Altyn-Emel: Roads

It is not recommended to drive along the roads of the Altyn-Emel park in cars designed for asphalt roads (sedans, hatchbacks). Driving along the park's roads causes strong vibration and shaking. This can significantly diminish vehicle's life or lead to unscrewing and loss of parts, or a breakdown in the steppe.

If you are going to drive on the roads of the park, make sure that your car is equipped with a spare wheel, jack, wheel wrench, pump, wheel repair kit. The tires should be in a good condition.

It is also necessary to have enough water for one day. A breakdown in the steppe can be dangerous.

Recommended cars:

Toyota Prado

Toyota Highlander 4x4

Toyota Fortuner

Toyota Rav4

Renault Duster

Chevrolet Niva

Kia Sorento and the like.

Inside the park, the dirt roads are with chatter bumps, or "washboarding", which, unfortunately, damages vehicles. The total length of the network of unpaved roads from the village of Basshi through the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Park is about 450 km.

Inside the Altyn-Emel park, the road is paved only from the village of Basshi to the villages of Nurym and Aktobe, the length of this section is about 16 km.

A through passage in the national park is prohibited, from the Degeres mountains (Besshatyr mounds) to the Kalkans mountains (Singing Dune), where kulans, gazelles and other animals migrate from the mountains to watering places on the Ili river.

The road to the Altyn-Emel National Park goes along the Almaty-Konaev-Saryozek highway through the Arkharly mountain pass (toll road).

Then, from the village of Saryozek towards the city of Zharkent through the Altyn-Emel mountain pass there is a single-lane asphalt road.

After descending from the Altyn-Emel pass, turn to the right right towards the village of Basshi (asphalt road), where the central office of the Altyn-Emel National Park is located.

Also, the Altyn-Emel Park is reached via the Zharkent road after visiting the Charyn Canyon, through the village of Koktal (17 km from the city of Zharkent). The road is asphalted.

See also:

Location of the Altyn-Emel National Park >>>

The Almaty-Kapchagai two-lane toll highway passes through the "city of entertainment" Kapchagai (now Konaev), with casinos, cafes and a museum of retro cars. The road leads on through the Kapchagai bridge with picturesque views of the Ili river, then along the Kapchagai reservoir and through the Arkharly pass to the village of Saryozek.

The road after the village of Saryozek to the village of Basshi (the main entrance to the Altyn-Emel National Park) passes through the picturesque Altyn-Emel mountain pass and has a distance of about 80 kilometers.

After you pass the city of Konaev (Kapchagai), in the middle of the village of Shengeldy, you can turn to the right through the village and drive to the Altyn-Emel National Park to the Besshatyr necropolis via Checkpoint 1 if you have purchased a permit remotely - learn more here >>>

The distance from the village of Shengeldy to Checkpoint 1 is about 20 kilometers.

From the village of Shengeldy to the shore of the Kapchagai reservoir there is an asphalt road in poor condition, then along the shore up to Checkpoint 1 there is a dirt hilly road that requires off-road transport.

You can get to the village of Basshi along the Zharkent road, if you are driving from the Charyn Canyon. On the way, the road crosses the Ili river, then goes along the Katutau mountain range.

The distance from the city of Zharkent to the village of Basshi is about 120 km (approximately 1.5 hours drive). The road is asphalted.