The routes named like this will help see the unique nature of the Talass Alatau and Karatau Mountains, southern steppes and lakes and sandy and clayey deserts. We can offer you 1 to 16-day programs. If you are fond of nature beauties but do not have enough time, we will offer you to visit the majestic Aksu River Canyon in the Aksu-Zhabagly National Park (this tour may take half a day). If you have days for tours we will offer you an intensive program to tour the Aksu Canyon and Kishi Kaiyndy Tract (also in the Aksu-Zhabagly National Park). But this program is, if you have time, to split to two days. The same two days will include seeing a piece of the western Tien Shan (Kishi Kaiyndy Tract) and Karatau Mountains (Karaungur Tract). If you are passionate botanist or ornithologist, we have special tours for you to visit the National Park, Karatau Mountains, Mashat, Sairamsu, steppe lakes and deserts and other interesting locations. These locations are also magnificent for simple nature-lovers and especially for photo artists. We arrange tours for bird banders together with the Chokpak birdbanding station. Optionally, we can include cultural elements such as folk band, ethnics cuisine night, kokpar, etc.

You can see:
Aksu-Zhabagly National Park:

• Aksu River Canyon, a grandiose nature creation: a 500m deep tectonic fault with the distance between the banks 700-800m. A Zarevshan arch forest, wild Civersa apple-tree forest, flowers (spring Greig tulips, desert-candles, dog-roses, etc.).
• Topshak, a cozy green gorge leading to a pass that opens to the Zhabagly River’s lower reaches.
• Zhabagly upper reaches: a broad river valley
• Kishi Kaiyndy Tract: a semi-globular arch forest, flowers and beautiful landscapes.
• Kishi Kaiyndy Pass, 2975 m above sea level (a horseback tour) after an intensive pass in the Gorge of Kishi Kaiyndy: and arch elfin-wood, alpine lawns, highland flowers and magnificent Bugulytor Mountain view, 3918 m.
• Ulken Kaiyndy Tract – (a horseback tour) a semi-globular arch forest and a colorful grass meadow. There is a shrub camp in Ulken Kaiyndy, from which you can get to the following tracts:
• Ulken Kaiyndy Pass, 2800 m above sea level (a horseback tour after an overnight stop in Ulken Kaiyndy): ascent through the arch elfin-wood, alpine meadow and a majestic panorama of the Aksu River’s upper reaches
• Kaskabulak Fosse, 3275 m above sea level (a horseback tour after an overnight stop in Ulken Kaiyndy): ascent through the arch elfin-wood, alpine meadows and a vast petroglyphs gallery.
• Chuuldak Tract: vast high-grass meadows. A lot of yellow Geiger tulips, the cheerful Bala Baldyrbek mountain river flowing among beautiful landscapes.
• Darbaza Tract: a beautiful arch forest, a full river flowing through an unusual narrow called “darbaza” (Kazakh “gate”).
• Koksai River Canyon: a picturesque canyon with weathered steep walls in the Karatau Mountain
• Berkara Tract: a clear brook and a beautiful grove of red-book river-loving ash-trees and many paradise flycatchers and orioles.
• Pisteli Tract: a full-flowing brook in a gorge with slopes overgrown with pontian hawthorns.
• Karaungur: a very beautiful gorge overgrown with mulberry trees, wild grapes and Petunnikov almonds, a clear brook water, many small caves and flowers.

