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.
Car rental services:
Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains Tour starts from our Caravansarai campsite where you can stay overnight.
Campsite address: Basshi village, 48 Asembek street.
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 and affecting negatively the vehicles, which determines the cost of the tour.
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).
Price
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.
- The driver does not work as a guide, we can use an audio guide during the trip.
- Timing is not fixed but tourists must leave the park before dark.
- Trip to the Katutau mountains (15 km, plus 1.5 hours) - surcharge KZT 8000.
- Price is shown for a Pinzgauer car seating up to 8 pax, regardless of the number of people in your group. You can share the cost with other tourists if there are any.
Meals: not included. If you wish, you can pre-order meals from the online menu of the Caravansarai campsite beforehand and take a snack with you to the park, or have lunch/dinner at the campsite.
Please mention in the comments to your order: the date of your tour, your full name and contact phone number.
For accommodation and tours in the Altyn-Emel National Park, please feel free to contact us:
Phone: +77089711687
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