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Origins Of Kora River Trekking (9 Days)

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Must Visit City
Almaty
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The average complexity itinerary for seven-day hiking in Jungar Alatau with elevation drop 1800 - 3400 meters above sea level. This route will be interesting to the advanced mountain hikers as well as to the . .
Country: Kazakhstan
City: Almaty
Duration: 9 Day(s) - 8 Night(s)
Tour Category: Trekking / Hiking
Package Itinerary
The average complexity itinerary for seven-day hiking in Jungar Alatau with elevation drop 1800 - 3400 meters above sea level. This route will be interesting to the advanced mountain hikers as well as to the beginners with appropriate training...
Route: Jungar Alatau (Almaty Region, Kazakhstan)
Season: June-October
Best Period: August-September
Complexity: Average Complexity Trekking
Height Difference: 2000-3400 m above s.l.
Region Description:
Mountains of Jungar Alatau serve as a natural border with China and have a length of 400 km. One of the most picturesque gorges of Zhetisu – Kora Gorge lies in these mountains and stretches for 90 km. At the bottom of the gorge Kora River is flowing, which is born high in the mountains, in a kingdom of age-old glaciers. In winter and early spring waters of the river is calm and transparent, but when the snow covering the mountain slopes begin to melt away, the river becomes turbulent and rigorous and easily rolls over the huge boulders and breaks like a match the age-old trees. The road, winding along the river, accessible for good cross-country vehicles only and delivers a lot of emotions to all those who dare to go through it. Around, as far as the eye can see, the forests are. Spruce and fir alternates with a lacy greenery of birch trees, and meadows are covered with colorful flower carpet. The road goes higher and the nature becomes more severe: gay birches give way to high mountain plateaus, and dozens of large and small waterfalls rush down from the majestic rocky peaks. Inaccessibility of this area as a border zone for decades helped to keep here a brown bear, deer, mountain goat, as well as the wolf, fox and the hare, which are quite frequent met by travelers. The clear mountain streams originating from glaciers are inhabited by Osman fish.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1. Almaty - Taldykorgan - "Taubulak" Eco-camping
After meeting with Your guide and boarding the excursion transport at 07:00 You will depart from Almaty to Taldykorgan city. On arrival in the city at about 10:00 You will visit the Museum of Local history of Almaty region first and then have lunch in a local cafe. After lunch You will be transferred to Taubulak eco-camping (132 km, 61 km of which is in mountainous terrain). During the 6-hour trip there are expected 2-3 stops (for 10-15 minutes) near the unique places of Jungar Alatau. You will arrive to "Taubulak" eco-camping at 17:00 approx. Accommodation and rest. After dinner You will have some free time to prepare for tomorrow`s trekking.
Overnight in "Taubulak" eco-camping
Car mileage on this day is about 380 km


Day 2. "Taubulak" Eco-camping – Kaskabulak Gorge – Kaskabulak Glacier
Today You'll have an early wale-up, and after breakfast You'll go up the gorge from Taubulak base and cross the left bank of the Kora River. Then You will go to Kascabulak Gorge. The rise through the gorge to Kaskabulak glacier runs along Kaskabulak river, which in some places is very poured, and it is difficult to find a crossing over it. When approaching the glacier, the terrain becomes less enjoyable - heaps of moraine ridges make the rise to the glacier a bit tedious. On the right, there is a lake from which Kaskabulak river originates. This place offers a beautiful view of Kaskabulak glacier, Edelweiss pass, Tentek pass and Kokchetav pass. After selecting a suitable place, the camp will be set up. Dinner and rest awaits You at the end of today.
Overnight in a tent camp
Walking mileage per day is about 16 km

Day 3. Kaskabulak Glacier – Tektensai Gorge – Tronov Glacier
Today You will need to get up early, because after breakfast and camp gathering You will have to climb the glacier to Kokchetav pass. The way on the glacier is much easier - the rise is flat, glaciers alternate with rocks. Then we go down into Tenteksai gorge and have a rest. Further we climb to Tronov pass and descent to Tronov glacier. Tronov glacier is one of the largest and the most beautiful glaciers of the central Jungaria. Climbing to the glacier starts from the origins of Shegirbulak river. Stones intersperse with patches of muddy earth mixed with ice, from which the water trickles. The glacier is strongly "torn", cracks occur both clogged with snow, and open, some of which are very deep and broad, and one can hear the roar of water. Hiking is carried in bundles without crampons, gradually taking the left edge of the glacier. The rise is flat, slope is about 15 degrees. At the end of the day camp will be set up, and after You will have dinner and rest.
Overnight in a tent camp on the moraine of Tronov glacier
Walking mileage per day is about 8 km

Day 4. Tronov Glacier – Olga Pass – Bezsonov Glacier
Today You will also have to get up early. After breakfast and disassembling of the camp You will begin to raise up the eastern moraine of Tronov Glasier to Olga Pass. Olga pass is remarkable with that the "classic" path of descent to Tronov and Bezsonov glaciers are quite spaced. To get to declivity to Bezsonov glacier, you must either climb over the rocks of medium difficulty from the western part of the ridge, or to pass on a small steep snowfield on the east side. It makes sense to hang a rope for insurance on the snow; for speed you can choose the option of bypassing the rocks. After descending to the moraine of Bezsonov glacier the camp will be set and after You will have dinner and rest.
Overnight in a tent camp on the moraine of Bezsonov glacier
Walking mileage per day is about 7 km

