Kyzylarai – the highest, the oldest

The Kyzylarai mountain and forest oasis, located in Central Kazakhstan, gives truly exclusive opportunities for a traveler. Where else can you make a journey, figuratively speaking, “3000 years back” and “1500 metres up” just within a few days?

Just here, in the Kyzylarai mountains, the highest point of Sary Arka, Aksoran peak (1565 metres), is situated. Exactly these places are considered practically the only big habitat of argali on the territory of Kazakhstan. Not to mention pine forests, which grow on the granite rocks and present particular interest for scientists being the most southern place of the pine habitat in the Central Kazakhstan ecosystem, bordering upon deserted areas. Historical heritage is also presented here in a quite interesting way: monumental granite sepulchers of Begazy and rock paintings, dating from the Bronze age, stone statues of the Turkic period and mausoleums of the period of the Kazakh-Jungar wars. Local population has managed to preserve skills of producing articles out of felt and numerous national fermented milk products: koumiss, shubat, kurt etc.

Such an amazing combination of pristine nature, ancient historical monuments and rather well-preserved way of life of the local population makes the Kyzylarai a great place to visit for those who like to explore something new and interesting for themselves.

Program of the tour with climbing Aksoran peak

Day 1
Trip from Karaganda to Shabanbai Bi (290 km, 4,5 hours). Accommodation in a guesthouse, lunch. A walk round the village and its vicinities. Car ride to Akshkol village ( 18 km, 40 min). Walking tour around the late-bronze necropolis of Begazy, which is considered the most important archaeological discovery in the territory of Central Kazakhstan, as old as more than 3000 years. On request – a walk around the neighboring mountains. Way back to Shabanbay Bi. Banya (going to bath-house) and dinner.

Day 2
Breakfast. Journey from Shabanbai Bi to Torkora camping site (7 km, 30 min). Climbing Aksoran peak (4 hours, climb – 560 metres) – the highest point of Sary Arka, its field of view reaches 120 kilometres. Return to village. (7 km, 1,5 hours). Lunch. A walk to a small picturesque canyon. Dinner.

Day 3
Breakfast. Breakfast. Trip from Shabanbai Bi to the northern foot of Auliye mountain (10 km, 20 min). Trekking to the holy cave of Auliye. Way back to Shabanbai bi. Lunch Journey to Karaganda. Way back to Karaganda (290 km, 4,5 hours).

Program of the tour without climbing Aksoran peak

Day 1
Trip from Karaganda to Aktogay (250 km, 3,5 hours). Excursion in the archaeological and ethnographical museum in Aktogai (Mon-Fri). Trip from Aktogai to Shabanbai Bi (40 km, 1 hour). Accommodation in a guesthouse, lunch. A walk round the village and its vicinities (on request and for additional payment – on horseback).Dinner.

Day 2
Breakfast. Trip from Shabanbai Bi to the northern foot of Auliye mountain (10 km, 20 min). Ascending Auliye mountain with a little lake on its top (30 min, climb – 130 m), admiring the beautiful panorama of the Kyzylarai mountain range to the south. Descending from the mountain, trekking along the eastern slope of Auliye mountain to the holy cave of Auliye (ab. 3 km, 50 min), visit to the cave. A walk back to Shabanbai bi (7 km, 1,5 hours). Lunch. Car ride to Akshkol village ( 18 km, 40 min). Walking tour around the late-bronze necropolis of Begazy, which is considered the most important archaeological discovery in the territory of Central Kazakhstan, as old as more than 3000 years. On request – a walk around the neighboring mountains. Way back to Shabanbay Bi. Banya (going to bath-house) and dinner.

Day 3
Breakfast. A walk to a small picturesque canyon. Lunch. Way back to Karaganda (290 km, 4,5 hours).

Cost per person

The above-mentioned prices include: all the journeys by all-wheel drive minibus according to the program of the tour, services of a driver and an English-speaking guide-interpreter, accommodation in guesthouses in Shabanbai Bi village (double and triple rooms available), three meals a day (in guesthouses or in the field).

The above-mentioned prices do not include: visa expenses and consular fees, insurance, the price of getting to the starting point of the route (Karaganda city).

If required the tour can be adapted according to the schedule of arrival and departure of the participants. In this case, the cost of the tour may slightly change.

DISCLAIMER
The program of the tour might be changed due to the force majeure circumstances, including (but not limited to):
– official prohibitions on visiting specially protected areas (national parks, reserves, sanctuaries, etc.) due to epizootics or epidemics, fire-setting and other reasons;
– official prohibitions on visiting sites, located in the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and Kurchatov town, Saryshagan test site, Baikonur city and Cosmodrome site, and other areas with limited access;
– cancellation/postponement of plane, train and other transfers;
– extreme weather conditions (steppe fire, snowstorms, lasting rainstorms, etc.) and its consequences (washed out roads, snow drifts, damaged bridges, etc.);
– traffic restrictions (closures);
– other natural and administrative circumstances beyond the control of the company “Nomadic Travel Kazakhstan”.