Organization of tours and excursions to the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve in Kazakhstan -
Walk in the Aksu Canyon -
Aksu-Zhabagly is not just the first nature reserve in Kazakhstan, it is a living legend. It was founded in 1926 and remains one of the most untouched corners of the wild nature in Central Asia. Situated at the foot of the Western Tien Shan, on the border of the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions, it has been protecting nature for almost a hundred years. The altitudes here vary from 1,300 to 4,200 meters above sea level – from flowering valleys to snowy peaks lost in the sky. The entire space is like one huge natural stage, where the main actors are not people, but the Earth itself, the wind, the sun, animals and flowers. The starting point of the reserve is the village of Zhabagly, there are guest houses where you can stay during your trip. There is also a cafe with home-made and national cuisine. The main natural and tourist attraction of the reserve is the grandiose Aksu canyon, which represents incredible natural diversity. The beautiful mountain river Aksu flows through the canyon, the color of the water changes during the day depending on the sunlight and the phase of the day. In addition, the reserve has a 12-kilometer horse route to the gorge and the Kishi-Kaindy tract where the Kishi-Kaindy waterfall is located. In the upper reaches of the reserve, at the extreme altitudes of over 3,000 meters above sea level, there are ancient rock paintings of Kaskabulak, which are reached by a three-day horse or hiking route. The Koksay gorge in the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve is also very popular, here you can organize a multi-day trek through the mountains and the territory of the reserve.
How to get there and visit -
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is located in the Talas Alatau and Western Tien Shan mountains, near the village of Zhabagly, Zhambyl region, Turkestan region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 42°23'45"N 70°35'01"E
Information -
The slopes of the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve are covered with a carpet of wild tulips, irises, poppies. In the spring, it literally blooms with all the colors of life - and it is not for nothing that it is considered one of the main centers of biodiversity in Eurasia. In total, the reserve has more than 1,400 species of plants. The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is a home for wild tulips of Kazakhstan, on its territory in the spring, 8 species of tulips grow. The Turkestan tulip, an incredible beauty, is its main representative. Also growing here are such types of tulips as: Greig tulip, Kolpakovsky tulip, Buze tulip, etc. People strive to see the spring bloom of these types of tulips in the reserve; special botanical multi-day tours and one-day excursions are organized here. A trip to Syubda is not just a tour, it is a reboot. People come here to hear the silence, see the pristine beauty, follow in the footsteps of ancient peoples, touch stones with petroglyphs, breathe in the aroma of alpine meadows, and be filled with the power of the mountains. There are hiking routes, horseback riding tours, and the opportunity to spend the night in the mountains under a million stars. Getting here is not easy - you need a special permit and a mandatory guide. But those who dare to go along the mountain paths will be rewarded with views of untouched nature, before which even the wildest fantasies fade. Here, among the age-old rocks and starry nights, you understand the true price of wild nature - the last stronghold of true freedom.
The fauna of the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is a separate great epic. Snow leopards, lynxes, argali, brown bears, stone martens, wolves, giant bearded vultures and golden eagles live here. In total, there are 52 species of mammals and about 250 species of birds. This is not a zoo. Here you can meet an argali on a high-mountain trail or see a bearded vulture soaring in the sky, looking for prey. And all this is in the wild, free world.
The climate of the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is mountainous, harsh and changeable. Spring is short, wild, full of life. Summer is sunny, but not hot in the mountains. Autumn is golden, with fogs and clean mountain air. In winter, few people get here - snowdrifts and frosts leave the reserve alone with itself.
Many tourists say: “After visiting Aksu-Zhabagly, you are no longer the same as before.” Because where else can you stand by a glacier, hear the wind singing in the gorges, see through the eyes of argali, feel the steps of antiquity – and know that you are part of this world?
Attractions nearby:
Darbaza Tract
Tulips of the Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve
"Skazka" Cave near the village of Ak-Biik
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