Bronze of the Scythian Mountains

Central Kazakhstan is the place where the enormous number of Bronze Age archaeological monuments is situated. At the same time, there is a number of mountainous and forest oases of the Kazakh Melkosopochnik (the Scythian Mountains was its name according to the writings of Greek historians and geographers) at the territory of the region. The whole totality of sights of that kind is concentrated in the Kyzylarai and Kent Mountains as well as in the steppe area between them.

Key objects

Karaganda is the main city of Central Kazakhstan. The most interesting objects in it are archaeological and ecological museums, as well as the museum of local lore. They can give the complete idea of the forthcoming journey.

Begazy sepulchers are the most famous archaeological discovery at the territory of Central Kazakhstan. From this very burial ground investigating the Bronze Age culture, which was later called the Begazy-Dandybai culture, began. The discoverer of Begazy was the coryphaeus of Kazakhstani archaeology Alkei Margulan, who carried out the first excavations there in 1947. The total area covered with the Begazy necropolis is about 10 hectares.

Kyzylarai Mountains are notable for there situated the highest point of the Kazakhskiy Melkosopochnik (Sary-Arka) – the Aksoran Peak (1565 meters). It is an excellent viewpoint (the visibility from the mountain reaches one hundred kilometers). The Kyzylarai Mountains are situated far away from big roads and are famous by the virginal nature.

Kent ancient settlement belongs to the late Bronze Age. Some scientists consider it a proto-city as the settlement is the largest one in Central Kazakhstan. Kent is the settlement which had been inhabited by people who produce bronze ware. Huge furnaces in which the ancient people alloyed copper and tin are the most interesting objects in the settlement.

Kent Mountains represent much interest because of their pristine environment, moreover, they are untouched by the tourist routes at all. The absence of big rivers and lakes saved this mountain oasis from the construction of rest homes and crowds of holiday-makers. Even nowadays it’s very hard to meet tourists here.

Thread of the route

Program of the tour

Day 1
Arrival to Karaganda. Transfer and accommodation in the hotel. Breakfast. Karaganda city-tour and excursion to the museum of local lore. Lunch. Excursion to the Ecological and archaeological museums. Free time. Dinner.

Day 2
Breakfast. Transfer from Karaganda to Aktogai village (about 300 km, 3,5 hours). Lunch. The beginning of the cycling part of the tour: from Aktogai village to Akshkol village (about 40 km, 4 hours). Dinner in the field not far from Begazy sepulchers and overnight stop in the tents.

Day 3
Breakfast. Excursion around Begazy sepulchers and ancient settlement. Lunch. Journey from Begazy to Kyzylarai mountains (about 35 km, 3 hours). Dinner in the field and overnight stop in the tents.

Day 4
Breakfast. Ascent to the Aksoran Peak (about 3-4 hours). Lunch not far from the top. Descending to the camp (about 3 hours). Free time. Dinner.

Day 5
Breakfast. Cycling journey from the Kyzylarai Mountains to the surroundings of Akkora village (about 55 km, 7 hours) with lunch. Dinner and overnight stop short of Akkora.

Day 6
Breakfast. Cycling journey from Akkora to the Kent Mountains (50 km, 5 hours). Visiting Kent Palace. Journey to the archaeologists’ camp – the end of the cycling part of the tour. Lunch. Excursion around Kent ancient settlement and its surroundings. Overnight stop in archaeologists’ camp in the tents.

Day 7
Breakfast. Transfer from Kent to Karaganda. Lunch. Free time and souvenirs purchasing. Dinner. Transfer to train station or to airport.

Cost per person

The above mentioned prices include: all the journeys by all-wheel drive minibus according to the program of the tour, three meals a day, cost of visiting national parks and museums, guide-interpreter services, survey printed stuff about places of interest on the route.

The above mentioned prices do not include: bicycle hire (must be paid extra), escort vehicle during the cycling part of the tour (can be ordered by request), spirits, visa getting price and consular fee, insurance, visa expenses and consular fees, insurance, the price of getting to the starting point of the route (Karaganda city).

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”.