Steppe Lakes

• Bilikol Lake: a lake in a reed bush. You can see here marsh and steppes harriers, various herons, bitterns, often black and white storks, various sandpipers, terns, gulls and many near-water sparrow birds (rush bird, penduline tits, pipits and wagtails)
• Taskol and Darbaza Lakes: typical Central Asian lakes with open stretch
• Teris Ashybulak Reservoir: an artificial lake with open stretch where in summer you can see typical aboriginal birds such as terns, gulls and sandpipers; and many migrant North Caucasian and Siberian birds. Demoiselle cranes nest in the area of the Teris Ashybulak Reservoir and can be seen here during the entire spring and summer.
• Kyzaylkol Lake: a lake in the Karatau Mountains valley amount a rocky desert where migrant birds flows merge during migration
• Shoshkakol Lake: a lake overgrown with reeds inhabited by many near-water fowl. Many storks and sandpipers are on the plant-free shore (including white-tail lapwing, stilts, avocets and others). The salt desert near the lake is inhabited by its characteristic inhabitants such as gray and small skylarks, booted warblers, scrub robins and grey shrikes and a beautiful colony of green bee-eaters.

Mashat Gorge

• A favorite recreation place. A green gorge of the calm Mashat River. One of the grottos has a weeping cave, a holy place for locals.

Arabek River Valley

• A small mountain river with picturesque banks overgrown in the river lower reaches with four arch types. A beautiful mountainous riparian forest. A waterfall. Original moraine line of light granite boulders.

Madantal River Valley

• The vast valley of a full-flowing mountain river. The landscape is decorated by a range of more 4000 m high snow peaks. Alpine meadows and long-tailed marmot colonies are located along the river in the upper reaches. There is a birch forest downstream.

Sairamsu Tract

• The high-water rapid river of Sairamsu flowing among lush colorful meadows and birch groves against the background of the majestic Sairam Peak, the highest regional peak. There are two highland moraine lakes here.

Aksu River’s midstream

• A high-water river flowing in a grandiose canyon gets hidden in huge scours and caves and squeezes through narrow slits between stones. There is even a place where you can step over the river.

The nature of South Kazakhstan is so diverse that we can only offer you some of our tours here. Many one-day routes cab be put together in any combination and a multi-day tour can include any landscape you want to see.

Route examples for the Silk Road and day-off tours

· Aksu-ZhabaglyNational Park
Day 1. Arrival in the evening (bus), shower, dinner, free time, overnight hotel stay in Zhabagly.
Day 2: breakfast, the Aksu River Canyon tour, return to the hotel, lunch (13.00), a tour to Kishi Kaiyndy Tract (Aksu-Zhabagly National Park: arch forest, motley grass meadow), shower, dinner, free time, overnight hotel stay in Zhabagly.
Day 3: breakfast, departure by bus (10.00).

· Aksu-ZhabaglyNational Park
Day 1: arrival in the morning (train from Almaty, 7.00.), shower, breakfast, the Aksu River Canyon tour, return to the hotel, lunch (13.00), a tour to the stalactite cave near the settlement of Akbiik), return to the hotel, shower, dinner, free time, overnight hotel stay in Zhabagly.
Day 2: breakfast, a tour to Kishi Kaiyndy Tract (tour picnic), return to the hotel, shower, dinner, departure by train to Almaty (20.00).

· DifferentAksu
Day 1. Arrival in the evening (bus), shower, dinner, free time, overnight hotel stay in Zhabagly.
Day 2: breakfast, the Aksu River Canyon tour (tour picnic), return to the hotel, shower, dinner. Day 3. A tour to the river midstream (tour picnic), return to the hotel, shower, dinner. Day 4. Breakfast, departure.

· Unforgettable Two Days in South Kazakhstan
Day 1: Arrival by train from Almaty. Breakfast. A car tour to the stalactite cave near the settlement of Akbiik. Return to the hotel. Lunch. Kokpar, a Kazakh ethnic horseback game, Zhabagly neighborhood. Dinner: Kazakh ethnic dishes in a yurt. Folk band. Free time. Shower.
Day 2: breakfast, a tour to the preserve of Aksu-Zhabagly (Kishi Kaiyndy Tract). Tour picnic, return to the hotel, shower, dinner, departure by train to Almaty (20.00)