Day 5. Bezsonov Glacier – Kora Gorge – Yuzhnaya River
After breakfast and disassembling of the camp You will begin to descent down Bezsoniv glacier, which is going to be less pleasant: the legs are constantly fail in small gullies in the snow, You can sometimes fail till the knees. Closer to the moraine the way becomes a lot easier. Having descended in Kora gorge, to the confluence with Yuzhnaya river, we choose a place for a camp. Setting the camp, dinner and overnight.
Overnight in a tent camp
Walking mileage per day is about 7 km

Day 6. Yuzhnaya River – Sapozhnikov Glacier – Yuzhnaya River
Today You can get up a bit later than before, because on this day You will have a radial trekking to Sapozhnikov glacier - the second largest glacier of Jungar Alatau named after the explorer Sapozhnikov. The route of his 1902 expedition had covered 2000 miles of the caravan route and took five months. Sapozhnikov approached Jungar Alatau from the south, and afterwards the ridge was crossed by two challenging routes: from the Khorgos River to the west-north-west and, after entering the village of Kopal, to the east, surveying the sources of the rivers on the southern and northern slopes to Lake Zhasylkol and north to Lepsinsk. Members of the expedition were three medical students, a geologist and a teacher from Verny. In 1904, an expedition was repeated, a lot of materials was collected, and a few maps were made up. And in 1906, Sapozhnikov's book "Essays of the Sevenfold" was published.
After returning to the camp You will have dinner and rest.
Overnight in a tent camp
Walking mileage per day is about 10 km
Day 7. Yuzhnaya River – Kora Gorge
Wake up, breakfast, camp gathering and exit down the Kora River Gorge, which is currently a very popular gorge in Jhungar Alatau. But despite its high popularity, the gorge still retains its original purity. It is very picturesque: dense mixed forests spread on its northern slopes, while the southern ones are covered with meadow-steppe vegetation. The powerful grey and pink rock outcrops attract climbers who prefer to climb on natural terrain. One of the gorge sections, "White Yar", has the highest difficulty category for rafts and catamarans. The gorge is deep (1000-1200 m) and narrow throughout its length; the river Cora occupies almost the entire bottom of the valley. In the lower and steepest part of the gorge, ten apiaries are located at some distance from each other along the different banks of the river. Our camp for tonight will be set up on the riverbank near the crossing place.
Overnight in a tent camp
Walking mileage per day is about 14 km

Day 8. Kora Gorge - "Taubulak" Eco-camping
Wake up, breakfast and disassembling of the camp and personal stuff. Your itinerary today will begin with a crossing to the other side. Then You will descend through the Kora River Gorge to Taubulak Base. Until 2010 there were two summer tourist camps in the gorge - Yelovaya base near Asylbai gorge and Taubulak base on glades above Burhan Bulak waterfall. Currently, only Taubulak base is operational. Upon arrival at the base You will be able to rest and prepare for the departure to Almaty.
Overnight in "Taubulak" eco-camping
Walking mileage per day is about 7 km
Day 9. "Taubulak" Eco-camping – Taldykorgan – Almaty
After breakfast and packing campsite and personal stuff You will leave «Taubulak» eco-camping at 09:00. On the way You will make a stop in Taldykorgan to have lunch in one of the local cafes. Arrival to Almaty city at around 20:00.
Car mileage on this day is about 380 km

Tour Price for 2021: 850 USD per person provided 2 people travelling together.
Group discounts are available. A child participates in the tour at the price of an adult.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND BOOKING TERMS:
Tour Rates Include:
-transportation in comfortable air-conditioned vehicle,
-professional English-speaking trekking guide services,
-accommodation in Taubulak Resort on Days 1 and 8,
-all admission and environmental fees, admission to the border zone,
-meals (lunch and dinner on Day 1, three-times meals during trekking, breakfast and lunch on Day 9), drinking water. Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (traditional local cuisine includes mostly lamb or beef, dough, milk products).
-general equipment (dishes for cooking, rope).
Tour Rates Exclude:
-personal equipment (tent, karemat, sleeping bag),
-meals not indicated in the program and/or not included in program price,
-accommodation in Almaty before or after the tour,
-Visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (if required),
-personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program, insurance policy.
Booking Terms: Full payment is required for tour reservation. Accepted methods of payment: cash in local currency, wire transfer, bank card.
Cancellation Terms: 50% of the tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation less than 72 hours before the tour departure time, 100% of the tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation less than 24 hours before the tour departure time, as well as in case of no-show.
Group size: minimun 1 person, maximum — 8 people.
Age restriction: 16+
Required equipment and clothing: waterproof membrane jacket / storm, trousers made of gortex material, windproof jacket, warm fleece jacket or jacket of Polartec material, warm hat and gloves, several sets of underwear, a set of thermal underwear, several pairs of socks, one warm socks, several T-shirts with short and long sleeves, shorts, a cap, good high-altitude trekking boots, shoe covers from snow, exchange shoes for camp, best light sneakers, headlamp with adjustable brightness and beam range, several sets of batteries, thermos for 1-1.5 liters, or another water tank, personal hygiene items, personal first-aid kit, sunglasses, sunblock, ticks, utensils for personal use, a backpack volume of at least 80 liters, trekking sticks, personal alp equipment is better to have your own - helmet, gazebo, cat, ice pick, trigger, 4 carabiners.
NOTE: A current valid passport is required on the days of travel. Part of the route passes in the border area with Kyrgyzstan Republic.
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