Ascension
Expedition to Kazakhstan - Mount Astana (4,451m) (13 days / 12 nights) - $3,150.00 USD
$ 3150 USD
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Difficult level (4/5)
13 days / 12 nights
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Complete Exploration Program in Kazakhstan
Between nature, culture, and high-mountain adventure
We offer you a unique journey to the heart of Kazakhstan, lasting 13 days, combining the charm of Almaty, breathtaking natural landscapes, and an exciting high-altitude adventure in the Tian Shan Mountains. The program begins with visits to Almaty’s main landmarks, including Panfilov Park, the wooden Zenkov Cathedral, and Republic Square, followed by a cable car ride to the Shymbulak Mountain Resort, located at over 3,200 meters above sea level. We then immerse ourselves in Kazakh culture through a visit to the Huns Ethno Village, before heading to one of Central Asia’s most spectacular natural sites: Charyn Canyon, and later discovering the stunning Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, famous for its submerged trees. The journey continues to Altyn Emel National Park, where we explore the unique geological formations of the Aktau and Katutau Mountains, and visit the iconic Singing Dune, considered one of Kazakhstan’s natural wonders. The highlight of this adventure takes place in the high mountains, with a transfer to the Zharkulak Mine, followed by a scenic hike through alpine landscapes to the Sliyanie Base Camp (3,200 m). The camp is fully equipped with comfortable tents, a kitchen, a communal yurt, hot showers, electricity, and satellite internet. After a dedicated acclimatization day, the ascent of Mount Astana is undertaken in a safe and well-organized setting, under the supervision of a professional high-altitude mountain guide, in full compliance with safety standards.
💼 What the program price includes :
✅ All meals throughout the entire trip, in cities, during transfers, and at the base camp.
✅ All transportation from arrival at Almaty airport until departure, using private and comfortable vehicles.
✅ Accommodation in selected hotels, local guesthouses, and a fully equipped mountain base camp.
✅ A Moroccan tour escort throughout the entire program, ensuring coordination, assistance, and participant comfort.
✅ Supervision by professional local English-speaking guides.
✅ All environmental fees, border permits, and base camp services.
Hurry up! only 15 left
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Program
Scheduled departure point for this tour:
- 📍 08:00 (Kazakhstan time) :
- Arrival at Almaty International Airport . See on Google Maps
*Welcome by the expedition leader (LAMINE Azeddine, Moroccan guide).
Day 1 – 29/07/2026: Arrival in Almaty – City tour
- Arrival in Almaty
- Airport welcome by your guide
- Transfer to the hotel (Early check-in)
- Lunch at a restaurant in Almaty
- City tour
- Dinner
- Overnight stay (Holiday Inn / or equivalent)
Day 2 – 30/07/2026: City tour
🛤️ Distance: 50 km (round trip)
⏱️ Duration: 6 to 8 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 1/5
- Meet our local guide at the hotel
- Breakfast
- The excursion begins at Panfilov Park, located in the east-central part of Almaty, around the Zenkov Cathedral (built of wood, almost without nails).
- The park is dedicated to the Panfilov Heroes, 28 soldiers who died during World War II.
- Visit to Republic Square and the Central State Museum (closed on Tuesdays)
- Lunch
- Afternoon: visit to the Medeo Gorge, where is located the highest ice rink in the world.
- Cable car ascent to 3,200 m altitude to the Shymbulak mountain station
- Return to the hotel in the evening
- Dinner
- Overnight stay (Holiday Inn / or equivalent)
Day 3 – 07/31/2026: Almaty – “Huns” ethno village – Almaty
🛤️ Distance: 80 km (round trip)
⏱️ Duration: 4 to 5 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 1/5
- After breakfast, approximately a 1-hour drive to the ethno village
- "Huns" is an ethnic leisure center located in the Talgar district, 40 km from Almaty
- This site is considered the first ethnographic museum in Kazakhstan: a total immersion in the history of the Kazakh people.
- Participation in a workshop on preparing bauyrsaks (national sweets made from dough)
- The complex offers ski slopes with lifts and Kazakh national attractions.
