Trekkup Dubai ✔

Home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, colorful cities and thriving markets, Pakistan is opening to the world, charming us with untouched nature at the confluence of 3 mountain ranges. Hunza is a part of Karakoram, known for the striking beauty of the snow peak mountains, glacier lakes and valleys.

Hunza is situated at an elevation of 2,438 meters in the northernmost Pakistan, bordering with the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and the Xinjiang region of China.

Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth largest country, is a rugged natural wonderland of steppes, mountains, woodlands, canyons and lakes. Within its borders lies a section of the Tien Shan range, offering up the gorgeous Alpine terrain of forests, valleys and snowy peaks found in the Kolsay Lakes National Park.

In this magical landscape shaped by time and tectonics, more than 100 years ago, a great earthquake shook these mountains, resulting in the formation of a new body of water: Lake Kaindy, with its eye catching, bright turquoise waters. What makes this lake really stand out are the partially submerged spruce trees which stand in its waters to this day. Ghostly, bare trunks rise out of the chilly waters, making for a striking panorama – and amazing pictures!

Nearby are the Kolsay Lakes, known as the "Pearls of Tien Shan", reached by a hike through dense, tranquil forest. Trails connect these stunning bodies of water which range from altitudes of 1800 to 2850 meters, making for a great excuse to stretch our legs.

We’ll descend from green heights to dusty depths as we trek into the gorge known as Kazakhstan’s Grand Canyon. Known for its stunning similarity to its bigger brother in the USA, Charyn Canyon National Park’s red sandstone rock formations are a stark contrast to the country’s mountainous regions. The second largest canyon in the world, Charyn Canyon stretches about 154 km (96 mi) along the banks of the Charyn River. Over millennia, the elements have weathered and shaped the sedimentary rock into pillars, winding corridors and crevices just begging to be explored.

Grab your hiking boots, Let's go!

DAY 1 // Thursday
Meeting at DXB T3 at 19:30 for a direct flight to Almaty at 21:30.

DAY 2 // Friday
Arrival at 02:40 AM. After completing immigration procedures, transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Start a day with a visit to Green Bazaar, Almaty’s bustling central market. Stroll through colorful stalls, sample fresh local fruits, nuts, kurt (fermented cheese), and buy some traditional sweets like chak-chak. Further on quick look at Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park, one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings and a true architectural gem. Later ride toward the mountains - head towards Medeu, the famous high-altitude ice skating rink surrounded by forested slopes. From there, board the cable car to Shymbulak ski resort. Take your time as the views shift from urban to alpine. Continue on the second cable car line to the Talgar Pass station (3,200 m) the highest point accessible by lift. Enjoy jaw dropping views of the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains and, if the weather is clear, take a short walk on the plateau to breathe in the thin, fresh mountain air. Grab a snack or hot drink at the panoramic cafe before heading back down.

We’ll end the day by unwinding in a local teahouse with a plate of manty (dumplings) or lagman noodles, and a pot of Kazakh tea.

DAY 3 // Saturday
Early wake up call, grab packed breakfast and transfer by 4x4 to the Kolsay Lakes area. Short rest upon arrival.

Kolsay Lakes are considered one of the most beautiful natural spots in Kazakhstan, often called the “Pearl of the Northern Tien Shan.” The lakes are situated at altitudes of 1800m, 2250m, and 2700m. The lower and middle lakes are home to local trout, especially visible at sunset. The upper lake is 4 km farther and 600 meters higher than the second lake, with the Kyrgyzstan border just 6 km away. From the Sary-Bulak Pass (3278m), you can even spot Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. On calm days, the lakes reflect the sky and surrounding mountains with mirror-like clarity.

Today, we’ll do two treks: trek around Kolsay Lake and a hike at Kaindy Lake, soaking in the region’s crystal-clear natural beauty. After lunch, we continue to Kaindy village. Optional horse riding is available at the village.

Kaindy Lake, located at 1800 meters, is a mystical site surrounded by dense spruce forest and mountain peaks. Interestingly, "Kaiyndy" means “birch” in Kazakh, although the lake is bordered by pines, the name comes from a birch grove located further down the gorge. The lake was formed after a tectonic collapse triggered by a major earthquake in the early 20th century.

Overnight at local guesthouse.

Day 4 // Sunday

Today its time for Charyn Canyon, an awe-inspiring natural monument carved over 12 million years by erosion, creating stunning rock towers and sediment formations. Often compared to the Grand Canyon in the U.S., Charyn is part of a national park that protects its rare geological formations and diverse wildlife. We’ll explore the canyon on foot from multiple viewpoints.

Afterward, return to Almaty for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel upon arrival.

Day 5 // Monday
Transfer to the airport for departure at 03:40 AM. Back home early Monday morning.

Level of difficulty: easy, available for beginners.
Activities: trekking, sightseeing, optional horse riding.

Cost: AED 2420 excl. flights. Cost valid until SEP 01.
Recommended flights on flydubai or Air Arabia: AED 1830-2150 (at the time of writing).

Accommodation. & meals: included - accommodation in local house and hotel - double sharing, local meals.

Specifically excluded: Any costs related to visas - if any, meals on transfers (in Almaty), optional horse riding, entry fees if any.

