Trekking in the Tian-Shan mountains was a breathtaking experience. Almaty was a perfect getaway for us after dwelling in Astana a much cooler part of Northern Kazakhstan. It was our first trip down south, and a perfect time to be there to enjoy Almaty in Autumn.
Our brief while in Almaty was to travel southeast, do some trekking in the mountains, visit the famous Kolsay and Kaindy lakes and to take time to walk down the Charyn Canyon.
We chose the ‘Pearl of the Tian-Shan’ tour operated by Kazakh Adventure. It suited our time frame and it was well organised. The Tour Operator, Bota called into our hotel to give us details of the trip.
The tour offered an early morning pick-up from our hotel by our friendly guide Roman. The two-day tour with an experienced guide was a good deal, it included a guided day’s trekking through spectacular scenery, the generous hospitality of a two-night stay in a family owned guest house in Saty. A village perched high up in the mountains close to the beautiful Kolsay and Kaindy lakes and Charyn Canyon. All guest house meals and snacks provided by the tour are included in the price.
I recommend this tour to people of all ages. The journey is not for the faint-hearted, although horseback rides are offered if required and there are many opportunities to take in the views and to recover from steep climbs. The country is rugged and without the expertise of our guide’s driving skills, it’s impossible without a 4-wheeled drive, (unless you are on horseback) to tackle challenging rocky river beds, steep unmade roads, and never-ending pot-holes. The highlight after a day’s trekking and being in the fresh air, was a relaxing sauna in an innovative make-shift bathhouse built by the guest house owner. This tour is an opportunity not to be missed. Christine & Catherine