Roads
The roads leading to the park up to Basshi village, including the Altyn-Emel Pass, are fully asphalted.
Within the park, most of the gravel roads feature a "washboard" or "corrugated" surface. The resulting intense vibration can damage your vehicle. There are difficult sections on the route to the Aktau and Katutau mountains; therefore, we highly recommend using 4x4 vehicles or cars with high ground clearance.
The only paved section inside the park is a 16 km stretch of asphalt leading from Basshi village to the villages of Nurym and Aktobe. All other routes are unpaved gravel roads.
Nearby Sights
- The Ili River: On the way from Almaty, the crossing over the bridge is especially scenic as it passes between rocky cliffs over the Ili River at its widest point.
- Arkharly Petroglyphs: At the Arkharly Pass, away from the main highway, you can find ancient rock carvings tucked into rocky canyons. About 4,000 petroglyphs have been discovered here, dating from the Bronze Age to the early 20th century. The carvings depict argali, mountain goats, bulls, deer, horses, and riders, as well as tamgas (ancestral clan symbols) of ancient Turkic tribes and traditional Kazakh ornaments.
- Foothill Valley: Before reaching the Altyn-Emel Pass, you can stop for a rest in a picturesque foothill valley featuring a small pond and views of the Dzhungar Alatau Mountains.
- Soviet Retro Car Museum: On the return journey from Altyn-Emel to Almaty, at the entrance to Konaev along the Kapchagai highway, you will find the "Tulpar" museum-salon. It houses a rich and unique collection of Soviet-era vehicles and memorabilia.
- Turtle and Tiger Mountains: On your way between Zharkent and Altyn-Emel National Park (via the Zharkent highway), you can visit these uniquely shaped and vibrantly colored mountains.
- Zharkent Mosque: From Basshi village, the road leads to Zharkent, a town on the border with China. Its main attraction is a unique wooden mosque built in 1895 in the style of a Chinese pagoda.
- The Sacred Tree (Auliye Agash): Located near the town of Zharkent in the village of Auliyeagash, this is a popular pilgrimage site. It features a sacred tree over 700 years old, with a massive trunk measuring 6.5 meters in circumference.
