Kazakhstan Tulip Tour (13 days)
Combined botanical tours and tulip tours in Kazakhstan -
Best time to observe the tulip bloom in Zhambyl region -
This spring, nature itself will show us favor – and rare, amazing and magical tulips will bloom in the mountains and valleys of Southern Kazakhstan. The king of Kazakhstan tulips will appear before your eyes – the majestic Greig tulip, sparkling in an unforgettable palette of orange, yellow and scarlet shades, like fiery tongues among the spring greenery.
It is impossible to look away from the pristine beauty of the Kaufman tulips (Tulipa kaufmanniana), which adorn the heavenly slopes of the Tien Shan, like precious stones scattered by nature itself. The magic is complemented by bright flashes of colorful Tulipa ostrowskiana and graceful Tulipa kolpakowskiana, filling the crystal clear mountain air with a subtle, refreshing fragrance.
In the magnificent collection of South Kazakhstan flowers there are more than twenty species of the rarest tulips, among which Tulipa albertii flashes with scarlet flame, Tulipa lehmanniana dazzles with gold and orange heat, and Tulipa iliensis, Tulipa buhseana, Tulipa tetraphylla and the extraordinary bicolor tulip Zinaidae surprise with their unearthly beauty.
This is only a small part of the natural splendor that colored the Tien Shan Mountains in spring. Surrounded by tulips, as if from another planet, unusual Fritillaria bloom – mysterious creatures resembling Korolkovia severzovii and Rhinopetalum stenantherum. And where the snow islands have not yet melted, the dazzling white flowers of saffron Alatavicus and the delicate irises of Iridodictyum kolpakovskianum, as if woven from light, break through to the light.
List, description and photos of wild tulips of Kazakhstan:
Albert's Tulip – Regel's Tulip – Greig's Tulip – Berkarinsky Tulip – Tulipan Borshchova – Lemmers' Tulip – Lehman's Tulip – Tulip Buse – Bema Tulip – Ostrovsky Tulip – Turkestan Tulip – Kolpakovsky Tulip – Schrenka Tulip – Zinaida Tulip – Bieberstein Tulip – Sogdian Tulip – Ilinsky Tulip – Kolbintsev Tulip – Four–leaved Tulip - Bulavotaminochny Tulip – Hairy–staminate Tulip - Double-drooping tulip – Multi-leaved Tulip – Tulip Ivashchenko – Altai Tulip – Doubtful Tulip – Tulipan Korolkova – Late Tulip – Chimgan Tulip – Tianshan Tulip – Solonchakovy Tulip – Single–flowered Tulip - Two–flowered Tulip - Straight-legged Tulip – Drooping Tulip
- Distance of the route:
2002 km
- Season time:
1 april - 15 May
- Best time:
April
- Group size:
1-15
- Days & nights:
13 days - 12 nights
Tour itinerary:
Arrival in Almaty, meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation, rest. Breakfast.
Transfer: Almaty – Kapshagai city - Kapshagai reservoir (85 km). Behind the traffic police post in the vicinity of the Kapshagai hydroelectric power station, a walk for Albert tulips (Tulipa alberti Regel). Just beyond the bridge over the Kapshagai reservoir, a walk behind the tulips of Bema (Tulipa behmiana Regel). Transfer to a hill in the vicinity of the recreation area, walk behind the tulips of Boehm (Tulipa behmiana Regel), associated plants of the Iliac onion, Eremopyrom bounapartis, Eremopyrom orientale, Eremopyrom triticum, Chordeum spontaneum. Lunch – lunch boxes.
Transfer to Tamgaly-Tas tract (19 km). From the Kapshagai – Bakanas highway, we turn left and soon descend into the wide valley of the Ili River, the blue ribbon of the Ili River is clearly visible from the descent. Arrival at Tamgaly-Tas tract. A walk in the vicinity of the Tamgaly-Tas tract. Viewing and photographing rock carvings of Buddha. Climb up to the panoramic platform dominating the surroundings, from here you can enjoy a wonderful panorama of the northern part of the Ili River, admiring the beauty that has opened up. Return to the river.
Transfer: Tamgaly-Tas tract – Kapshagai HPP – Kapshagai city – Almaty (115 km). Arrival in Almaty, transfer to the hotel, accommodation. Dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Almaty – Samsy village – Targap village – Kordai pass (165 km). Our way from Almaty lies to the west along the Almaty –Tashkent highway, passing the small villages of Samsy and Targap, after turning to the village of Otar, the road rises to the Kordai pass. Along the way, Kolpakovsky tulips (Tulipa Kolpokovskiana regel) may be found along the road.
