Individual Tour to the Altyn-Emel Park -
Individual Tour to the Altyn-Emel Nature Reserve -
The mighty and mysterious Altynemel Mountain Range rises in the southeastern part of Kazakhstan, stretching along the northern coast of the Ili River. This is not just a geographical feature – it is an ancient ridge that holds the secrets of millennia and forms the landscape of the Altyn-Emel National Park of the same name, one of the most unique nature reserves in the country. The ridge stretches for about 70 kilometers from west to east, parallel to the Ili River. Its highest point – Mount Aktau – rises to a height of more than 2,000 meters. The slopes of the ridge are covered with dry steppes, sparse shrubs and semi-desert vegetation, which makes the area harsh, but fascinating in its own way. In spring, after the rains, the slopes come alive with flashes of bright colors: poppies, wild tulips, asters bloom here. This ancient ridge, like a giant dragon, stretches across the lands of Zhetysu. Its slopes remember the clatter of horses of Saka horsemen, the whisper of Buddhist monks and the songs of caravanners of the Great Silk Road. Today, wind and silence reign here, interrupted only by the cry of an eagle and the mysterious hum of the "Singing Dune".
How to get there and visit -
The Altyn-Emel mountain range is located 250 kilometers from the city of Almaty in the eastern part of the Almaty region in the Altyn-Emel National Nature Park and Reserve, Panfilov District, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 44°25'39"N 78°59'56"E
Information -
The name "Altynemel" is translated as "Golden Saddle" and is associated with a special golden glow of the rocks at sunset - at this time the day seems to freeze, and the ridge flashes with a soft golden light. This effect is especially visible in the area of the Altynemel Pass, through which the Great Silk Road once passed. This ridge is a place where antiquity is literally felt in the air. In its vicinity are the Saka burial mounds of Besshatyr, the mysterious stone sculptures of Oshaktas, the spring of Chokan Valikhanov, the Katutau Mountains and the Aktau White Mountains. All this forms a unique natural and historical ensemble. Horseback riding routes and hiking trails pass along the ridge - ideal for those who want to experience the spirit of wandering. The climbs offer breathtaking panoramas of the desert, the Ili River and the distant ridges of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Here you can meet kulans, goitered gazelles, argali, and in the sky - soaring golden eagles or vultures.
The Altynemel Ridge is not just a point on the map. This is a place where time flows differently, where every stone breathes history, and the wind carries echoes of ancient legends. Here you especially keenly feel the connection of times and the fragility of nature, which has managed to preserve its pristine beauty in the middle of the endless expanses of Kazakhstan. To visit here means to become a part of the great and ancient nature for a moment.
Attractions nearby:
Terekty Gorge
Terekty petroglyphs (rock carvings)
700-year-old willow
Big Besshatyr Mound
Besshatyr Menhirs (stone steles)
Sholak Mountains
Ulken-Kalkan Mountains
Kysty-Kalkan Mountains
Matai Mountains
Degeres Mountains
Basshi Village
Kerkulans (Przewalsky horse)
Kulans (wild donkeys)
Sights of Altyn-Emel Park
History of Besshatyr Mounds
Legend of the Singing Dunes
History of the Przewalski horse
Fauna of Altyn-Emel Park
Flora of Altyn-Emel Park
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