Singing dunes & Aktau mountains group tour to Altyn Emel
Overview
Available languages
16 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore Altyn Emel National Park — one of Kazakhstan's most surreal landscapes. Hike through the otherworldly Aktau Mountains, volcanic Katutau formations, and climb the legendary Singing Dunes that hum as you descend.
1-Day Tour: Aktau Mountains → Katutau → Singing Dunes. Pickup 5:30 AM, return ~10 PM. Lunch at a local guesthouse included.
2-Day Tour: Day 1 — Aktau Mountains, Katutau, 700-year-old Willow Tree, overnight in Basshi village with homemade dinner and campfire under the stars. Day 2 — Singing Dunes, return to Almaty. Breakfast and dinner included.
Private Tour: Full itinerary for your group only. Flexible pace, personalized experience.
All options include: English-speaking guide, transport, lunch, and all national park entrance fees.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
What To Expect
Aktau Mountains
We will drive out to the bottom of the Ocean to explore the Chalk Mountains of Aktau. Here is schedule for the tour: 5:30 am Pick up time 7:30 am Quick stop to WC/market 9:00 am Bashi village/Enrence to national park Off-road way to first location 10:00 am Arriving to Aktau mountains 12:00 am Departure
Katutau Mountain
Next we will stop in the volcanic mountains of Katutau. Unusual rock forms, created by nature. 12:30 Arriving to Katutau 13:10 Departure to the village 13:50-14:30 Lunch
Options
2 days tour with overnight
1 overnight in Basshi village: We will overnight in Basshi village with private rooms with washroom attached Duration: 2 days Meals are included: First day: Late breakfast and Dinner Second day: Breakfast and Lunch Itinerary of the tour: Timing: First day 7:00-7:30 - Pick up 9:30 - First pit stop 11:30 - National park stop, luncj 13:30-15:30 - Aktau mountains SUV jeep Pickup included
Private tour to Altyn Emel
Private tour to Altyn Emel Pickup included
Singing dunes & Aktau mountains 1 day group tour to Altyn Emel
Pickup included
What‘s Included
National parks entrance fees
Bottled water
English speaking guide
Hearty lunch of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
113 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Phenomenal, Breathtaking, Joyful
Traveler56835035649,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really beautiful tour, it is worth every penny! The nature is breathtaking, the food is one of a kind and the day was well spend i definitely recommend it. Our Tourguide Amir was amazing he gave us so many interesting and cool facts about Almaty and the nature behind, also was very funny and enthusiastic! Our Driver was also great, had good music taste and showed us also around and we were in time! If you visit Almaty dont forget to book this tour you wont regret it!
Extremely disappointed with the experience & feeling ripped off for the hefty cost !
Bharany B,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Our experience on the Singing Sand Dunes day trip was extremely disappointing and far below expectations. The journey lasted approximately 16–17 hours, yet our guide JOHN provided virtually no information throughout the day. Aside from a brief explanation at the actual site, he remained mostly silent for the entire trip. There was no commentary about the places we passed, no historical facts, cultural insights, stories, or points of interest—nothing that one would reasonably expect from a guided tour. He didn’t even ask us all our name , or anything else to make the tour fun, neither did we know anyone’s else’s name in the group throughout the tour. Absolutely no effort to engage with anyone. What made the experience even more frustrating was the guide’s apparent lack of friendly interest in engaging with us ( we are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers ). Most of the time, he was either sleeping or quiet , on the return journey he was sitting in the front chatting loudly with the driver in their local language frequently stopping for smoking breaks . On the return journey, despite it being a long, hot and very tiring day and my family passengers wanting to rest and take a nap, the guide and driver continued their loud conversations for so many hours it was crazy . Even after repeated requests to lower their voices, they continued talking, making it difficult to relax or sleep. We returned around 9:30–9:45 PM, exhausted and frustrated. The guide came across as disinterested, unfriendly, and unwilling to perform the basic responsibilities expected of a tour guide. This felt more like a transportation service than a guided tour. Maybe even a knowledgeable taxi driver would have done the same job at 1/10th the cost. Overall, this was a very unpleasant experience, and we would not recommend this tour to anyone looking for an informative, engaging, or professionally guided long day trip. The local food was also far below average and sparse.
Great trip
142gustavp,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very lovely trip and a great guide
Interesting tour to see another part of Kazakhstan
rebeccajd4,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a fun trip! The mountain area was interesting to hike around, and the singing dunes were like nothing I have experienced before. It is windy at the top of the dune, so bring something to cover your hair and eyes if possible. Our guide Nurzhan (John) and the drivers were also great and personable. Recommended!
Best experience and valued short trip
satapornk2019,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Everything went well that time. Didi was doing her job VERY NICE. She shared a lot of experience and entertained to everyone perfectly. A bit tried of little late from the plan in evening due to long running. If there is some break for having dinner some station closely the time of din, it would be better! Overall lovely! I love this trip!! 😊
Best tour
Linkokong,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had Nurzhan as my tour guide. He is very nice. He took care of us and always offered help. We could choose the pick up point at hotel entrance which is very convenient. We had so much fun there!
A memorable day
matthieuv827,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best experience in Kazachstan, mountains as if your in a fairy tale, and the dunes you can get a tune from. Really amazing!! A memory that's worth more the cost.
Our Trip to the Singing Dune
Olga K,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome! Interesting guide, convenient route, and a pro driver — smooth, safe, and comfortable ride. Clean inside, AC on point. Thanks to the team, we'll be back!
One of the to book tours
Al198807,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our group tour to Altyn Emel National Park was one of the highlights of the trip to Kazakhstan. Visiting the Singing Dunes and Aktau Mountains felt like exploring another planet — the landscapes were absolutely stunning and unlike anywhere we’ve been before. Everything was well organized, from transportation to timing at each stop. Our guide, John was friendly, informative, and kept the group engaged throughout the journey. We especially appreciated how smoothly the trip was managed despite the long distances and changing terrain. The Singing Dunes were such a unique experience, and the colorful rock formations of the Aktau Mountains were breathtaking. There were plenty of opportunities for photos and time to enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Almaty and wanting to experience Kazakhstan’s incredible nature beyond the city.
Awesome Experience
Hari Kiran Y,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience with Aktau, Kaktau, and Singing Dunes. Our guide, Didi was awesome and a great Kazakh guitar player.
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