Jeep tour from the village of Kurmenty to the upper reaches of the Kurmenty gorge -
Natural attractions of the Kegen district -
The Kurmenty gorge is one of the most secluded and beautiful mountain gorges and tracts located on the territory of the Kolsay Lakes National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level. This place is still little known to the mass tourist, but it is a real natural paradise for lovers of wild nature, solitude and peaceful silence. The journey to the gorge begins from the village of Kurmenty, which is located higher in the mountains after the village of Saty. This direction is very popular among fans of active recreation and lovers of jeep tours. A mountain road is laid up the gorge, along which you can climb to its upper reaches only on high-traffic 4x4 vehicles. The road will take you to a beautiful high-mountain plateau, where you can stop for a camp and spend two or three days away from civilization surrounded by pristine nature. This gorge can be visited after a trip to the Kolsay Lakes, along which there is a mountain route along the Kolsay Gorge and Lake Kaindy, which is famous for its sunken forest. Also, from the Kurmenty Gorge you can make a one-day mountain hike and go down to the lower Kolsay Lake (the first, No. 1). In addition to this natural attraction, in this area there is another equally interesting and picturesque gorge Karasai, which is also available for walking, horseback riding and jeep tours.
How to get there and visit -
The Kurmenty Gorge is located above the village of Kurmenty in the Kolsay Lakes National Park, Saty village area, Kegen district, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 42°59'02"N 78°16'27"E
Information -
The Kurmenty Gorge is located in a remote part of the park, away from the main tourist routes, due to which it was possible to preserve the pristine nature here. It is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, the slopes of which are covered with dense spruce forests, juniper and lush alpine meadows. In spring, the local slopes are strewn with flowers, among which there are rare species of wild tulips and other mountain plants. The clean mountain river Kurmenty flows along the bottom of the gorge, the water in which is so transparent that you can see the bottom and stones even at depth. Along the riverbed there are cozy glades surrounded by forest - ideal places for camping and outdoor recreation. In this area you can often hear birds singing, and if you are lucky, you can see marals, roe deer or other inhabitants of these places. This is not only a beautiful natural place, but also a valuable landscape from an ecological point of view. Here you can find rare species of flora and fauna, characteristic only of the high-mountain regions of the Tien Shan. This is an ideal place for hiking, photo expeditions and meditative rest away from the bustle of the city. The walking route to the gorge requires a certain physical preparation and most often goes along paths leading through mountain passes and forests. But it is this inaccessibility that makes the gorge especially attractive for those who are looking for silence, fresh mountain air and the unique atmosphere of pristine nature.
The Kurmenty tract is a corner of real wild nature in the heart of the Kolsay Lakes National Park. Here, every step is filled with beauty, and every glance reveals breathtaking panoramas that forever remain in the heart of the traveler.
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