Emerald Scenery

Program’s name: Emerald Scenery

Quantity of the days: 6 days

Day 1: Almaty
After being welcomed in Almaty you will directly move to have a city tour, where you will observe the best points of the city. Almaty is a cozy and sunny city. Its wide streets are surrounded by greenery of gardens and parks, and the backdrop for urban landscapes is always the beautiful peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Using the map of Almaty with streets and house numbers, you can easily find the sights of the city and its surroundings. The first remarkable point will be amazing Almaty Museum. One of the most important sights of the city, where you can get to know the history of the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Then you will go on with Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre, you will adore the charm of architecture and history of this gorgeous building. The tour “Emerald scenery” will show only the best sites of the country. After you will admire one of the oldest of Almaty parks - Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and en route observe Zenkov Cathedral. The Cathedral is of great religious significance. In the course of the tour you will view the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. Also you will observe the uniqueness of the Museum of Musical Instruments. You will have a chance to feel the traditions of Kazakh people, you will visit - the Green Bazaar, the bustling bustle that reigns between the shopping rows, in many ways resembles the atmosphere of fabulous Eastern bazaars. Then you will admire the charm of  the Medeo Gorge surrounded by beautiful nature and steeped in mountain air, Medeo improves the quality of ice at the highest skating rink year after year. After you will proceed you adventure with a cable car to Shymbulak ski resort area. After you will go down the back way by cable car. The next destination will be at the top of Kok-Tobe hill. The highest point of the city is mount Kok-Tobe, located at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level. From the top there is an amazing panorama of the mountains and the city.  Kok-Tobe is not only the charm of the mountains, fresh, clean air and a sense of freedom, it is also a place to meet friends, relax with children and just have a good time. In the conclusion of the tour with the short ride by cableway*. On Tuesdays, in the tour departing at 10:00, cableway is not available. Park eco-cars are used instead. After the tour – transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Almaty – Altyn Emel
Kick the start with the morning drive to Altyn Emel. Today you will explore Altyn Emel National Park. This is not only the largest and most famous nature reserve in Kazakhstan, but also a valuable and significant heritage in the culture of the Kazakhs, so in 2002 Kazakhstan nominated Altyn-Emel as a candidate for the UNESCO world heritage list. En route you will discover the Singing Dune. Singing Dune is the loudest and most inexplicable voice on our planet. It is able to fascinate the tourist not only with magic music, but also with an unimaginable pattern of sand waves. The sounds produced by the dune tenderly caress the ear, and then cause a thrilling shiver and ambiguous emotions with their roar. According to its musicality, the singing dune of Almaty ranks first in the world. The mountain of light-colored sand has a length of up to 3 km, and the height of its top reaches 150 m. In the south - thin strip of the Ili River is visible as well as purple mountains of Sogety and Boguty, clays were formed in arid, hot climate and more or less flat terrain, as indicated by their clay composition, red color and gypsum content. The remains of such steppe or savanna-type animals as ancient horses, giraffes, gazelles, turtles and others were found on the territory of the monument. On the west the horizon is obstructed by the steep slope of the Big Kalkan and the Small Kalkan – from the east. In the north - violet-blue ridge of Jungar Alatau mountains, Chulak mountain, Matai and Altyn-Emel are visible. Night will be the hotel.

Day 3: Altyn Emel
The tour starts with observing Katutau and Aktau mountains. Katutau Mountains (Harsh Mountains) volcanic mountains are located in South-Eastern Kazakhstan between the Ili river and the Altyn-Emel range. During the Permian period, two large volcanoes were active in this place, so the mountains are composed mainly of lava and other volcanic rocks. Aktau is translated from the Kazakh language as White mountains, although in fact they are multi-colored. Aktau is a chalk mountain that was formed 25-30 million years ago in the Cenozoic era and is a world-famous paleontological deposit. In these places, archaeologists have repeatedly found the remains of prehistoric animals. Among the finds there are the remains the giant rhinos, crocodiles, turtles. Huge conical mountains remind the Egyptian pyramids and are a magical scene of the variety of shapes and colors. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 4: Altyn Emel – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lakes
Today you will drive to Ash-tree Grove on the Temerlik River. Ash grove in the Charyn canyon is the state pride of the Kazakh people and one of the main attractions. Its length is about 20 kilometers, and some trees have been growing here for more than 700 years. Relict species of Sogdian Ash-tree are growing there. Transfer to Charyn Canyon. Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique in its kind not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. The huge Charyn canyon, which is sometimes called the younger brother of the Colorado Grand canyon. It is no secret that the Kazakhs are known for their love of folding legends and traditions. Therefore, it is quite understandable that such a unique creation of nature is also shrouded in many legends. And the local names speak for themselves — there is the Devil's gorge, the Valley of castles, the Witches ' Tract and the Stone bag, as well as the Moon canyon. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", red-orange rocks really resemble fairy-tale buildings. And they make a particularly strong impression at sunrise, during sunset, as well as in the ghostly moonlight. You can spend a lot of time wandering among the bizarre towers and columns. Departure to Saty village. Overnight in a guest house.

Day 5: Kolsai – Kaindy lake – Almaty
Today you will direct to Kaindy lake. Kaindy Lake (birch lake) fabulous and unique in its beauty, Kaindy lake attracts with its mysteries not only almaty residents, but also tourists from other countries. Rocks and sky carefully preserve the amazing creation of nature, which is included in the fifteen most beautiful lakes on the planet. Kaindy lake is located 280 kilometers East of the southern capital. In 1911, a strong earthquake occurred in the Kungei Alatau mountains. A huge landslide created a dam and blocked the mountain river. The gorge and the ancient Tien Shan spruce trees growing on its slopes were flooded with water. This is how nature created this beautiful lake at an altitude of 1 800 meters above sea level. You will drive to Almaty hotel for overnight.

Day 6: Flight
Hotel breakfast and check-out. Transfer to the airport and departure.