the dust of ancient time.
Aktau is often called the "chalk mountains" – not only because of their snow-white color, but also due to their origin. Millions of years ago, an ancient sea stretched across this area. On its floor, thin layers of clay, limestone, and sandstone gradually settled. Over time, they turned into the rocks we now see as wavy, multicolored ridges.
The white sections truly consist of chalk-like deposits – soft rocks rich in limestone and calcite. They crumble easily, leave a mark on your fingers, and resemble real chalk. But the main reason for the name lies deeper: these layers were formed during the Cretaceous period, which is why the mountains are called the Chalk Aktau.
A route through Aktau includes several viewpoints, each revealing a different side of this astonishing landscape. Here, you can not only see but feel what it means to walk through a true geological museum under the open sky.
🗣️ Languages: Russian and English..
🚶🏻 Hiking excursion (hiking shoes are a must): 2-3 hours.
🚙 Car trip from the village of Basshi to the Aktau Mountains: 3 hours (150 km both ways).
💲 Price: by agreement.
📞 Contact phone: +77770025052
Programme
Shanyrak Mountain, Yurt Mountain
At one of the turns along the trail, a mountain appears before us – its shape strikingly resembles a yurt. We call it Shanyrak Mountain, in honor of the sky dome that crowns the traditional nomadic dwelling.
Heart of the Mountain
Through a narrow passage, you can enter deep into the mountain. This natural trail seems to lead into its very heart: along the way, layers of multicolored clay and minerals reveal themselves – in shades of yellow, white, blue, and reddish tones.
Red Gorge
Continuing along the trail, we arrive at the Red Gorge. Its landscapes look almost otherworldly: the rocks shimmer in shades of ochre and terracotta, and the jagged slopes evoke images of Martian scenery or the fantastical planet Tatooine from Star Wars.
This gorge is quite wide, and standing at its center, you feel as if you have stepped into another universe – surrounded by silence, wind, and ancient formations shaped millions of years ago.
White Gorge
Our path then leads us to the White Gorge – a place where the earth seems to glow from within. Here, you can witness nature creating wonders before your eyes: layers of rock form gypsum, giving rise to translucent crystals.
The landscape of the White Gorge resembles the surface of the Moon – milky-white slopes, fantastical shapes, and a deep sense of stillness, as if time itself has stopped here.
Arka Mountain
The final part of our route is Arka Mountain (translates from Kazakh as “back”). Its name is symbolic: long and even, it resembles the back of a ridge you can walk along while looking back over the entire journey.
The ascent is steep but short. In just a few minutes, the trail leads to the summit – and a breathtaking panorama unfolds before your eyes. From the top of Arka, you can see all the Aktau Mountains, including Shanyrak Mountain and the fantastic gorges we’ve already explored.
Beyond the summit, the path stretches almost flat – walking feels easy, and there is nothing to hold your gaze but the vastness, the light, and the sky. From here, the route gradually leads back – toward the starting point and our transport.