Stop at the Kordai pass. Walking behind Ostrovsky's tulips, photographing (Tulipa ostrowskiana Regel), passing plants. The following plant species can be seen here: Ephedra equisetina, Tamarix ramosissima, various kinds of Allium, Astragalus, Inula macrophylla and Glycirrhiza uralensis. Tulipa Kolpakovskiana, Tulipa Ostrovskiana, Tulipa bifloriformis is a variety of tulip Alberti, ephemera of the Berberidaceae family – Leontice ewersmanii, Ephedra equisetina Rheum maximoviczii, Geraniaceae of the family – Biebersteinia multifida and Geranium transversale are represented. Lunch is on the way. Transfer: Kordai pass – Kordai village – Merke village (192 km). Arrival in the village of Merke, accommodation at the Ak-Niet hotel. Dinner at the hotel, rest, overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer to Merke Gorge (16 km). Walk in the vicinity of the seismological station to the tulip of Zinaida (Tulipa Zenaidae), here opposite the station on the slope you can see the tulips of Greig (Tulipa Greigii) and on the way back to the bridge you can meet the tulip of Ostrovsky (Tulipa ostrowskiana Regel). In the Merke gorge, we will have amazing and magnificent encounters with plant species such as Eremurus tianschanicus and Delphinium ilinse blooming at this time, a flower with all kinds of colors Rheum maximoviczii and Leontice ewersmanii, relict grove Abelia corymbosa (Caprifoliaceae) and Celtis caucasica. Different varieties of Zinaida's tulip and the first blooming varieties of tulip Gregii and small inflorescences of tulip binutans and tulip Kolpakovskiana.
There are also other Kazakhstani species: Paeonia hybrida, Lonicera, Rosa and Cotoneaster. At the exit from the Merke gorge, to the left of the road, we can meet the Kolpakovsky tulip (Tulipa Kolpokovskiana regel).
Transfer: Merke gorge – Merke village – ruins of Akyrtas Palace (144 km). A walk in the vicinity of the ancient settlement of Akyrtas, here on Tortkul hill, among the excavations of the ancient settlement, we will see the tulips of Greig (Tulipa Greigii) and not far from the ruins of Akyrtas, the tulips of Kolpakovsky (Tulipa Kolpokovskiana regel) photografting tulips. A walk to the Tortkul hillfort and the Akyrtas palace complex.
Transfer: Akyrtas settlement – Taraz city (47 km). Arrival in Taraz, transfer to the hotel, accommodation, rest, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer: Taraz city – Asa village – Kumtiyn village – barkhan Kumburul – (36 km). Our path from Taraz leads to the northeast. Beyond Taraz, we pass the industrial zone of the city with the Zhambyl phosphate plant and our way lies to the village of Asa, the administrative center of the Zhambyl district of the Zhambyl region.
After passing the village of Asa beyond the village of Kumtiyn, we turn off the main highway onto the road leading to the village of Zhuma and Lake Bilikol. Soon, the high Kumburul dune is visible from the road, to the left of the road, this is our place of excursion, where we will look for the Leman tulip.
An old asphalt road leads to the dune, which literally hangs over a sand pit. Beyond the dune, the Asa River flows from the western side, heading towards Lake Bilikol. Walking in the vicinity of the Zhuma dune, searching for the Leman tulip.
Transfer: barkhan Kumburul – Karakemer village – Akkol village – Akkol Lake (72 km). Our next move is to the Accola Albert tulip (Tulipa alberti Regel). We pass the small villages of Karakemer and Akkol located near our road. We drive up the plain to the steep shore of Lake Akkol, which offers a beautiful panorama of the entire lake Akkol. The salt marshes of the dried-up Ashchykol Lake are visible in the northwest.
Lunch at Lake Akkol. Here, on the edge of the cliff and the steppe plain, a walk for Albert's tulips, photographing. The end of the walk. Transfer: Lake Akkol – Taraz city (108 km). Arrival in Taraz, accommodation at the hotel, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer: Taraz city – Aisha-Bibi village – Berkara gorge (59 km). Today, our way lies to the famous Berkara gorge, where the most interesting color schemes of the Greig tulip are concentrated. Arrival at the Berkara tract.
