Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains: 1-Day Tour from Basshi

We invite you to visit the Singing Dune and the multi-colored Aktau mountains in the Altyn-Emel National Park.

You can reach the village of Basshi by your own or rented car. There is no public transport to Basshi. The road from Almaty (Kapchagai highway) to Basshi is paved, you can get there by a regular car. The road from the Charyn Canyon (Zharkent highway) is also suitable for regular cars.

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Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains Tour starts from our Caravansarai campsite where you can stay overnight.

Campsite address: Basshi village, 48 Asembek street (on the street next to the national park office).

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Cars: Austrian off-road Pinzgauer cars (seat up from 4 to 8 people), German off-road minibus Mercedes Sprinter (from 9 to 16 people), Japanese off-road bus Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa (from 17 to 28 people).

Road in Altyn-Emel: unpaved, gravelly soil, not hilly and not rocky, but rarely leveled by a grader and is with chatter bumps causing strong vibration.

Distance from Basshi to the Singing Dune: 50 km (about an hour's drive) one way.

Distance from Basshi to the Aktau mountains: 75 km (about 1.5 hours drive) one way.

Total distance: 250 km (after any of the two routes, one must return to the starting point near the village of Basshi).

Tour duration: 8-9 hours. Since the road will take about 5 hours in total, the time spent on the Singing Dune is limited to 1-2 hours, in the Aktau Mountains - up to 2 hours. Climbing the Singing Dune is not difficult. The tourist trail in the Aktau Mountains is a long canyon, along which you will need to return.

Tour time: by arrangement, only during daylight hours (you can stay in the park from 8 am to about 5 pm).

Stops: Shygan and Mynbulak ranger's posts, Singing Dune, Shokan Valikhanov spring, Oshaktas steles, 700-year-old willow, Zhagalbaily ranger's post, Aktau mountains.

Optional: trip to the Katutau mountains (plus 15 km).

Route: Basshi - 700-Year-Old Willow - Aktau Mountains - Singing Dune - Basshi

Price per car: KZT 164000

Notes:

• Price is valid for 2025.
• Permits to the park are included.
• Trip to the Katutau mountains (15 km, plus 1.5 hours) - surcharge KZT 8000.
• Price is shown for Pinzgauer car seating up to 8 pax. For groups more than 8 pax, please check bus rental prices.