Nature trips in Akmola region -
Jeep tour from Astana to Yerementau mountains and back -
The Sokolinye Mountains (Falcon Mountains) are one of the stone pearls of the Erementau range (Yerementau Mountains), lost among the expanses of the Akmola region. These rocky peaks not only impress with their harsh and silent beauty, but also preserve the spirit of steppe freedom, ancient nomads and free birds of prey, whose name they bear. The name of these mountains speaks for itself – dozens of species of birds of prey have been nesting here for centuries. If you're lucky, you can witness a spectacular sight.: how mighty steppe eagles and graceful saker falcons soar over the rocks, looking for prey in the endless steppes. Local elders say that it was in these places that the ancient batyrs learned the art of falconry, and some particularly successful photo hunters can still meet the legendary "ak-sunkar" – the white falcon from ancient legends. The mountains are part of Buiratau National Park and are a popular natural attraction in the region.
The Falcon Mountains (Sokolinye) themselves are a series of granite outcrops, boulders and ridges rising among the hilly terrain. The heights here are not that high by the standards of the Alps or the Tien Shan, but the beauty of the landscape is fascinating. Especially in spring and summer, when the foothills of the mountains are covered with a carpet of grasses, flowering steppe plants and shrubs. In the morning hours, when the mists cling to the slopes, and the sky is just beginning to turn golden, the Sokolinie Mountains seem to come to life — breathing, pulsating, calling. Nature has created a real gallery of stone sculptures here. Wind and time have carved amazing shapes out of the rocks: here is the "Sleeping Batyr" – a huge block resembling a warrior with his arms crossed on his chest; a little further – the "Wings of a Falcon", two symmetrical stone slabs, as if frozen at the moment of takeoff; and in the depths of the gorge lurks the "Stone Forest" – dozens of pointed rocks, similar to petrified trees. This place looks especially magical at sunset, when the last rays of the sun turn the stones golden and crimson, creating the feeling that you are entering an ancient legend.
How to get there and visit -
The Sokolinye Mountains (Falcon) are located in the Yerementau Mountains in the vicinity of the village of Yeremetau, Yerementau district, Akmola region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 51°40'29"N 72°37'38"E
Information -
Sokolinye Gory (Falcon Mountains) is a place where steppe and rock, freedom and silence meet. Not only tourists come here, but also those who are looking for inspiration, solitude, or just want to hear the wind rustling among the pines and stones. Here you can go hiking, listen to the silence, have a picnic at the foot of the mountains, or just stand on top and spread your arms wide, feeling the wind rushing through you, as if you yourself had become a bird. We advise you to plan your trip for September, when the summer heat subsides and the steppe turns golden and crimson. Be sure to bring binoculars with you – bird watching is a pleasure here. Be careful on the rocks – the rocks can be slippery, and steep cliffs require care. And don't forget some dried fruits – according to local custom, they are left to the spirits of the mountains as a sign of respect.
Falcon Mountains is a place where time flows in a different way. Here you can spend the whole day listening to the whisper of the wind in the gorges and watching the clouds float over the ancient cliffs. This is a corner where every stone preserves the memory of centuries, and rare birds in the sky seem to be messengers from the distant past. A place where you truly understand what freedom and greatness of the wild nature are.
Falconry Mountain Tours and excursions -
Buiratau National Park invites you to an amazing journey through the lost world of the Falconies, where each route is a living page of history. The reserve's specialists have created three unique guidebooks to the past, each of which reveals its treasures.
1. Togyzshoshak – the pulse of ancient rocks
This three-hour route on wheels will take you through time to the foot of the mysterious Togyzshoshak rock massif, where the stones remember the footsteps of nomadic tribes. The culmination of the journey will be a meeting with Aulie bulak, a sacred spring, whose waters, according to legend, give wisdom to those who have drunk them with pure thoughts.
2. "Zhaushoky" – the road to the origins
A four-hour car safari will reveal to you not only stunning landscapes, but also a part of the ancient archaeological complex "Kumai". Every stone here is a mute witness to the ages, and the wind still whispers the names of those who walked these paths thousands of years ago.
3. "Karagaily" – tango with the steppe
The most dynamic route combines the speed of an off-road vehicle, the rhythm of a horse's gait and the freedom of cycling. Four hours of real adventure, culminating in a meeting with the archaeological park "Kumai", a stone chronicle of the steppe civilization.
The starting points of the legends
Two ancient villages have become the gateway to this wonderful world:
Balykty ("Fishy") – the road to Mount Jaushoky begins here. Just five kilometers of the field path – and you are at the foot of the ancient giant. A cozy guest house awaits you in the village, and on the southern outskirts there is a lake where crucian carp and pikes are silvered, as if they had descended from fishing tales.
Karagaily is the starting point to the mysteries of the Togyzshoshak tract and the Kumai Archaeological Park. After a day of wandering, you can relax in a local guest house, which smells of smoke and fresh tea.
These routes are not just guided tours. This is an opportunity to hear the stones sing, understand the language of the wind, and maybe find your own answer to the question: what are the ancient rocks silent about?
Nearby attractions:
• Buiratau National Park;
• Kos-Batyr Sanctuary;
• Akdym Mountain;
• Zhaushoky Mountain;
• Aulie-Bulak Spring;
• Kara-Agash Spring;
• Nature Museum in Buiratau Park;
• Karagayly Ancient Burial Site;
• Togyz Shoshak Glade (Tract);
• Azhbay Lake;
• Bozaygyr Lake.
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