- Discovering traditions, introduction to horseback riding and archery
- Lunch included in the ethno village
- Back to Almaty
- Dinner
- Overnight stay (Holiday Inn / or equivalent)
Day 4 – 01/08/2026: Almaty – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lake
🛤️ Distance: 580 km (A/R)
⏱️ Duration: 9 to 10 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 1/5
- Breakfast
- Departure from the hotel and transfer to Charyn Canyon (approximately 430 km , or 3 hours drive)
- Arrival at the canyon: a spectacular natural site located in Charyn National Park, in the Charyn River valley
- Unique landscapes formed by red sedimentary rocks over 10 million years old
- Walk in the canyon to admire the rock formations; visit to the "Valley of Castles" (2 km long, up to 80 m wide)
- Descent to the Charyn River
- Continue towards the Kolsai Lakes (a system of three alpine lakes in the northern Tian Shan, 330 km from Almaty) ( 150 km from the canyon)
- Lunch
- Visit to the first lake (the most accessible): possibility to walk along the lake and go boating
- The Kolsai lakes, nicknamed "Pearls of the Tian Shan", are surrounded by coniferous forests and are home to rare species (e.g., rainbow trout).
- Dinner
- Overnight stay in Alban Guest House
Day 5 – 02/08/2026: Kolsai Lakes
- Breakfast
- Extra day at Kolsai Lakes
- A free day to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings
- Lunch
- Opportunities for hiking, boat trips, or simply relaxing by the lake
- Dinner
- Overnight stay in Alban Guest House
Day 6 – 03/08/2026: Kolsai Lakes – Kaindy Lake
🛤️ Distance: 35 km (round trip)
⏱️ Duration: 6 to 7 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 1/5
- After breakfast, departure by transport to Lake Kaindy
- Lake Kaindy is a unique natural formation, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century following a powerful earthquake in 1911 near Verny (Almaty)
- A unique feature: an ancient coniferous forest remains submerged at the bottom of the lake, creating a spectacular landscape.
- Lunch
- Return to Guest house Alban
- Dinner
- Overnight stay at Guest house Alban
Day 7 – 04/08/2026: Kolsai Lakes – Charyn Canyon – Altyn Emel National Park
🛤️ Distance: 357 km (A/R)
⏱️ Duration: 8 to 9 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 1/5
- Breakfast
- Departure from Lake Kolsai and transfer to Charyn Canyon
- Arrival at the canyon: walk in the "Valley of Castles"
- Lunch
- Descend to the Charyn River to relax and have a snack
- Continue to Altyn Emel National Park
- Arrival at the village of Basshi
- Check-in at the hotel located in Basshi
- Dinner and overnight stay
Day 8 – 05/08/2026: Visit to the Aktau and Katutau mountains – Singing Dune
🛤️ Distance: 140 km (A/R)
⏱️ Duration: 8 to 9 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 3/5
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Early morning departure towards the Aktau and Katutau mountains, iconic sites of Altyn Emel National Park.
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A stop along the way to visit the 300-year-old Willow, a tree steeped in history.
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Discover the Aktau mountains, ancient chalk formations 400 million years old, remnants of an ancient seabed.
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Unique geological and paleontological site: animal fossils and plant imprints found on site.
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Visit the volcanic mountains of Katutau, whose name means “frozen/hard mountains”; a landscape shaped by ancient lava flows into amazing forms.
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After lunch, departure for the Singing Dune, a quartz sand dune that produces a deep sound when walked on or when the wind blows.
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A rare natural phenomenon, classified among the 7 natural wonders of Kazakhstan and a natural monument of national importance.
- Return to Almaty at the end of the day.
