Tour The Heart of Mangyshlak and the Mangyshlak Peninsula from Aktau
The Mangystau Peninsula is located in the northeast of the Caspian Sea. It stretches 390 km from the narrow small Tupkaragan peninsula in the northwest to Ustyurt in the southeast, from the Caspian basin in the north to the Karabugaz Bay in the south. The Mangystau Peninsula consists of high plateaus and low mountains. The northwest is covered by the Mangystau mountains. The bowels of the peninsula are rich in oil and gas, in addition, there is manganese, phosphorite, and coal.
There are no rivers on the Mangystau plain. The peculiarity of the area is that along the shores of the Caspian Sea and in the bowels of Ustyurt there are many dried lakes and hollows (Koshkarat, Karakiya, Kaunda, Ashysai, Zhazgurly, etc.). The depressions sometimes merge with each other and turn into large depressions. They are all below sea level. The deepest is the Karakiya (Batyr) depression, the bottom of which is covered with large litter.
Upon arrival from Almaty to Aktau, we'll meet at the airport, transfer to the hotel, and check in. After checking into the hotel, we'll take a tour of Aktau. We'll visit the city's history museum, then the Annunciation Orthodox Church and the Beket-ata Mosque.
Afterwards, we'll head to the monument dedicated to Taras Shevchenko, located on the Caspian Sea coast. We'll then stroll along the embankment, stroll near Cape Melovoy, then visit the central Yntymak Square, and reach the city pier, which offers a picturesque view of Aktau. We'll also take a tour of the old part of the city. We'll return to the hotel, have dinner, and relax.
Aktau City – Kyzylkala Fortress Aktau City – Mount Sherkala – Climbing Mount Sherkala – Akmyshtau Tract – Kyzylkala Fortress (223 km). After an early morning breakfast, we set off for Mount Sherkala, located 135 kilometers from Aktau. This solitary mountain has an interesting shape, resembling a very large white yurt. From another angle, Sherkala resembles a sleeping lion, resting its enormous head on its front paws.
Upon reaching the mountain, we'll take a walk through the surrounding area, about three kilometers, and, for those who wish, we can climb to the summit of Mount Sherkala using climbing equipment. The climb is 30 meters. After climbing Mount Sherkala, we head to the Akmyshtau mountain valley, stopping en route at the remains of the medieval city of Kyzylkala. While exploring the remains of the city, we'll see ancient rock paintings created by nomads.
Our route will then take us past chalk mountains called Airakty and Kayrakty. Upon reaching the site, we'll set up camp, have dinner, and rest.
Mount Tomalak – Akmyshtau tract – Kokala tract – Aktau (184 km). After breakfast, we'll ascend Mount Tomalak, which is 200 meters above sea level. The climb is four kilometers long. Upon reaching the summit, we'll enjoy a unique and picturesque view of the surrounding area.
From the Akmyshtau gorge, we'll head to the Kokala gorge. Nature here has miraculously eroded layers of clay, creating a layered mountain of hummocks, columns, pyramids, and a mini-canyon with intricately jagged sides. Upon reaching the gorge, we'll stroll through the surrounding area and admire the colorful clays amid the monotonous, rocky Mangistau mountains.
We'll also visit a mountain spring in the gorge of the same name. Afterwards, we'll head back to Aktau, visiting a field of spherical nodules along the way. The journey to Aktau is 140 kilometers. Upon arrival, we'll check into a hotel, have dinner, and rest.
