Velo tour ” Golden ring “

DAY 1:

Almaty – Altyn-Emel National Park

Driving part:320 km

Almaty – the first stop: Singing Sand Dune – 700-year-old Willow

Cycling part: 40-50 km

The first stop – “Singing Sand Dune”

Departure from Almaty at 03:00 AM. Transfer by car to “Altyn-Emel National Park”. Breakfast at the guesthouse. The start of the cycling part from the first stop to the Singing Sand Dune is 50 km.  Lunch at the Singing Sand Dune (lunch boxes). Transfer by car to 700-year-old willow. Dinner. Overnight in camping tents.

The Singing Sand Dune is located on the right bank of the Ili River between the two ranges of Kysty-Kalkan and Ulken-Kalkan on the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Nature Park. An amazing natural phenomenon is the sands of Akkum-Kalkan, which received the name “The Singing Dune” by the people. Sands that sound in dry and windy weather sound like a high-flying jet plane. The power of sound is such that it spreads over many kilometers in the area.

Day 2:

Driving part: 0 km

Cycling part: up to 70 km

Altyn-Emel (700-year-old Willow – Katutau Mountains – Aktau Mountains)

 Breakfast, then the start of the cycling part. The cycling part is up to 70 km; we visit the Katutau Mountains and then move to the Aktau Mountains. Part of the journey can be reached by car. Lunch on the way (lunch boxes) Field camping in the mountains of Aktau. Trekking through the mountains of Aktau. Dinner under the thousands of stars.

Aktau Mountains is one of the most interesting and spectacular tourism facilities in the State National Natural Park “Altyn-Emel”.

Millions of years ago, a huge lake covered these areas. Frequent rains and mudflows brought into the lake the minerals and land of the surrounding mountains. All these minerals and land of surrounding mountains collected at the bottom of the lake with red, white, yellow clay. Over time, the lake dried up and the bottom sediments began to be washed off with water and blown off by the winds.  

As a result of erosion, there were formed low mountains. The thickness of the lake sediments exceeds 1,800 meters. The water washed out hollows and deep gorges in them, and the wind helped the water to transform this beautiful landscape.

The formed mountains are eventually became known as Aktau. In the Kazakh language, this means the “White Mountains”. The white Mountains seem only from afar. In the canyons of the mountains, you can find naked multicolored rocks of the dome, the towers composed of colored layers alternate with dry canyons filled with calcite crystals. Landscapes change constantly – bastions, towers, towns, impregnable castles and canyons, there is no end to them.

Day 3

Driving part: 350 km

Cycling part: 0 km

Altyn Emel – Chundzha

Having Breakfast. Long distance transfer by car to the village of Chundzha (8-10 hours, taking into account the stop for lunch – 350 km of them are worse off road). Check in at the hotel. Rest after long driving and swimming in the hot springs. Having dinner. A day without a cycling!

Day 4

Driving part: 100 km

Cycling part: 50 km

Chundzha – Termerlik (confluence of Temerlik and Charyn Canyon)

Having breakfast . Moving by car before turning towards Temerlik confluence. Further, cycling part which is up to 50km distance. Lunch at the confluence. Take a walk around. Cycling before spending the night at the river Temerlik. Overnight in camping tents.

River, for millions of years, has cut a deep and narrow canyon in sedimentary rocks. The forms of the formed relief resemble the “Valley of Castles”. The huge advantage of this part of the canyon over other objects of the Charyn River is the presence of dense green thicket and turang thickets that create a comfortable microclimate at the bottom of the canyon.  

Day 5

Driving part: 100 km

Cycling part: 50 km

Temerlik – Saty

Having breakfast. Start the cycling part. Cycling part up to 50-60 km distance. Having a picnic lunch on the way. By the evening check in at the guest house Saty village. Dinner

Day 6.

Driving part: 0 km

Cycling part: 60 km

Breakfast. Cycling to Kolsai Lake 1. Through an alternative road to bypass the dam at Saty village. Having Dinner Cycling to Kolsai Lake 1. Through an alternative road to bypass the dam at Saty village. Having Lunch. Cycling to the lake Kaindy. Cycling back to Saty village. Having dinner. Overnight stay at the guest house

Kolsai Lakes – “Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan” – are a cascade of three lakes. The largest lake, Kolsay 1 is available to all visitors. This is the most beautiful lake with a lack of civilization and an abundance of mushrooms. The highest lake is smaller than other lakes. It is located on the border with spruce forests and alpine meadows. This lake impresses with its harsh alpine beauty, as well as rich flora and fauna. The vertical difference between the three lakes is about 700 meters. The water in the lakes is cold and clean. It is home to rainbow trout, a fish that lives only in running or spring water.

Lake Kayindi is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 as a result of a strong earthquake that triggered a landslide that blocked the valley; water flooded the valley with pine trees. The water in the lake is very cold (about + 6 C degrees in summertime), therefore the fir needles of pine trees are well preserved and are clearly visible through the transparent water surface

Day 7

Driving part: 100 km

Cycle part: 50 km

Breakfast. Transfer by car to Charyn Canyon. Going down into the valley of castles. Take a walk. Then we drive to lake. Bartogay for the night on the. Having dinner

Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, that makes it so unique not only in Kazakhstan but throughout the world. Canyon formed during the Paleogene age and considers as a junior brother to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in North America. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is 150-300 meters. Extreme deep dissection of the terrain is amazing: numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created a beautiful “Valley of Castles”, where you are always surrounded by fashionable towers consisting of sedimentary rocks. The length of the “Valley of Castles”- more than 2 km, width – 20-80 meters. For millions of years, nature has created a unique architecture, carefully and slowly erected magnificent castles. You can spend hours walking among strange towers and columns, marveling at the wild imagination of nature.

Day 8

Driving Part: 0

Cycling part: 35 km

Breakfast. Cycling on the Asy plateau. Camping overnight. Dinner

Assy Plateau, known since ancient times as summer pasture, which starts from the river Kishi-Turgen. The plateau is located at the altitude of 2800-3200 meters at sea level. The first inhabitants of the area lived around 5000 years ago and they represented both nomadic and settled lifestyle.

At the top of the Asy Plateau was build the astrophysical observatory, with one of the world’s largest telescope.

Day 9

Driving Part: 100 km

Cycling part: 55 km

Breakfast. Start cycling to the direction of the observatory. Then to the descent of the Turgen Valley. Finish at Bear Falls. If we will have time, we can take a walk to the waterfall. Moving to Almaty. Dinner. Stay at the hotel.

Day 10

After breakfast, flight home

City	Accommodation	Nights
Almaty	Plaza	1
Saty Village	Guest House	2
Chundzha	Hotel Chundzha	1
	Camping	5
Total		9

Transport:	Car: Delica – 6 passenger seats. Equipped for 7 bike Thule. Off-road trailer for transportations equipment and personal stuff.
Accompaniment:	Cycling Guide Bike mechanic, with  extended set of bicycle tools (he is the driver of the first car of the convoy)
Food:	(З-11; О-9; У-9)

Price in USD/
per person for 2019

Size of the group	USD
2	2850
3	2030
4	2025
5	1365
6	1200
7	1080
8	990
9	920
Surcharge for single accommodation	51

Included in the price:
Transport Delica minibus – equipment with bike mounts	Entrance fees
Meeting at the airport and see off	Cycling guide
Accommodation with double rooms	Renting equipment (tents, sleeping bags)
Food according to the program
Not included in the price:
International flights	Renting bikes