Minimum booking period · 1 NIGHT

Season · JUNE-JULY-AUGUST 

Activity · CAMPING / GLAMPING

   USD $40 per night

Customer reviews   

Almaty - Issyk - Turgen - Batan 

2 hours drive from Almaty city center

Follow the Kuldja road up to Issyk. Pass by Issyk town and move further in a direction of Turgen. Turn right inside a Turgen gorge (near the entrance to Turgen village), and drive for another 25km by the gorge. It is a National Park, so you will come through the Park’s gate and will have to pay a fee there. You may take a taxi from Almaty, or come with a bus to Issyk or Turgen and then try taking a local taxi. We do not provide transfers.

Get insipired

• Turgen is a gorge known for its luxury nature, unique flora and fauna. It is here that, as you move along the gorge, you can observe an amazing change in landscapes and vegetation from thickets of fruit trees in the foothills and dense spruce forests on the slopes to alpine meadows and giant glaciers with moraine lakes in the highlands. It is here that the Sievers apple tree grows - the ancestor of all apples on earth. And the unique Chim-Turgen mossy grass, which can be up to 1.5 meters deep.
  
• Camp location provide great opportunities for selfmade acitivities: you can take a hike to the Kairak waterfall or drive up to the Assy Plateay, where meet Kazakh nomads in their yurts. If you're not a passionate hiker or off-road driver, then you may come down the gorge and explore the Bear waterfall located closer to the road. Or, fish trout  at a Turgen trout farm. 
• We adhere to the standards of sustainable development. Electricity in our campsite is generated by solar panels. Only gas is used for cooking and heating water in the shower. We do not use coal and try to minimize the use of plastic. Garbage is handed over to a special service of the National Park. Water after use (in the shower, toilets, sinks) is filtered. We do not build anything on our territory and do not spoil the landscape: all camp infrastructure, including the suspension bridge, is brought in every year in May and taken out after the end of the season in September. When the campsite is not working, the forest is in a completely untouched state, regenerating.

What to expect

• Accommodation in "glamping style" in big two-room tents, fully furnished: beds, matresses, pillows, warm sleeping bags and bed linign, garden group (table, armchairs), electricity and lighting. Tents are grouped on separate glades so the guests could enjoy the nature privately, and have an access to all the infrastructure at the same time.
• Excellent food rated as "five stars" by all our visitors: 3 meals a day buffet.  Normally, there are served 2 main and a few side dishes, few salads or snacks. Tea, coffee and sweets in a tea zone. Vegetarian menu is available on request (please inform in advance). 
• Full infrastructure for your outdoor relax - even if you do not plan to leave the camp territory: Scythian sauna, hammocks, fire pits, a few bicycles for rent and a bike trail in the forst, small rope park for kids. Hot shower. 
• All the attributes of a holiday away from crowds. Turgen is a popular destination and when you come here on the weekend, you will most likely find yourself in the thick of the same people who are eager to leave the city. But our campsite is located on an island that can only be reached by private bridge. The bridge is only open for our visitors. Our campsite is designed to accommodate a limited number of people (we have up to 15 tents maximum). Thus, you will enjoy the sounds of wild nature and Turgen River, with private space around you. 

   Transfers

• We do not provide transfers to/from the camp. You can only come with your car or a taxi. There is no public transport in the gorge. 
• Due to absence of cellular connection, you will not be able to call a taxi from the camp. Please make sure you know how to get back to the city after your staying (e.g. book a taxi for both ways to/back, in advance). There is no local taxi service in Turgen, and it can be hard to hitchhike.
  
• All the vehicles are left on the opposite site of the river, at a glade. This parking glade is unguarded and not fenced. All visitors leave their cars on own risk and responsibility.

    Accommodation

• Accommodation in big two-room tents, fully furnished: beds, matresses, pillows, garden group (table, armchairs), electricity, lighting.
• All our tents are double
• We provide with warm sleeping bags and bed lining
  
• We do not provide with towels, sleepers, robe, accessories for washing and hygiene

    Meals

• 3 meals a day, buffet. They are lunch, dinner and breakfast.
• All served at a big canteen tent at certain time (you will be informed about by the camp staff)
• Drinking water available all the time in the water dispenser tank at a canteen
• Camp menu does not include soft/alcohol drinks and snacks like crackers, bars. If you need, then you can take yours and store at your tent.
• If you want extend your stay at the campsite and have additional meals (e.g. stay till the evening and take dinner), then you can inform a camp manager and pay for this on site. 

