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Tour Description
The distance from Almaty to Lake Issyk is 70 kilometers. The beauty of this route lies in the fact that, firstly, a small section runs along the Great Silk Road, and secondly, the route passes through the very heart of the history of our ancestors, hidden in the Issyk burial mounds. These unique monuments of ancient civilization hold many undisclosed secrets and are particularly interesting because of this.
The Issyk burial ground consists of 45 large mound graves, stretching 3 kilometers from north to south. In 1969, an ancient Saka mound called Issyk was discovered here, widely known around the world. Beneath it, in a grave lined with fir logs, the remains of a Saka king were found, dressed in pure gold. Currently, a small monument has been erected at the site where the "Golden Man" was discovered. Further along, we are greeted by the jewel of the Zailiysky Alatau, Lake Issyk.
According to scientists, the lake was formed 8,000 years ago as a result of a grand mountain collapse that created a natural dam 300 meters high. Lake Issyk (another name for the lake is Esik, which translates from Kazakh as "door") is located at an altitude of 1780 meters above sea level and is surrounded by extraordinarily beautiful nature. The mountain slopes are dotted with a variety of herbs and coniferous trees, which, in conjunction with the rocky cliffs, create a unique landscape.
Next, our route takes us to the neighboring Turgen Gorge. The Turgen Waterfalls are one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Almaty region. They are located in a beautiful gorge within the Ile-Alatau National Park. There are 7 waterfalls in the Turgen Gorge, with the first one being "Bear" and the second "Kairak" being the most visited.
The first waterfall (30 meters high) is situated in a picturesque location among overhanging rocks. The cliffs in the area are broken by earthquakes and hold fossils of pre-glacial period plants. 300 meters above the bridge, from which tourists usually go to the "Bear" waterfall, lies the "source of beauty," a spring with delicious cold water. The excursion to the Turgen Waterfalls becomes more enriching due to visits along the way to an Ostrich farm and a Trout farm.
Issyk Lake and Turgen Waterfall
Length of the highway: 250 km on asphalt.
Walking part: 3 km.
Duration: 8-9 hours.
Sample Tour Program
- 08:30 – Meeting and gathering of tourists. Introduction to the guide.
- 09:00 – Departure to Issyk Lake.
- 11:30 – Arrival at the lake, excursion, free time.
- 13:00 – Transfer to Turgen Waterfall, lunch (lunch boxes).
- 14:30 – Hiking to the "Bear" Waterfall.
- 15:30 – Excursion to the trout farm (30 minutes).
- 16:30 – Entering Almaty, with a visit to the ostrich farm along the way.
- 19:30 – Arrival in the city.
Cost of the Issyk Lake – Turgen Waterfall Program
| Taxi Mode | With Russian-speaking guide | With English-speaking guide | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of people in the group | Cost per person | Number of people in the group | Cost per person | Number of people in the group | Cost per person |
| 1 | 75,000 KZT | 1 | 78,000 KZT | 1 | 83,000 KZT |
| 2 | 37,500 KZT | 2 | 42,000 KZT | 2 | 47,500 KZT |
| 3 | 25,000 KZT | 3 | 30,000 KZT | 3 | 32,000 KZT |
| 4 | 19,500 KZT | 4 | 25,000 KZT | 4 | 27,000 KZT |
| 5 | 16,500 KZT | 5 | 21,500 KZT | 5 | 23,500 KZT |
| 6 | 14,500 KZT | 6 | 19,500 KZT | 6 | 21,500 KZT |
| 7-10 | 12,000 KZT | 7-10 | 17,500 KZT | 7-10 | 19,500 KZT |
| 11-12 | 10,000 KZT | 11-12 | 15,500 KZT | 11-12 | 17,000 KZT |
| 13-14 | 9,500 KZT | 13-14 | 14,500 KZT | 13-14 | 15,500 KZT |
| 15-20 | 8,500 KZT | 15-20 | 13,500 KZT | 15-20 | 14,500 KZT |
| 21-25 | 7,500 KZT | 21-25 | 12,500 KZT | 21-25 | 13,500 KZT |
Included in the price:
- Taxi mode: travel in comfortable transport and ecological fee in the national park.
- With Russian-speaking guide: excursion program in Russian, travel in comfortable transport, ecological fee in the national park, water (1 L) and lunch (lunch boxes).
- With English-speaking guide: excursion program in English, travel in comfortable transport, ecological fee in the national park, water (1 L) and lunch (lunch boxes).
Not included in the price: other expenses.
What to bring: comfortable clothing and footwear for the season, headwear.