· a horseback tour through the Aksu-ZhabaglyNational Park.
Day 1. Arrival in the morning by train from Almaty to the Burnoye Station. Breakfast at the cordon of the preserve of «Topshak». A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Tract (a picnic on the way). Shower. Dinner. Field overnight stop.
Day 2: Breakfast. A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Pass (a picnic on the way). Return to the center. Shower. Dinner. Field overnight stop.
Day 3: Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Kaskabulak (a picnic on the way). Return to the field base. Shower. Dinner. Field overnight stop.
Day 4: Breakfast. A tour: Ulken Kaiyndy – Kishi Kaiyndy – Zhabagly (a picnic on the way). Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop in the hotel in Zhabagly.
Day 5: Breakfast. An automobile tour to the stalactite cave near the settlement of Akbiik. Return to the hotel. Lunch. Kokpar, a Kazakh ethnic horseback game, Zhabagly neighborhood. Dinner: Kazakh ethnic dishes in a yurt. Folk band. Shower.
Day 6: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Taldybulak – Canyon of River Aksu (a picnic on the way). Field shower. Dinner. Overnight tent stop. Day 7: Breakfast. A tour Canyon of River Aksu – the tract of Chuuldak – The tract of Darbaza.(a picnic on the way). Field shower. Dinner. Overnight tent stop. Day 8. Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Darbaza – the tract of Sairamsu (a picnic on the way). Bath house. Dinner. Overnight stop in the center of Altex.
Day 9: A tour in the Gorge of Sairamsu. Shower. Lunch. Departure to Shymkent and return to Almaty by train.

· an exotic horseback tour in Maidantal and the Aksu-Zhabagly National Park
Option 1 (9 days)
Day 0. Arrival to Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House
Day 1. Breakfast. An automobile trip to the tract of Koksai. A horseback tour: the tract of Koksai - the gorge of the Arabek River to the Maidantal Pass Piedmont (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 2: Breakfast. A tour: overcoming the Maidantal Pass through the valley of the Maidantal River to its midstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 3: Breakfast. A tour: Maidantal River midstream –Maidantal River downstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 4: Breakfast. A tour: the downstream of the Maidantal River – the tract of Sairamsu (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 5: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Sairamsu – the tract of Darbaza (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 6: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Darbaza – the tract of Chuuldak (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 7: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of. Chuuldak – the tract of Aksu Left Bank. Dinner. Overnight tent stop
Day 8. Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Aksu Left Bank – Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House.
Day 9. Breakfast. Departure.

Option 2. (10 days)
0 Day. Arrival to Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House
Day 1. Breakfast. An automobile trip to the tract of Koksai. A horseback tour: the tract of Koksai - the gorge of the Arabek River to the Maidantal Pass Piedmont (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 2: Breakfast. A tour: overcoming the Maidantal Pass through the valley of the Maidantal River to its midstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 3: Breakfast. A tour: the Maidantal River midstream – the Maidantal River downstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 4: Breakfast. A tour: the downstream of the Maidantal River – the tract of Sairamsu (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight stop in camp Altex.
Day 5. Breakfast A tour to the tract of Sairamsu to a moraine lake (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight stop in camp Altex.
Day 6: Breakfast A tour: the tract of Sairamsu – the tract of Darbaza (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 7: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Darbaza – the tract of Chuuldak (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 8: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Chuuldak – the tract of Aksu Left Bank. Dinner. Overnight tent stop
Day 9. Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Aksu Left Bank – Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House.
Day 10. Breakfast. Departure.

Option 3 (11.5 days)
0 Day. Arrival to Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House
Day 1. Breakfast. An automobile trip to the tract of Koksai. A horseback tour: the tract of Koksai - the gorge of the Arabek River to the Maidantal Pass Piedmont (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 2: Breakfast. A tour: overcoming the Maidantal Pass through the valley of the Maidantal River to its midstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 3: Breakfast. A tour: the Maidantal River midstream – the Maidantal River downstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 4: Breakfast. A tour: the downstream of the Maidantal River – the tract of Sairamsu (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 5: Breakfast A tour: the tract of Sairamsu – the tract of Darbaza (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 6: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Darbaza – the tract of Chuuldak (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 7: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of. Chuuldak – the tract of Aksu Left Bank. Dinner. Overnight tent stop
Day 8. Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Aksu Left Bank – Zhabagly (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House.
Day 9. Breakfast. A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Tract (a picnic on the way).Dinner. Field overnight stop.
Day 10. Breakfast. A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Tract – the tract of Topshak (a picnic on the way). A car trip to Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House.
Day 11. Breakfast. Departure

