Valley Of Castles Tour (10 Days)

Route: Almaty Region (Kazakhstan)

Season: January - December

Best Period: April - June, September - November

Charyn State Natural Park represents itself as a strip of foothill plains and intermountain hollows on both sides of the Charyn river - of the largest Ili river inflow within Kazakhstan. Charyn river valley is the unique location of the remains of prehistoric flora and fauna. In the lower reaches of the Charyn river and its tributary Temirlik there is a unique place, where relict species of Sogdian ash tree grow.

According to a legend, another 5 million years ago, the wind brought a winged seed of the Sogdian ash tree into this so-called «Valley of Yurts.» Millions of years passed, mountains and climate changed, and mammoths disappeared. But the ash tree still remained... In 1964, the ash-tree grove was given the status of a monument of nature. The four trees of approximately the same age are fenced in the grove.

It is some kind of open-air museum. Botanists believe that the age of these trees is over a thousand years. Charyn Canyon - a natural complex, unique of its kind not only in Kazakhstan but also throughout the world. It was formed in the epoch of the Paleogene and reminds Colorado Grand Canyon in North America, though inferior to him in size.

The height of the steep canyon slopes is 150-300 meters. The extreme ruggedness of relief impresses: numerous gullies and ravines form a dense, disordered network. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you the time are surrounded by bizarre towers, built of sedimentary rocks. The Valley length is more than 2 km, the width - 20-80 meters.

For millions of years, nature has been creating a unique architecture, carefully and deliberately erecting magnificent castles. You can spend hours wandering among the strange towers and poles, marveling at the lush imagination of nature.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1. Almaty - Valley of Castles

Group meeting and departure from Almaty at 07:00. Several stops and lunch in a cafe on the way. Arrival at Valley of Castles canyon. Setting a camp, walking, and photographing. Return to the camp, dinner, and free time. Optional - night photographing. Overnight in the tent camp at the territory of the state park.

Total automobile mileage on this day approx. 200 km

Days 2-3. Valley of Castles

Early woke up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn in the canyon. Return to the camp, breakfast, free time. Lunch in the camp. Closer to the evening, a hike to a shooting point for photographing the sunset over the canyon. Return to the camp, have dinner and prepare for the next day. Free time. Overnight in the tent camp at the territory of the state park.

Total daily walking distance approx. 5-7 km

Day 4. Valley of Castles - Temirlik River Canyon

Early woke up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn in the canyon. Return to the camp, breakfast. Disassembling of the camp and transfer to Temirlik canyon with several stops on the way. Arrive at an overnight place set a camp, and have lunch. In the afternoon, a walk to a cascade located downstream. Return to the camp, dinner, and free time. Optional - night photographing. Overnight in the camp at the bank of Temirlik river.

Total automobile mileage on this day approx. 70 km, walking distance - 4-5 km

Days 5-6. Temirlik River Canyon

Early woke up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn in the canyon. Return to the camp, breakfast. After breakfast, free time and walking in the canyon. Lunch in the camp. Walking in the canyon until sunset. Return to the camp, dinner. Preparation for the next day and free time. Optional - photographing of the night sky. Overnight in the tent camp at the bank of Temirlik river.

Total daily walking distance approx. 10-15 km

Day 7. Temirlik River Canyon - Charyn River Nameless Canyon

Early wake up at 07:00. Breakfast, disassembling of the camp, and transfer to a nameless canyon with several stops on the way. Arrived at an overnight place, set a camp, lunch. In the afternoon, walking until sunset and photographing. Return to the camp, dinner, and free time. Optional - night photographing. Overnight in the tent camp in the nameless canyon.

Total automobile mileage on this day approx. 50 km, walking distance - 5-7 km

Day 8. Charyn River Nameless Canyon

Early woke up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn in the canyon. Return to the camp, breakfast. After breakfast, walking in the canyon and photographing. Lunch in the camp. Walking and trekking to the shooting point for photographing the sunset over the canyon. Return to the camp, dinner, and free time.

Overnight in the tent camp in the nameless canyon.

Total walking distance on this day approx. 10-15 km

Day 9. Charyn River Nameless Canyon - Ulken-Bogutty Mountains

Early woke up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn in the canyon. Return to the camp, have breakfast and disassemble the camp. Transfer to Ulken-Bogutty mountains. Lunch in a cafe on the way. Arrived at an overnight place, and set a camp. Walking and photographing until sunset. Return to the camp, dinner, and free time. Overnight in the tent camp at the red canyon in Ulken-Bogutty mountains.

Total automobile mileage on this day approx. 120 km, walking distance - 5 km

Day 10. Ulken-Bogutty Mountains - Almaty

Early wake up at 05:30 for photographing the dawn. Return to the camp, have breakfast and disassemble the camp. Transfer to Almaty, lunch in a cafe on the way. Arrival to Almaty approx. at 18:00.

Total automobile mileage on this day approx. 150 km

TOUR FEATURES:

The tour program is very intensive, almost all camp-to-camp transfers will be off-roads. You will need to get up very early and walk a lot in search of the best shots. All of this - in the mountain valley at an altitude of about 2200 meters above sea level, where the weather often changes: it can be very hot during the day and quite cool during the evening and night.

There are many dangerous insects and reptiles. That is why it is strongly recommended to refrain from the use of alcohol and to be extremely careful.

TOUR PRICE: On request

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS:

1. Transport services on the entire route
2. English-speaking guide and photographer service
3. Camping equipment for common use (camping tent, table, chairs, cooking utensils)
4. Food for cooking in field conditions
5. Permits to visit the specially protected natural areas, all environmental fees

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS:

1. Accommodation in Almaty before/after the tour, if required
2. Airport transfer, if required
3. Meals not indicated in the program and/or not included in the tour price
4. Rent of personal camping outfit (tent, sleeping bag, сaremat, personal utensils, etc.)
5. Medical insurance
6. Visa support and registration on the territory of Kazakhstan, if required
7. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program

RECOMMENDATIONS ON CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT:

Taking into account that the evenings and at night can be quite cold, and the temperature can drop to zero, be sure to take with you:

1. Waterproof membrane Gore-Tex jacket and pants
2. Warm fleece jacket or Polartec jacket
3. Windproof jacket
4. Several sets of underwear, several pairs of socks, and a pair of warm socks
5. Several T-shirts with short sleeves, shorts
6. Appropriate hiking boots, and shoes for camp (lightweight sneakers)
7. Sunglasses and sunscreen
8. Head torch with adjustable brightness and beam distance, several sets of batteries
9. Thermos for 1-1.5 liters, or another water container
10. Personal hygiene items, a personal first aid kit (for chronic diseases is obligatory)
11. Camera, waterproof carrying case, a neutral filter with variable density, tripod, remote control, wide-angle and telephoto lenses
12. Anti-acarid remedy
13. Tent, sleeping bag, care mat, utensils for personal use