Turgenskoye Gorge

Have started early in the morning from Almaty city, we follow the motorway in the direction of Turgen ravine, passing by Issyk village. The main road goes through famous Turgen trout farm, and after a short stop at National Park entry gates we continue driving up to Batan forestry where the asphalt road ends. Here, at a confluence of rivers Kishi-Turgen and Turgen, the hiking part of a tour starts. A good, wide path follows up the Turgen stream: it was initially designed to be used as a National Park’s road but the main bridge in Batan has been washed away by the mudflow, so now everyone can enjoy this nice walk to the Big Kairak waterfall!

Kairakskiy Waterfall

There are 8 kilometers in total from Batan to the waterfall, but no any ascents, steep slopes and dangerous points. All you need is to enjoy the amazing wild nature around – deep spruce groves (Schrenk spruce) paved with endemic mossy grasses, ash-tree shrubs, colorful meadows full of flowers, dragonflies and butterflies… Having crossed 11 old bridges, we finally come to a confluence of Turgen and Kairak rivers where turn left and hike up for another 20 minutes through the spruce grove, following the Kairak river. Even there, inside a forest you can hear the voice of the falling water: Kairak waterfall appears suddenly, just around the last corner. The Kairak waterfall is one of the biggest in the region: its height is more than 55 meters (70 in total) and it never dries. In Kazakh language its name is associated with sharpener. A way to the waterfall takes 2,5-3 hours of walking. The way back takes another 2 hours, so you should consider 5-6 hours of walking in total.

Turgenskoye Gorge

After a hike, we get back to Batan and move to the private territory of Trekking Club campsite, at a riverbank. Accommodate at a campsite, take late lunch and relax after a hike in hammocks in a forest. Then take dinner and stay overnight at a camp.

Plateau Assy

Breakfast at a camp, drive up by the gorge (real off-road!) to the Assy Plateau. The road starts in the forest zone of Turgen gorge, and climbs up through the thicket that ends suddenly at a height of 2600 meters ASL. And a boundless green highland valley appears. The Kazakh nomads use Asy plateau for the thousands of years as a summer pasture, and they are still there with their goats, sheep, horses and white yurts. Enjoy the nomadic wanders: immense highlands full of beautiful happy animals, white beads of yurts scattered here and there across the vast plateau, shepherds followed by their faithful Tazy dogs, ancient Saki (Scythian) ruins and burial pyramids, Bronze Age rock carvings, and of course wildlife. After a picnic on the plateau with incredible views of Tien Shan snow peaks and glaciers, we stop to see the Assy space observatory and drive down to the camp.

Almaty

After a tour by Assy Plateau, we get back to the camp, take tea and pack. Drive back to Almaty, drop off at your hotel.