Tour to Markakol Lake
Journey through Altai to Lake Markakol - trip from Semipalatinsk to Markakol -
Markakol is the most beautiful lake in Kazakhstan Altai, our trip to the lake will take 4 days. This trip passes through East Kazakhstan and the East Kazakhstan region. On the way to the lake, we will visit the Bukhtarma reservoir, the village of Kurchum, the village of Markakol, Urunkhaika village and other beautiful places. According to the program, we will live in a tent camp or in guest houses, it will depend on your decision how you would like to spend your time, we recommend both guest houses along the route and accommodation in the base camp, which we will set up ourselves and bring with us all necessary equipment.
You can see the full list of places along the route and a detailed description of the route below in the program schedule day by day. This program also includes a hiking route, so keep in mind that we will walk in the mountains and visit various sights that can only be reached on foot.
Route according to the program: Ust-Kamenogorsk – Bukhtarma reservoir – Lake Markakol – Ust-Kamenogorsk
- Distance of the route:
938 km
- Season time:
Summer time
- Best time:
June, July, August
- Group size:
1-25
- Days & nights:
4 dasy, 3 nights
Tour itinerary:
Transfer: Ust-Kamenogorsk – Kaznakovskaya crossing (175 km). Arrival at Kaznakovsky ferry, waiting for the ferry. Crossing to the opposite bank of the Bukhtarma reservoir (4 km). Further transfer: Kaznakovskaya crossing - the village of Kurchum (34 km). Lunch in the village of Kurchum.
Transfer: settlement Kurchum – settlement Barak batyr – settlement Kalzhyr – settlement Markakol (former name Alekseevka, Terekty) (189 km). Arrival in the village of Markakol, shopping. A short walk around the village, visiting and examining the old brick buildings in the village, built at the beginning of the 20th century.
Transfer: Markakol village – Derelbiigy mountains – Marble pass (21 km). In the vicinity of the village of Moildy there is a border post, where documents and border passes are checked. Further transfer to the Marble pass with a height of 1317 meters above sea level.
Stop at the pass from here opens a majestic panorama of the surroundings. In the south, on the territory of China, dunes and sands of the Akkum and Kyzylkum deserts are clearly visible, which borders the territory of Kazakhstan with its northern edge. In the south rises Mount Marble, composed of marble rocks with a height of 1398.3 meters above sea level.
Transfer: Marble pass – nameless pass 1452.3 meters above sea level – Akzhalau village – Belezek river – Tikkabak pass 1804.6 meters above sea level – Urunkhayka village (Markakol lake) 1447 meters above sea level (37 km). Arrival in the village of Urunkhaika, accommodation in a guest house or in tents, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Walking tour around Lake Markakol. Ascent to the mountain, which is located east of the village of Urunkhaika, from here a magnificent panorama of the lake and the surrounding mountains opens (1 + 1 = 2 km).
We will make a short traverse along the ridge and descend to the southern tip of the lake. Return to the village of Urunkhaika. After lunch, walk along the eastern shore of Lake Markakol to the fishermen's house (3 + 3 = 6 km). Dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Walk to the Cold Valley (5 km). The cold valley was created by nature itself, it is located among not high, gently sloping mountain ranges. From a small pass, a beautiful view of Lake Markakol opens, the western part of which is lost in the haze. In the vicinity of the Cold Valley, there is an endemic toad that can be seen in wetlands. Lunch on the way. Return to the village, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Return to Ust-Kamenogorsk. Transfer: settlement Urunkhaika – settlement Markakol – settlement Kalzhyr – settlement Kurchum (247 km). Stop in the village of Kurchum, lunch at a local cafe.
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