Day tour to Bes Shatyr burial mounds and dolmens in Altyn Emel NP

Duration · 1 DAY

Season · SPRING / AUTUMN 

Activity · SIGHTSEEING

              From USD $90

Customer reviews   reviews

 

 

  

Bes Shatyr complex
dolmens, altar rock carvings in Bes Shatyr mounds surrounded by dolmens Bes Shatyr views

  

Route overview
 Get inspired Itinerary Service and prices Important notes

 

Bes Shatyr necropolis is the main ethnographic and archaeological site of the natural park Altyn Emel. It is a burial place of the ancient rulers of Saki Tigrahauda tribes and their entourage. Dating around middle of I millennium BC it consists of 37 mounds with stone embankment. The largest royal burial mounds up to 17 meters in height are placed in the central part of the necropolis covering area of 2 square kilometers. In its monumentality and complexity BesShatyr has no analogs in Central Asia. This side of the Park is less visited comparing to the Singing Dunes or Aktau hills - thus it is the best place to enjoy the wildlife: freely grazing herds of gazelles, kulans, camels. As well as to see great panoramas of Ili River.

 

 Route overview

Almaty - Konaev - Shengeldy - Altyn Emel western entry - Bes Shatyr - Sholak mountains - Almaty 

Difficulty: ♦ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Type: sightseeing

Group size: min 1 - max 4 

 

get inspired

Get insipired
  • The large size of mounds, their original design and uniqueness of religious-ritual structures put BesShatyr on a par with other greatest historical monuments of the nomadic culture in Eurasia. 
  • Altyn Emel is a desert. The most beautiful time in desert is spring, when blooming flowers cover it like unique colorful carpet:  red and yellow poppies, snowdrops and, of course, tulips. Kazakhstan is considered to be a home of tulips: more than 30 species of wild tulips can be found here.
  • During the walk along the gorges of Sholak mountains you will have the opportunity to see wildlife - graceful black tailed gazelle "Jeiran", kulans (Turkmenian donkeys), Przewalski's horses, eagles and vultures.
  • This area is also known for rock carvings, which you will be able to see in one of the gorges
  • The tour is organized on request and only for you. The guide accompanying you throughout the tour will focus on your needs, interests and safety. You can fully enjoy personalized service and comfort.

what to expect

What to expect

 

  • Kazakhstan is a huge country, distances are long, roads are not always up to standard and traffic can be chaotic. Even though we use new comfortable cars with experienced drivers, you should be prepared for long drives on poor quality roads. Inside a Park there is a full off-road.
  • We pay special attention to food on the tour. On this particular one we will serve a good lunch with Bes Shatyr views.
  • During this tour we visit only western part of Altyn Emel Park accessible from Shengeldy village - Bes Shatyr and gorges of Sholak mountains. Other parts (northern entry, Singing Dune, Aktau, Katutau) need a separate permission and more days.
  • Altyn Emel is a desert: we do not travel in this area in summer (can be +50C degrees, which is not safe and not comfortable)

 

 #BesShatyr
  #AltynEmelGuide  #AltynEmelWildlife  #KazakhstanHistory  #KazakhstanParks
  #VisitKazakhstan  #AroundAlmaty  #Qazaqstan

 

Itinerary

· Almaty - Konaev - Shengeldy - Altyn Emel western entry - Bes Shatyr - Sholak mountains - Almaty ·

We pick you up in the morning and drive to the north from Almaty. Bes Shatyr is located 195km from the city, we will come through the Konaev (former Kapchagai) town - local Las Vegas with a huge number of casinos. Then turn right in Shengeldy village and, after a few kilmeters, meet Altyn Emel NP western entry. 

First of all we will walk around the Bes Shatyr complex with its big burial mounds and fields of dolmens. Translated as “five hills” from Kazakh, it looks like ancient necropolis and remains the main ethnographic and archaeological site of Alryn Emel National Park. A huge valley on the north bank of Ili river is used for the thousands of years by different generations of nomads: being a sacred place for ancient people (here they put their dolmens), Bes Shatyr had been also chosen as a burial site by Saki (Scythe) tribes. Dating around middle of I millennium BC it consists of 37 mounds with stone embankment. The largest royal burial mounds up to 17 meters in height are placed in the central part of the necropolis covering area of 2 square kilometers.

After an excursion around Bes Shatyr we take lunch and drive closer to the Sholak mountain ridge and check the small gorges - Kyzylauz / Tanbaly - to see the ancient petroglyphs.

After a nice walk we get back to the car and start driving back to Almaty.

meals    Meals · lunch, drinking water

walking features    Walking · 2-3 hours, ↔ 5-7km

driving   Driving · 7 hours, ↔ 430km

  

Service and prices 

 driving  Transfers

  • comfortable private transportation, pick up and drop off in Almaty

 meals   Meals

  • lunch in Bes Shatyr
  • drinking water

 guiding   Guiding

  • English-speaking guiding throughout the tour

 NP fees  National Park's entry fees

  • Altyn Emel NP western entry day permission

prices   Prices:

  • $90 per person per tour - if there are 4 people in group
  • $105 per person per tour - if there are 3 people in group
  • $145 per person per tour - if there are 2 people in group
  • $275 - 1 person (individual service)

Price does

not include
  • accommodation (hotel), meals and any entertainment in Almaty before/after a tour
  • personal traveller’s insurance 
  • personal expenses like souvenirs, calls etc.
  • rent of personal clothes, shoes, gear etc.
  • optional activities 
  • porters for personal belongings, suitcases and bags during the tour
  • menu does not include: soft and alcohol drinks, beverages

Important notes

  1. We are responsible for your safety in the activities described in the tour program. Horseback riding or other similar services provided by local residents on the spot - at your discretion and under your responsibility.
  2. Let us know in advance if you have any specific food requirement (like vegetarian menu or food allergies)
  3. Temperatures in spring and autumn in Almaty region depend on the height above sea level, location and current weather conditions. Below data is for information only, for April and late September
    - steppes/semideserts, 250m-700m ASL: +18..+28C degrees daytime, +5..+15C degrees in the night
  4. We recommend having for this trip: trainers/hiking shoes, high socks, trekking pants, t-shirt, jacket, raincoat, peaked cap, buff, sunglasses, sun protection lotion, small backpack.
  5. There can be no cellular connection in certain places outside of the city (on the roads and in remote places). 
  6. In remote villages, there may be a problem with paying with cards. If you plan to buy some small items or souvenirs, make sure to have cash - Kazakh Tenge.
  7. Altyn Emel is a desert: we do not travel in this area in summer (can be +50C degrees, which is not safe and not comfortable). This tour is available from late March to late May and from early September to mid October.
 
 
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