Hike along the path on the left side of the gorge to the glades of Greig's tulips (Tulipa Greigii) and Berkarinsky (Tulipa berkariensis). Lunch – lunch boxes. Continuation of the walk-guided tour of the Berkara gorge. Return to Taraz, arrival, hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer: Taraz city – Aisha-Bibi village – Aisha-Bibi mausoleum and Babaji-Khatun (18 km). After breakfast at the hotel, our way out of the city lies to the west, in the village of Aisha-Bibi (the old name of Golovachevka) we turn left to the mausoleum of Aisha-Bibi and Babaji Khatun. A walk to the mausoleums, taking pictures.
Transfer: Aisha-Bibi and Badji-Khatun mausoleums – Kuyuk Pass (23 km). Soon the picturesque Kuyuk pass begins, at first the road stretches along the gorge along the Kuyuk River and gradually the road rises from the gorge to the plateau.
Stop at the Kuyuk pass 1190 meters above sea level, located in the Syrdarya Karatau range, walk in the vicinity, here we will see Stenantera rhinopetalum, Juno orchioides, a hybrid of Juno blue and archaea grows here, we can observe rare plant species, flowers and shrubs of Spiraeanthus schrenkianus and an endemic species in the Karatau mountains – Allium kujukense and the population of tulip Gregii.
Transfer: Kuyuk – Ters pass-Ashchybulak reservoir – Surum village – Andreevka village – Koksai Canyon (67 km). A walk and an excursion to Koksai Canyon. Lunch – lunch boxes.
Transfer: Koksai Canyon – Surum village – Shakpak Ata village – Zhabagly village (93 km). Arrival in the village of Zhabagly, transfer to a guest house, accommodation, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. The first excursion to the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Transfer: Zhabagly village – Yeltai village – Iirsu village – Aksu Canyon (plateau near Aksu Canyon, in the vicinity of the Jaeger cordon 1,620 meters above sea level) (25 km). The descent into the canyon to the Aksu River takes 30 – 40 minutes.
A walk in the vicinity of the canyon, here we observe the flora of Aksu Canyon, the surroundings are represented by unique plant species: (Juniperus seravschanica, J. Semiglobosa, J. Turkestanica), endemics of the Betula Talassica reserve. We will find various variants of Allium species, including Allium pskemense and A. Karataviense.
You will see Ungernia sewerzowii, Ixiolirion tataricum (amaryllidaceae); more than 10 species of Astragalus (endemic species of the western Tien Shan) - A. Ugamicus, A. Aschuturi and A. Abolinii); 5 species of Ferula; tulips Kaufmanniana and T. Dasystemonoides; tulips Gregii, Turkestanica, endemic species of the Western Tien Shan Scutellaria lulata, Oxytropis talassicus, Stephanocaryum olgae. Sergia sewerzowii, Trachelanthus korolkovi and endemic plant species in the Karatau range – Olgaea pectinata, Trichanthemis radiata, flowering ornamental plant Morina kokanica.
The blooming foothills of the Karzhantau and Saryaydyr ranges are represented by incomparable plant species – the "shedding tears" Juniperus semiglobosa and the rare relict species Enonymus koopmannii. Mountain plant species – phryganas – with dominant species – Onobrychis echidna, Acantholimon albert.
You will encounter endemic species of the Western Tien Shan - Cynoglossum capusii, with rare Kazakhstani plant species Berberis integerrima and Aconitum talassicum, with flowering Iris sogdiana and I.korolkovii. Colchicum luteum, Gagea jaschei and G. Dshungarica, meet with the highest plants of the Alpine belt – Valeriana fedtschenkoi, Potentilla hololeuca, Oxytropis caespitosula and O. Immersa. Lunch in the canyon.
The ascent from the canyon takes from 1 to 1.5 hours. The Aksu River Canyon is a beautiful and picturesque corner of the nature reserve.
Return to the village of Zhabagly, dinner, overnight in a guest house.
Breakfast. Transfer to the beginning of the horseback riding in the Kishi-Kaindy gorge and then to the botanists' house at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level (11 km). Lunch – lunch boxes. A botanical walk in the vicinity of the lodge, a walk to the waterfall on the Kishi-Kaindy River. Return by horseback to the village of Zhabagly, dinner, overnight in a guest house.
Breakfast. Transfer: Zhabagly village – Turar Ryskulov village (Vannovka) – Kershetas village – Mashat Canyon (65 km). Arrival at Mashat Canyon, walking around the canyon, here we will see Berkarinsky tulip (Tulipa berkariensis), Greig's tulip (Tulipa greigii Regel), Kochi katran (Severtsova Katran) (Crambe kotschyana Boiss), prickly almond (Amygdalus spinosissima Bunge), karatavsky onion (Allium karataviense Regel).