Option 4 (11.5 days)
0 Day. Arrival to Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House
Day 1. Breakfast. An automobile trip to the tract of Koksai. A horseback tour: the tract of Koksai - the gorge of the Arabek River to the Maidantal Pass Piedmont (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 2: Breakfast. A tour: overcoming the Maidantal Pass through the valley of the Maidantal River to its midstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 3: Breakfast. A tour: the Maidantal River midstream – the Maidantal River downstream (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 4: Breakfast. A tour: the downstream of the Maidantal River – the tract of Sairamsu (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 5: Breakfast A tour: the tract of Sairamsu – the tract of Darbaza (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 6: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Darbaza – the tract of Chuuldak (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 7: Breakfast. A tour: the tract of. Chuuldak – the tract of Aksu Left Bank. Dinner. Overnight tent stop
Day 8. Breakfast. A tour: the tract of Aksu Left Bank – Zhabagly. Dinner. Overnight stop in Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House.
Day 9. Breakfast. A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Tract (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Field overnight stop.
Day 10. Breakfast. A tour to Ulken Kaiyndy Tract – the tract of Topshak (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Overnight tent stop.
Day 11. Breakfast. A horseback ride Topshak – Zhabagly (a picnic on the way). Dinner. Departure by an evening train to Almaty

Examples of special routes

· a special botanic and ornithological spring tour “Birds and Tulips”
Day 1: Meeting in the Tulkibas Station. Trip to Zhabagly. Boarding House accomodation. Breakfast The Aksu River Canyon tour: Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 2. Breakfast. A tour to Kishi Kaiyndy Tract. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop. Day 3. Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Berkara. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop. Day 4. Breakfast. A tour to the Teris Ashybulak Reservoir. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 5. Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Koksai. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 6. Breakfast. A tour to the Bilikol and Taskol Lakes. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 7. Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Taldybulak. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower, journey preparation. Dinner. Departure by train to Almaty (19.45).

· a special botanic and ornithological spring tour “Mountains of Heavenly Beauty”
Day 1. Arrival by bus in the evening from Almaty. Boarding House accomodation. Shower. Dinner.
Day 2. Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Berkara. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 3. Breakfast. A tour to the tract of Koksai and the Teris Ashybulak Reservoir. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 4. Breakfast. A tour to the Bilikol and Taskol Lakes. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower. Overnight stop.
Day 5. Breakfast. A horseback tour to the tract of Zhetymsai – Kishi Kaiyndy – Ulken Kaiyndy. Tour picnic. Field base accomodation. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 6. A horseback tour to the Pass of Kishi Kaiyndy. Return to the field base. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 7. A walking tour to the Gorge of Baidaksai. Return to the field base. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 8.- A horseback tour to the Gorge of Kaskabulak. Return to the field base. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 9. A horseback tour Ulken Kaiyndy – Kishi Kaiyndy - Zhetymsai. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House. Shower. Dinner. Overnight stop.
Day 10. A tour to the Canyon of Aksu. Tour picnic. Return to the Boarding House, shower, journey preparation. Dinner. Departure by train to Almaty (19.45)

Our address: 161310, Zhenja & Lyuda`s Boarding House, South Kazakhstan Oblast, Tulkibas Raion, Zhabagly, kazakhstan, to Evgeny Beloussov, tel: (325-38)-56-696, mob: 8 300 717 58 51, E-mail: innaksu@nursat.kz, innaksu@mail.ru, WEB site: www.ecotour1.narod.ru