- Overnight stay (Holiday Inn / or equivalent)
Day 9 – 08/06/2026: Almaty – Zharkulak Mine – “Sliyanie” base camp
🛤️ Distance: 370 km (Round trip) ⏱️ Duration: 7 to 8 hours ( From Almaty to Zharkulak )
🛤️ Distance: 10 km (round trip) ⏱️ Duration: 3 to 4 hours ( From Zharkulak to base camp )
🥾 Difficulty: 3/5
- Breakfast
- Departure from Almaty by vehicle to reach the Zharkulak mine (2,900 m)
- The journey takes approximately 7 hours : mostly paved roads, the last 30 km are on a sometimes difficult track .
- At Zharkulak, unloading and a hike of approximately 12 km (≈ 3 hours) to the "Sliyanie" base camp (3,200 m)
- Easy terrain but a tiring day
- Lunch
- The camp is located near Marble Wall Mountain , in the alpine meadow area, at the confluence of the Bayankol and Sary-Goynou rivers.
- Accommodation : spacious tents for 2 people
- Camp infrastructure :
- Cooking with 3 meals a day
- A convivial yurt serving as a dining room and common area
- Hot shower and toilet
- Source of drinking water, electricity and satellite internet (Starlink)
- Dinner
Day 10 – 07/08/2026: Acclimatization at base camp
- Breakfast
- Since the camp is located at a high altitude, we stay there to allow the body to adapt.
- Possibility of taking a walk to the glaciers along the river
- Lunch
- Discovering life at camp and meeting other participants
- Enjoy good food and a relaxing moment
- Nudity
(After the effort, a day of relaxation)
Day 11 – 08/08/2026: Ascent of Mount Astana
🛤️ Distance: 15km (Round trip)
⏱️ Duration: 8 to 9 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 4/5
- Breakfast
- Starting from camp, follow the river along the markers, then climb a steep scree slope leading to a beautiful trail
- Most of the route consists of an ascent up fairly steep scree slopes and boulder fields.
- After the climb, return to camp via the same route
- Possibility to take a shower, enjoy a good meal and rest
The route is generally not very difficult; the ascent and descent take on average 8 to 9 hours.
Day 12 – 09/08/2026: Descent to the mine and return to Almaty
🛤️ Distance: 370 km (A/R)
⏱️ Duration: 7 to 8 hours
🥾 Difficulty: 2/5
- Breakfast
- After a short rest, descend to the Zharkulak mine where transport awaits you.
- Back to Almaty
- Lunch
- Overnight stay (Holiday Inn / or equivalent)
- Dinner
Day 13 – 10/08/2026: Departure from Almaty
🛤️ Distance: 20 km (round trip)
⏱️ Duration: 1 hour
- After breakfast, transfer to the airport
✔️ Included
- Accommodation based on double/twelve rooms in hotels – 10 nights
- Entrance fees and environmental costs throughout the circuit
- Meals – according to the program
- Tour guide (English-speaking)
- Transportation from arrival to departure
- Mineral water (1 liter/day/person)
- Lunch at the Hun ethno complex
- Cable car to the Shymbulak ski resort
- Services of a professional high-mountain guide
- Transfer from the city to the Zharkulak mine and back
- Document processing (border permits, registration)
- Base camp services (three meals a day, electricity)
- Tent accommodation for two people at base camp
- Environmental costs
- First aid and medical consultation at base camp
❌ Not Included
- Single room supplement
- Plane tickets
- All personal expenses
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Insurance
- Using the shower at base camp.
- The boat trip is not included, but you can pay for it on site.
** Important **
- For holders of a Moroccan passport, no visa is required.
- To confirm your reservation, it is necessary to send us an advance payment of 8000 DH.
- The remaining amount must be paid in dollars upon your arrival in Kazakhstan.
- The advance payment cannot be refunded if the cancellation is made less than 45 days before departure.
- Our team can take care of purchasing your plane ticket as well as obtaining insurance.
- This trip is open to everyone, regardless of their country of residence or nationality. All you need to do is be present at Almaty International Airport on the day of departure.
- Showers at base camp are not included as the stay is short. A shower costs $13.
- Horses intended for transporting luggage uphill and downhill are included up to a maximum weight of 10 kg per participant. Beyond this limit, each participant must carry the excess in their own bag.
- Internet access at base camp costs $20 for the entire stay, if needed.
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