This route has absorbed all contrasts and beauties of Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. You will visit high mountain Shymbulak resort, have lunch in traditional Kazakh yurt, cross the glacier, see the impressive Big Almaty Lake and relieve fatigue after trek by swimming in Shukur waterfall.
Season: June – October
Best period: July – September
Distance: 50 km.
Duration: 4 days.
Heights difference: absolute gain: 2220 meters. Highest point: Tourists pass 3980 m.above s.l. Absolute loss: 3184 meters. Lowest point: Left Talgar gorge 2200 m.above s.l.
Route complexity: moderate trekking, available to any physical healthy person who has the experience of hiking in rugged terrain. Manifestation of altitude sickness can happen (general malaise, nausea, headache, weakness).
Route: Almaty – Medeo – Shymbulak – Left Talgar gorge – Tourists pass – Big Almaty Lake – Shukur waterfall – mountain resort Alpine Rose.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1. Almaty – "Medeo" Sport Complex – "Shymbulak" Mountain Resort– Talgar Pass – Small Talgar pass– Left Talgar Gorge – Alpine Rose Glade
After meeting with Your guide and boarding the excursion transport at 09:00 You will be provided with a transfer in a comfortable car to the mountain sports complex Medeo. From here You will take a cable car to Talgar pass. After lunch in the national Kazakh yurt on the pass You will reach the beginning of the route. First, You will go down the trail along the chairlift to the Small Talgar Pass. Here you will enjoy a magnificent panorama of peaks with eternal snow, Til’ and Ayak glaciers, as well as Chkalov and Athlete peaks. Further, the descent continues towards the river in Left Talgar gorge. Getting to the river You will make a stop for rest and have a snack. Next, You will move up the gorge along the river, gradually gaining height. Camp will be set up in a wide glade Alpine Rose near the spring. After dinner, You can rest by the fire.
Overnight in a tent camp at the altitude of 2450 m. above s.l.
Walking mileage on this day is about 8 km
Height difference is -915 m/ +200 m
Hiking time is about 4 hours
Day 2. Alpine Rose Glade – Valley of Left Talgar Gorge – Solar Glade – Tourists river gorge – Tourists Glacier Moraine
Early wake up at about 07 am, breakfast and camp gathering. At 09:00 You will start Your way up the gorge. Almost all the time You will go by a good path, with the exception of one part, where You will have to overcome a small debris flow. After passing this difficult part You will reach a small picturesque lake formed after powerful spillway occurred in 2003. Next, You will continue to move to the Solar Glade, where You will see a magnificent view of the four thousand mountains with snow-ice tops – Pushkin and Constitution peaks. For lunch You will stop near the confluence of Tourists and Left Talgar rivers. After rest, You will have a long climb up the valley of Tourists gorge. Camp will be arranged on the glade near foothills of SGU peak, very beautiful and massive mountain, with it as a background You can take amazing shots on Your camera. After camp arrangement - cooking dinner and rest.
Overnight in a tent camp at the altitude of 3550 m. above s.l.
Walking mileage per day is about 12 km
Height difference is +1150 m/ -50 m
Hiking time is about 7-8 hours
Day 3. Tourists Glacier Moraine – Tourists Pass – Upper reaches of Kyzylsai River– Lake gorge
Early wake up at about 07 am. This day, You will start trekking very early to be able to overcome the Tourists Pass - the highest and most difficult part of entire route. After breakfast You will pack your stuff and start to move up the gorge by partly visible path. After passing moraine lakes You will see another beautiful snowy peak - peak of Soviet Mountaineers with a height of 4,380 meters. Then Tourists glacier begins, in summer time it can be overcome simply by foot without problems, there is almost no snow on it anymore. When You reach the pass, You will have a small halt for rest, eating snacks and taking photos of gorgeous peaks – Soviet, Lake, Young Guard, all of them, more then four thousand meters. Also from here, when the sky is clear, You can see the highest point of Northern Tien-Shan range - Talgar peak with height of 5017 meters. After break, enjoying plenty of views, You will continue to move down to the valley. From the pass to the valley of Kyzyl-Sai river there will be a quite visible rocky path. We will need to loose almost 900 meters of altitude and arrange camping at the confluence of two rivers - Kyzylsai and Ozyornaya (Lake). Rest, free time. After setting the camp and rest, You will have free time to take a walk in the surroundings and return to the camp for dinner.
Overnight in a tent camp at the altitude of 3110 m. above s.l.
Walking mileage per day is about 11 km
Height difference is +430 m/ -880 m
Hiking time is about 6-7 hours
Day 4. Lake Gorge – Big Almaty Lake– Shukur Gorge – Shukur Waterfall – “Alpine Rose” Mountain Resort – Big Almaty Gorge – Almaty
Getting up at 7 am and breakfast. After packing stuff You will start to move down to Lake gorge in the direction of Big Almaty Lake. Before reaching the dam on the lake, You will turn to the right and begin to hike up to the ridge separating Lake gorge and Shukur. On the way, You will find equipped recreation spots - arbors and benches, where You can stop and have a snack. Further the trail will lead down to the Moon Glade. Waterfall is near by, only 20 minutes by walk. You will pass a small forest with glades for camping and picnic, and then begin to climb up the narrow rocky gorge of Shukur river. Further You will see small waterfall and feel it’s fresh breath and coolness. Swimming in the waterfall upon your wish. After resting, having a snack and recovering Your strength You will go down the ascent line to the Moon Glade and from there You will continue along a large road full of ATV wheels trails. In about 20 minutes You will find Yourself in the mountain resort "Alpine Rose" (2275m), where the car will be waiting for you to go down to the city of Almaty.
Walking mileage per day is about 14 km
Height difference is +533 m/ -1380 m
Hiking time is about 7-8 hours
Tour Price for 2021: 470 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:
-Hotel pickup/drop-off and private transportation in comfortable air-conditioned vehicle,
-professional English-speaking guide service,
-all admission and environmental fees, including ride tickets for cable car Medeo-Shymbulak Ski Resort-Talgar Pass,
-meals (dinner in Yurt on Day 1, full board on Days 2-3, breakfast and lunch on Day 4), drinking water. Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (traditional local cuisine includes mostly lamb or beef, dough, milk products).
-sleeping place in the tent.
Tour Rates Exclude:
-hotel pickup/drop-off (for group tours),
-food 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 48 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.