Transfer to the plateau above Mashat Canyon (3 km). Lunch. Walking over Mashat Canyon, here we will meet an endemic tulip that is found only in Mashat Canyon – Lemers' tulip (Tulipa lemmersii), false-flowered tulip, Greig's tulip (Tulipa greigii Regel).
From the edge of the cliff there are beautiful views of the Mashat Canyon and the northern spurs of the Talas Alatau. The end of the tour.
Return to the village of Zhabagly (68 km). Supper. The program ends in the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve.
Transfer: Zhabagly village – Tyulkubas railway station (18 km). Transfer by train to Almaty, overnight on the train.
Breakfast. After breakfast, transfer to Almaty – Verkhnyaya Kamenka village – Kyrgyzauldy village – Kaskelensky gorge (39 km). There will be a walk along the southern slope of the gorge, where Ostrovsky tulips (Tulipa ostrowskiana Regel) grow among the meadowsweet bushes.
After the upper dacha area, we will return to the main road, drive about one kilometer and on the hills on the left side of the gorge, among the bushes of wild rose and meadowsweet, we will see the Ostrovsky tulip meadow.
Transfer to the maral breeding farm, which is located on the left side of the gorge (8 km). Marals graze behind a wooden fence on the southern slope, and nearby, in the shade of a coniferous forest, there is a clearing of Crocus Alatau (Crocus alatavicus Regel Semenov(w) Tyan-Schansky, V. P.), a walk in the vicinity of the gorge.
Transfer to the Upper Plateau (2 km). Here, along the edge of the plateau cliff, we will find a hairy-staminate tulip (Tulipa dasystemon (Regel). A walk in the vicinity of the gorge. Picnic in the gorge. Return to Almaty, accommodation in a hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer: Almaty – Chilik village – Bayseit village – Syugatinskaya valley (169 km). Walking in the vicinity of the Syugatinsky valley. Here we will meet the Bose tulip (Tulipa bohseana Biss).
Transfer: Syugatinsky valley – Charyn River – Aksu village – Kegen pass (63 km). Hiking in the Ketmen Mountains at the Kegen pass. Lunch is on the way. In the vicinity of the Kegen pass, we will meet the four-leaved tulip (Tulipa tetraphylla Regel), the ferruginous iris (Iris scariosa), at the highest point of the Kegen pass we will meet the adonis (goritsvet) (Adonis chzrysocyathus Hook et Toms) (Ramunculaceae), the iris locchi or iris tian-shan (Iris Loczii).
Walking and photo shoot in the vicinity of the Kegen pass. Transfer: Kegen pass – Chunja village – Tashkarasu village – Koktal village – Zharkent village (153 km). Arrival in Zharkent, transfer to the hotel, accommodation, dinner, overnight.
Breakfast. After breakfast, visit the Zharkent mosque, an excursion to the ethnographic museum at the Zharkent mosque.
Transfer: Zharkent – Konyrolen village – East Aktau Mountains (43 km). On the left side of the road, colorful clays of the East Aktau mountains appear, here is a stop and a walk around the neighborhood, here we will see a two-flowered tulip (Tulipa biflora Pall), a low rhubarb (Rheum nanum Siev).
To the east of the East Aktau Mountains are the colorful clays of the Tiger Mountains.
Further transfer: East Aktau Mountains – Altyn-Emel pass (90 km). Stop in the vicinity of the Altyn-Emel pass, walk along the slopes of a small gorge. Here we will meet a short-stemmed Tulip (Tulipa brachystemon Regel), a ferruginous iris.
Further crossing: Altyn-Emel pass – Saryozek village (62 km). Lunch. Transfer: Saryozek village – Shengeldy village – Kapshagai reservoir – Kapshagai city – Almaty (175 km). Arrival in Almaty, accommodation at the hotel. Farewell dinner, overnight.
Departure to the airport, departure from Almaty.
What awaits you
On this amazing route, we will plunge into the world of blooming valleys and mountain slopes of the Tien Shan. You will see spring bulbous plants and rare flowers, wild animals and birds, and breathe in the purest mountain air, filled with the aromas of a blooming region. The landscapes of the wild Tien Shan will appear before you in their pristine, unconquered beauty.
Your guides
The guides in this spring tale will be the best guides of Kazakhstan — true masters of their craft, in love with the nature of their native land.