Visas: cost not included in trip budget:

At the time of writing 60 nationalities are visa free: EU, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Other Passports: Evisa or Consulate visa.

It is sole responsibility of participant to secure entry to country of destination at the time of travel.

See yah in Kazakhstan x

Meeting face to face with mountain gorillas is one of the most overwhelming experiences in the world of safaris. Encounter of jungle beast, only a few feet away can be scary, but there is no need to panic! They are actually quite calm animals, laziness ambassadors by excellence.

This time we will take you off the beaten trail and bring you inside equatorial wilderness, African adventure Eldorado, as we search for gorillas, while trekking across Uganda rain forest.

Observing the mountain gorillas in their habitat is an amazing spectacle; you will notice the social dynamics, hierarchy and most touching of them all, the gorilla mothers and their babies, since they live in family units of 30 to 40 members.

The timing spent with them is mesmerizing and hypnotic, it is impossible to stop looking at them. They pretend to ignore you, from time to time they cross their gaze with yours, and that is when you realize that the differences between humans and them are minimal. Their eyes speak as the human gaze does, with the movements of the lips we can know if they are smiling, worried or angry, the gestures of the hands are almost identical to ours. Humans and Gorillas share 98% of DNA.

The KING of the Jungle, the silver back, is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth… he is imposing, majestic, elegant, strong and gorgeous. His sudden appearance can leave you breathless, shivering… but do not worry, he will ignore you - green leaves are tastier for breakfast.

There is a lot of action in the group: eating, playing, fighting, grooming each other, rolling on the floor, hitting the chest... it is endless. The baby gorillas will rock it in a proper show of naughtiness… they will make you laugh. Those cute cubs have so much curiosity for humans, so be ready to witness a show of funny and noisy games to catch your attention.
Following the rangers advice, choose a good spot, look around and get the best shots of lifetime memories!

At the beginning, we will traverse through the jungle aka impenetrable forest. The length of the trek is entirely dependent on the gorillas, sometimes the guides can track them down in less than two hours, other times it takes much longer.

Mountain gorillas are nomadic, travelling in families and staying in an area just long enough to clear it off food. They also don’t follow a clear path, you’ll realize when tracking them, they like to meander. On your first sighting, you may see mothers holding their babies, juvenile gorillas playing, or dominant silverbacks keeping an eye out for their family!

Rounding out the trip, we’ll venture back into the human realm with a day in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. With a dark recent past, due to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people, today the city stands as a symbol of resilience. We’ll visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about the horrific event that tore the country apart, and honor the more than a million lives lost. An unimaginable tragedy, but walking Kigali’s streets, in its busy cafes and markets offering beautiful handmade goods, we’ll see a renewed sense of unity and hope.

Let's go!

Day 1: Arrival and drive to Bwindi National Park, Uganda
Meeting at DXB Terminal 2 at midnight for direct flight to Kigali, Rwanda.
Arrival and immigration formalities at Kigali International Airport, where we’ll obtain our East African visas. Coffee on the way and head to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The journey to Bwindi includes the border crossing, covered by our visas. On the way, we’ll have spectacular views of Rwandan and Ugandan mountain terraces in an area called “the Switzerland of Africa”. Late afternoon arrival, with leisure time to walk and explore the nearby villages. Dinner and overnight at our lodge.

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trek and return to Kigali
Early morning start and a short drive into the heart of Bwindi National Park to set off on our gorilla trek, one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on Earth. Our excursion will last anywhere between 2 and 3 hours, as our experienced ranger guides lead us in search of these majestic creatures. Along the way they’ll tell us stories and interesting facts about jungle’s flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the gorillas. After we’ve had our fill of gorilla encounters, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and then make the drive back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight in Kigali.
Day 3: Kigali
After breakfast, we’ll hit the streets of Kigali, visiting the Genocide Memorial Museum, Hôtel des Mille Collines, Nyamirambo Women's Center, Parliament and Kandt House Museum. Later we’ll have time for a look around the market for souvenir shopping, before heading to dinner. We’ll be dropped off at the airport around 10pm to catch our flight back home. Bye-bye Africa!
Level of Difficulty:
Easy to moderate, including jungle trekking.

Duration:
3 days, long weekend only.

Room & Meals:
Comfortable lodges/hotels - double sharing. Meals in the lodge included, meals on transfers and in Kigali - excluded.

Cost: 5,850 AED excl. flights until SEP 01.
Flights approx. 2300 AED on promo until SEP 01.

Specifically Excluded:
Any expenses related to visas, meals on transfers and in Kigali.

Visas:
Rwanda: Every passport is entitled to an Eastern African visa on arrival or eVisa (for both countries).

Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate required for border crossings.

See yah with the gorillas x

Siringitu or ‘endless plain’ as it is called in Masai is the name for the large savannah in southern Kenya / northern Tanzania. Each year, around 1.5 million wildebeests antelopes and 300,000 zebras start their long trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains, further north to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve in search for water and fresh grass. Late July / Early October is one of the best time to spot them crossing rivers of Talek and Mara, which are a habitat for hippos and crocodiles while zebras, buffalos and giraffes graze in the neighbouring open savannah.