KAZAKHSTAN TRIP 1: MOUNTAINS, STEPPES & CANYONS (13-21 JUNE)

Let's discover the wild beauty of Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s hidden gem and land of the great steppe!

Nights - 8. Cost - £1199. Group size - 16. Accommodation: twin share - 5 nights in hotels/guesthouses, 3 nights camping in comfortable twin share tents.

Join us on an epic adventure through the wild heart of south-eastern Kazakhstan, where glaciers, waterfalls, steppes, alpine lakes, and canyons await.

Starting from the vibrant city of Almaty, we venture into the Northern Tien Shan foothills, reaching the Talgarsky Pass and the stunning Bogdanovich Glacier, offering sweeping views of snow-capped peaks.

Next, we descend into the cool, green forests of Turgen Gorge to camp under the stars. From here, we hike to the powerful Kairak Waterfall and cross the vast Assy Plateau, a highland steppe where nomadic traditions still live on and traces of ancient Scythian culture can be found.

Heading south, we explore the spectacular Charyn Canyon, where colourful canyons and wind-sculpted formations contrast with the lush mountains. We’ll hike through the iconic Valley of Castles, known for its towering red sandstone formations.

Further south, we discover the enchanting Kolsai Lakes—blue alpine gems surrounded by fir trees and rugged ridges. Nearby, we visit Kaindy Lake, famous for its eerie submerged forest, where tree trunks rise from the water.

Our journey concludes with a hike in the rugged Bestamak Canyon, followed by some well-deserved relaxation at a spa guesthouse with natural thermal pools before returning to Almaty.

ACCOMMODATION:

Accommodation on this trip will be a combination of twin share rooms in hotels (2 nights)/ guesthouses (3 nights) and camping in comfortable twin share tents (3 nights).

DIFFICULTY:

Hikes will be moderately challenging with some significant elevation gains and this trip is therefore suitable for fit and experienced hikers. You should be comfortable walking on rough, rocky and uneven terrain and have the fitness to hike up to 6 hours per day. We will only need to carry a day pack on our hiking days.

ITINERARY:

Sat 13/06 - Arrival in Almaty: Free time to explore this vibrant city.

Sun 14/06 - Bogdanovich Glacier Hike → Turgen Gorge: Morning pick-up in Almaty. Ride the cable car from Medeo to Shymbulak and up to Talgarsky Pass (3,000 m). Hike to Bogdanovich Glacier (5 hrs round-trip, max altitude 3,500 m) with a picnic lunch at the glacier. Return via cable car and drive to Turgen Gorge (2 hrs). Overnight at Trekking Club camp (1,600 m) with dinner.

Mon 15/06 - Off-road Adventure on Assy Plateau: After breakfast, set out by 4x4 across the Assy Plateau — vast alpine pastures with views of snow-capped peaks, grazing herds, and nomadic yurts. Stops include ancient Scythian burial mounds, Bronze Age petroglyphs, and a visit to the Assy Observatory. Picnic lunch en route. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Tue 16/06 - Hike to Kairak Waterfall: Scenic hike to Kairak Waterfall (8 km, ~5 hrs round-trip) — the tallest in the region (70 m), flowing year-round. The trail passes through alpine meadows and spruce forests, with great views along the way. Return to camp, dinner and relaxation.

Wed 17/06 - Charyn Canyon → Kolsai National Park: Transfer to Charyn Canyon and hike the Valley of Castles (2 hrs), known for its red rock towers and canyon walls. Enjoy a picnic lunch under ancient Sogdian ash trees. Continue to Kolsai National Park and check in at a cozy guesthouse. Dinner and overnight in the village.

Thu 18/06 - Hike from Kolsai Lake 1 to Lake 2: Drive to Lake 1 and start the hike to Kolsai Lake 2 (6 hrs round-trip). Follow a mountain trail through forests and alpine meadows with a scenic picnic at Lake 2.
Return to Lake 1 and transfer back to the guesthouse. Dinner and overnight stay.

Fri 19/06 - Kaindy Lake → Bestamak Canyon → Chunja: Morning visit to Kaindy Lake — known for its submerged forest. Hike the lakeside trail (~2 hrs). Lunch in Saty village. Afternoon hike in Bestamak Canyon (2–2.5 hrs), a lesser-known area with colorful rock formations and views of the Charyn River. Evening transfer to Chunja and check in to a guesthouse with natural thermal pools. Overnight at the hot springs.

Sat 20/06 - Relax at Chunja → Return to Almaty: Enjoy a relaxed morning soaking in the thermal pools. Check out around 11:00 and begin the drive back to Almaty (4.5 hrs), stopping for lunch at a local café. Arrival in Almaty in the afternoon.

Sun 21/06 - Trip finishes in Almaty

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Accommodation: 8 nights accommodation in twin share rooms (2 nights hotel, 3 nights guesthouses and 3 nights in comfortable twin share tents.
• Meals: 7 lunches, 5 dinners, 8 breakfasts - Drinking water: 1 litre per person per day (day 2-8)
• All transfers according to the itinerary (comfortable minibus with air conditioning)
• SUVs for Assy jeep-tour and full-day excursion
• English-speaking guide from day 2-8
• 1 Epic Adventure Club trip leader
• Cable car tickets Medeo – Talgarsky Pass and back
• SUV taxi to Kaindy Lake
• All guided hikes: Bogdanovich glacier, Kairak waterfall, Charyn, Kaindy, Kolsai Lakes, Bestamak canyon
• All National Parks/reserves permits and entrance fees: Ile-Alatau, Charyn both sides, Kolsai, Kaindy
• Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights (see below)
• Airport transfers (it will be easy to take a taxi to/from our hotel in Almaty and we will help to coordinate taxi sharing for those arriving/leaving on the same flights)
• Any other meals not specified
• Travel Insurance

FLIGHTS:

Please note that although the trip starts in Almaty on Saturday 13 June, we recommend booking the direct overnight outbound flight with Air Astana leaving on Friday evening 12 June.

See here the recommended flights with Air Astana:

Outbound Friday 12 June:

Air Astana KC664
Departs 19:00 LHR London Heathrow
Arrives 07:20 (+1) ALA Almaty

Inbound Sunday 21 June:

Air Astana KC663
Departs 11:15 ALA Almaty
Arrives 16:45 LHR London Heathrow

Other airlines such as Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa offer connecting flights to Almaty.

If you decide to book different flights you can meet the group at the hotel in Almaty on Saturday 13 June.

HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:

The trip cost is £1199. To confirm your place a £299 deposit is required. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip.

The remainder is to be paid as follows:
£300 by 13/09/25
£300 by 13/12/25
£300 by 13/03/26

It is of course also possible to pay in one go or in fewer instalments if preferred.

Please send all payments through online banking and use KAZAKHSTAN 1 as your payment reference. The account details are:

Account Name: EPIC ADVENTURE CLUB LTD
Sort Code: 08-92-50
Account Number: 63235003

Please email ingridhansen1@gmail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks! :)

These Terms and Conditions apply to all trip reservations.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.