Movement during the tour
Every day we can enjoy light walks through the picturesque surroundings: Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau, Karatau. The walking routes will be about 3-4 kilometers per day, a leisurely pace that allows you to enjoy every moment. The duration of car trips is indicated in the tour program.
Placement
Comfort in the heart of nature: cozy guest houses in the Aksu-Zhabagly nature Reserve, reliable hotels in Almaty and, for one night, rest in the sanatorium "Ak-Niet" in the village of Merke.
Group size
We appreciate the atmosphere of unity with nature, so the group will be intimate: from 2 to 15 people.
Climate
Spring in Southern Kazakhstan is changeable, as if nature itself is playing with colors: cold winds and snow are possible in the mountains, but more often you will be greeted by warm sun, clear sky and the freshness of the awakening world.
How to book a tour
Contact us and we will provide you with all the information to make your trip truly unforgettable.
Kapchagai reservoir
In the sun-drenched expanses we will find graceful Tulipa alberti Regel, graceful Gagea filiformis (Ledeb), thin-leaved irises Iris tenuifolia Palla and delicate Tulipa bohseana Biss.
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve
We will explore the Aksu Canyon, the Kshi-Kaindy and Ulken-Kaindy gorges, climb the Karatau mountains and Krasnaya Gorka, see the steppe lakes, the Berkara tract and the Koksai gorge. Magnificent Tulipa Greigii blooms here – the pride of the local area.
Kuyuk Pass
In these places, the flowering fields of Eremurus hilariae, the heads of Allium karataviense Regel, the delicate Tragopogon ruber S. G. Gmet and the bright Glaucium elegans Fish. et C. A. Mey are scattered with silver.
Merke Gorge
The rarest Tulipa Zinaidae bloom on the slopes of the gorge, while the scarlet Tulipa Ostrovskiana Regel, the bright Tulipa Kolpakovskiana Regel and the mysterious Tulipa binitans Vved bloom nearby.
Kordai Pass and the edge of the Mojunkum Desert
Here, at the junction of mountains and deserts, Tulipa Ostrovskiana Regel, Tulipa Kolpakovskiana Regel and exotic Leontice Ewersmanii sparkle in a blooming symphony.
Syugatinsky Valley, Ketmen Mountains and Kegen Pass
Nature is especially generous in these places: rare Tulipa tetraphylla Regel, mysterious Juno kuschakewiczii (B. Fedtsch) Poljak, refined Tulipa buhseana and golden corollas of Adonis chzrysocyathus Hook et Thoms, as well as delicate Corydalis shangini (Pall) B. Fedtsch await us.
Kaskelen Gorge
Fragrant Tulipa Ostrovskiana Regel, shining yellow Tulipa dasystemon Regel, snow-white crocuses Crocus alatavicus Regel et Semen and bright spots of Euphorbia yaroslavii P. Pol bloom among the picturesque slopes.
Mashat Canyon
In this blooming paradise, we will meet the magnificent Berkarinsky tulip (Tulipa berkariensis Regel), the royal Greig tulip (Tulipa greigii Regel), rare species like Severtsov's Katran (Crambe kotschyana Boiss), prickly almond (Amygdalus spinosissima Bunge) and many other treasures of nature, including Karatava onion and Lemmers tulip.
Berkara Tract
This place is the abode of two famous species: the Berkarinsky tulip (Tulipa berkariensis Regel) and the majestic Greig tulip (Tulipa greigii Regel), which in spring turn the slopes into a bright canvas of living beauty.
Almaty – Samsy village – Targap village – Kordai Pass – Kordai village – Merke village – Merke Gorge – ruins of Akyrtas Palace – Taraz city – Asa village – Kumtiyn village – barkhan Kumburul – Karakemer village – Akkol village – Akkol Lake – Taraz city – Aisha village-Bibi – Berkara Gorge – Taraz city – village Aisha–Bibi – mausoleums of Aisha-Bibi and Babaji-Khatun – Kuyuk–Ters pass-Ashybulak reservoir – Surum village – Kyzylaryk village – Andreevka village – Koksai Canyon – Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve – Zhabagly village – Aksu Canyon – Kishi-Kaindy gorge – Taldybulak tract – Tulkubas station – Almaty – Kaskelen gorge – Chilik village – Bayseit village – Kokpek village – Syugatinskaya Valley – Aksai village – Kegen Pass – Chundzha village – Tashkarasu village – Koktal village – Zharkent city – East Mountains Aktau – Konyrolen village – Altyn-Emel pass – Saryozek village – Kapshagai reservoir – Kapshagai city - Almaty.
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