Duration: 12 nights / 13 days

Day 1
Meet & greet at the airport with an MLtour sign.
Transfer and check-in at the hotel.
Leisure time and rest.

Day 2

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Check-out and city sightseeing tour with an English-speaking guide.
• Visit to the “Sunkar” Falcon Farm for a spectacular bird-of-prey show.
• Transfers as per program.

Almaty — the southern capital of Kazakhstan — has adapted to modern times faster than any other city in Central Asia. Adorned with parks and green boulevards, Almaty welcomes you to visit the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, dedicated to the heroes of World War II.
Within the park stands the Ascension Cathedral, built in 1840 entirely of wood — without a single nail — by architect A. Zenkov. It is one of only nine unique wooden structures of its kind in the world and famously survived a 10-magnitude earthquake in 1911.
You will also visit the Green Bazaar, a lively oriental-style market full of local delicacies, and Republic Square — the heart of the city, famous for its modern architecture and festive parades.
At the Sunkar Falconry Complex, located in the Almarasan Gorge, you will witness an unforgettable show: a golden eagle hunting a wolf, a white-tailed sea eagle catching fish, and a falcon soaring at 320 km/h.

Day 3

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Departure for an excursion to the Shymbulak ski resort with an English-speaking guide.
• Transfers as per program.

Shymbulak is a ski resort located in Kazakhstan, in immediate proximity to Almaty. It lies on the Zailiysky Alatau ridge at an altitude of 2,200–2,500 m above sea level. Climate: continental. Average temperature in winter is –14 °C, in summer +26 °C. The ski slopes are served by a gondola lift from Medeu to the base station of Shymbulak (the third longest in the world — 4.5 km). 114 comfortable cabins operate for all resort guests (capacity of the lift: 2,000 people per hour), plus two combined (Combi-1 and Combi-2), a T-bar, and two four-seat chair-lifts (one at the base of Shymbulak and one at the Left Talgar). The lifts will take you from an altitude of 2,260 m above sea level up to the Talgar pass.

Day 4

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Departure from the hotel.
• Excursion to ARBA WINE Winery (instead of Big Almaty Lake).
• Transfers as per program.

The vineyards of Arba Wine lie at the foot of glacier-covered mountains at 1,000 m above sea level, providing rich sunlight and pure air. Cool mountain winds from the Assy Plateau create significant temperature differences between day and night. Mineral-rich mountain water from the Turgen River nourishes the vines.
You will enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards and the winery with wine tasting and a delicious lunch on-site.

Day 5

• Breakfast at the hotel (Almaty).
• Departure from the hotel.
• Drive by comfortable bus toward Basshi Village.
• Accommodation at Aygai Kum Hotel.
• Excursion to the “Singing Dune” Natural Monument.
• Transfers as per program.

The Singing Dune — a light-colored sand mountain about 3 km long and 150 m high — lies between the ridges of the Dzungarian Alatau (Big and Small Kalkan) within the Altyn-Emel National Park, 182 km northeast of Almaty. It is famous for its natural phenomenon: in dry weather, the sand emits sounds resembling an organ melody.

 
Day 6

• Breakfast at Aygai Kum Hotel.
• Excursion to the Katy-Tau and Ak-Tau Mountains.
• Overnight at Aygai Kum Hotel.
• Transfers as per program.

The chalk Ak-Tau Mountains, located on the eastern edge of the Altyn-Emel National Park, fascinate visitors with their colorful layers. Formed millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed and an ancient ocean covered the region, these mountains stretch about 30 km. Fossilized plants and remains of giant turtles, crocodiles, and other prehistoric animals can still be found here.

 
Day 7

• Breakfast at Aygai Kum Hotel.
• Departure from the hotel.
• Transfer to the “Four Seasons” Hot Springs Resort.
• Accommodation and relaxation at the resort.
• Transfers as per program.

“Four Seasons” is a full-scale recreation complex with mineral pools and thermal baths.

 
Day 8

• Breakfast at Four Seasons Resort.
• Free time at leisure.
• Overnight at the resort.

Day 9

• Breakfast at Four Seasons Resort.
• Departure to Charyn Canyon National Park.
• Transfer and sightseeing at Charyn Canyon.
• Transfer to Saty Village.
• Accommodation in local guesthouses.

Charyn Canyon stretches for 154 km along the Charyn River in Kazakhstan, 195 km east of Almaty, near the border with China. It is part of the Charyn National Park, established in 2004.

Day 10

• Breakfast in guesthouses.
• Excursion to the Lower Kolsai Lake.
• Optional hiking tour to Kolsai 2 Lake (11.5 km on foot).
• Dinner and overnight in local guesthouses.
• Transfers as per program.

Kolsai Lakes are a system of three alpine lakes in the Northern Tien Shan, between the Kungey Alatau and Zailiysky Alatau ridges, located 10 km north of the Kyrgyz border and 330 km southeast of Almaty at altitudes of 1,000 m, 2,500 m, and 2,700 m a.s.l.

Day 11

• Breakfast in guesthouses.
• Excursion to Kaindy Lake (transfer by UAZ off-road vehicles).
• Dinner and overnight in local guesthouses.
• Transfers as per program.

Kaindy Lake is only 400 m long. It was formed after a major earthquake in 1910, when a huge landslide blocked the gorge and created a natural dam, gradually filling with water to form the lake.

 
Day 12

• Breakfast in guesthouses.
• Transfer from Saty Village to Bartogay Reservoir; boat ride or walk by the lake.
• Transfer to Issyk Lake and sightseeing.
• Transfer back to Almaty and to the Ethno-Village “Gunnys.”
• Overnight in yurts at the ethno-village.

Bartogay Reservoir (Almaty Region, Chilik River) extends 6 km north-south and 3 km east-west, with an average depth of 25 m and a capacity of 320 million m³. Completed in 1986, it irrigates 150,000 ha of land. The Great Almaty Canal originates here. Fish species include carp, crucian carp, and trout.

Issyk Lake, located 40 km east of Almaty in the Issyk Gorge, was formed 8–10 thousand years ago by a massive landslide that created a 300 m natural dam. The lake is 1,850 m long, 500 m wide, and 50–79 m deep, with crystal green-blue water at an elevation of 1,715 m.

Day 13

• Program at the Ethno-Village “Gunnys.”
• Transfer to Almaty International Airport.

Included in the Price:

• Meet & greet and farewell with an English-speaking guide
• Accommodation in hotels on a bed-and-breakfast basis (twin occupancy)
• Stay at Aygai Kum Hotel (Altyn-Emel)
• Stay at Four Seasons Hot Springs Resort
• Stay in local guesthouses in Saty Village (breakfast and dinner included)
• Stay and dinner at Ethno-Village “Gunnys”
• Transfer to Kaindy Lake (by UAZ off-road vehicle)
• Cable-car ticket at Shymbulak Ski Resort
• Group transfers by comfortable coach as per itinerary
• Excursions and entrance tickets as per itinerary
• Environmental fees and park permits for all national parks visited

Not Included in the Price:

• International flight
• Medical insurance
• Optional excursions and personal expenses
• Meals not specified in the program