   Camping infrastructure and services

• At the camp territory there are a few canopys, fire pit, 2 toilets, 1 hot shower, hammocks, small rope park, bike trail - you can use all this at any time for free.
• Fire pits usage is for free, but if you plan an evening fire, then please bring your own wood. We do not sell wood or coal and do not allow to collect firewood in the forest. It is a National Park. Please also check Important notes section for fires. 
• There are 4 bikes for rent (KZT 500 for 1 hour)
• Scythian sauna. It costs KZT 12.000 for 2 hours. Can accommodate confortably up to 5 people at once - inside. Heated upon request only, if you want to book - contact camp administrator at least 2 hours prior - it take 2 hours to heat it. For sauna we provide with towels only. We do not provide sleepers, robe or bath accessories - please have yours if plan to visit. 
• We do not sell guided tours at a camp, it means that you cannot order a guided hike or a jeep-tour to the Assy Plateau when you are already at a camp. It can only be done in advance by contacting the main office. If you want to book a package tour with accommodation at a camp and other activities included (like Assy visit or waterfall hikes), please visit TOURS section at our website. 

    Safety

• Camp is located at an island: the only way to enter it is to use our private suspension bridge over Turgen river. Only Trekking Club visitors are allowed. The bridge is closed in the night time and alarm system is on (motion sensors at the entrance). Camp staff is staying at a camp territory 24/7. There is no first-aid post but we have a camp's first aid kit and emergency satellite connection. There are rules of conduct and safety in every tent - please follow them. You will be instructed additionally by the camp manager about the rules and safety.

   National Park 

• The camp is located inside Ile-Alatau National Park. Entry to the Park is subject to a fee. You will be asked to pay for the entrance at a Park's gate in the beginning of Turgen gorge. 

   Price:

• $40 per person per night with 3 meals

Price does

not include

• transfer to / from the camp
• National Park's entry fees
• rent of personal clothes, shoes, gear (like backpack, water bottle etc.)
• additional services like bike rental, sauna etc.
• additional meals besides 3 meals included in 1-night staying 
• accessories like slippers, robe, towel, hygienic items, toothbrush etc.
• wood for fire
• services provided by local suppliers around the camp
• personal insurance 

1. There is no cellular connection at a camp, no Wi-Fi. Nearest point in Turgen, where can be cellular coverage is located 20km down by the gorge.
2. Due to absence of cellular network and Internet connection, card payments at a camp are unavailable (as well as online payments). At a camp you can only pay in cash.
3. Due to absence of cellular connection, you will not be able to call a taxi from the camp. Please make sure you know how to get back to the city after your staying (e.g. book a taxi for both ways to/back, in advance). There is no local taxi service in Turgen, and it can be hard to hitchhike – during the week, the traffic in the gorge is not big. Our campsite stuff will not be able to help you calling a taxi.
4. Our camp is located inside a wild forest: in early June there can be ticks in bushes. If you come in June, then please do not forget to take anti-tick repellent, or also treat your shoes/clothes in advance.
5. Our camp  is located in a wild forest: there is a chance to meet wild animals and insects (foxes, rabbits, deer, bees, snakes – not poisonous). If you have allergy to pollen or plants, then please take necessary medicals with you (there are many blooming plants).
6. In recent years, due to forest fires, National Parks have often banned campfires and open flames. If such a ban is in effect during your stay, campfires will not be available.
7. At a camp there are no devices that run on electricity: hair dryer, refrigerator, iron. You also won't be able to bring your own and plug them into the socket - our solar panel energy system doesn't allow using gadgets with high energy consumption. The maximum you can do is charge your phone. Therefore, do not bring to camp any food that needs to be refrigerated. All we can offer you is to cool bottled drinks or a watermelon in the river. We will not accept your perishable food for storage in the kitchen.
8. Please take appropriate clothes and shoes (sport/trekking pants, t-shirts with long and short sleeves, warm jacket, wind/waterproof jacket, peaked cap, hat, sunglasses, thermo-underwear). Even in summer, nights in Turgen are colder than in the city. The camp is located at a riverbank, at 1600m ASL.
9. If you come with small kids and want to sleep with them in one tent, you may ask to remove the beds and put 3 mattresses on the floor. Thus you will have big common space in the inner sleeping zone. Sleeping on mattresses is as warm as sleeping on beds. 
10. Horseback riding, fishing at trout farm, SUV to Assy or other similar services provided by local residents on the spot - at your discretion, under your responsibility and at your expense.
11. Our campsite staff may not speak your language
12. There is no way to enter the camp’s territory by car (suspension bridge is pedestrian). All the vehicles are left on the opposite site of the river, at a glade. This parking glade is unguarded and not fenced. All visitors leave their cars on own risk and responsibility.
13. Camp is located at an island: the only way to enter it is to use our private suspension bridge over Turgen river. If you come without preliminary booking, the bridge can be closed. It is also closed for visitors in the night time (and alarm system is on), so please warn camp staff if you need to come in/out in the night/late evening /early morning so we keep the bridge crossable for you.
14. You realize that camping is associated with a number of specific conditions / actions / sensations. You confirm that upon arrival at the campsite you will familiarize yourself with the rules and you will be held responsible for your safe stay in the mountains.

    ENJOY YOUR GLAMPING!