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| Tour code A13
| 30 Days/29 Nights (I)
26 Days/25 Nights (II)
86 Meals (I):
29 Breakfasts,
28 Lunches,
29 Dinners
74 Meals(II):
25 Breakfasts,
24 Lunches,
25 Dinners
Month:
July-August |
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Route:
Almaty - Ak-Shiyrak - Saryjaz - Djergalan - Almaty
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Day 1. Arrive Almaty - Karakol
After arriving in Almaty, capital of Kazakhstan, you will be met and driven to KARAKOL, via
CHARYN CANYON (the Kyrgyz equivalent of America's Grand Canyon). We will stop en route at
TEMIRLAN STONES, legendary burial ground of the prehistoric Kyrgyz-Kazakhs. Overnight at the Issyk-Kul hotel in Karakol, just beneath the mountains.
Day 2. Out and about in Karakol 
Begin your day with a sightseeing tour of Karakol, hosted by our guide. Highlights include the
ORTHODOX CHURCH, ORIENTAL BAZAAR, CHINESE MOSQUE, MUSEUM OF ARTS and
PRZHEVALSKY MEMORIAL. Afternoon at leisure in preparation for your mountain adventure. Overnight at the Issyk-Kul hotel.
Day 3. Chon-Kyzyl-Suu
After breakfast you will be driven to
CHON-KYZYL-SUU valley (50km from Karakol) to begin your trek. After a day of spectacular hiking you will strike camp in virgin forest under the peaks of the Terskey Ala-Too. A stream of crystal clear water running down from the nearby glacier refreshes and cleanses visitors to this remote place.
Day 4. Uchkul river
Today your travels will bring you over the ASHU-TOR pass to the Uchkul river valley. From the Ashu-tor it is possible to gaze into a neighbouring valley behind the main ridge, and to glimpse the source of the river Syrdarya. Overnight camp next to the UCHKUL river.
Day 5. Uchkul
A whole day of easy walking along the banks of the Uchkul, surrounded by snow-covered peaks. Overnight camp beside the river.
Day 6. Kuyluu
Today you will trek to the KUYLUU valley and then cross the Kuyluu pass. The following route to AK-SIYRAK valley winds along a ridged border between Kuyluu and Ak Siyrak. Overnight camp on a flat meadow near the river.
Day 7. Ak-Shiyrak
Today we collect fresh food supplies! You will hike over the AK-SHIYRAK pass and descend to AK-SHIYRAK valley. This is a nature reserve and one of the few areas to boast a population of snow leopards (ilbirs). Visitors require a permit to explore. Here a 6wd army truck will deliver fresh food and drinks for the next part of your trek.
Day 8. Ak-Shiyrak
After breakfast, you will hike along the Ak-Shiyrak river and over the ridge separating you from
SARYJAZ valley. Today, depending upon the weather, you will catch a first glimpse of
KHAN-TENGRI and POBEDA peaks far in the distance. No need to be despondent if the weather is bad and you don't see them, there are much clearer viewing points further on.
Day 9-12. Saryjaz valley
Four days to explore the isolated
SARYJAZ valley with its high peaks and roaring river. This is the mightiest waterway in Kyrgyzstan, pushing its course through the mountains and away to China. On the second day of your trek along the river you will cross it and then continue your approach to Inylchek Base. The last of these four days is set aside for crossing the pass to
INYLCHEK valley.
Day 13. Maydaadyr
(Inylchek) Base
Maydaadyr is your destination today, a 12km trek along the river. Here you will find your old friend the food truck, waiting with fresh supplies of food and drink. Tonight you will strike camp at 2500m.
Day 14-15. Inylchek valley -
Chon-Tash
A two-day trek takes you to
CHON-TASH just under the INYLCHEK GLACIER. Nearby lies a large cairn, a natural monument to those mountaineers who perished whilst conquering the highest peaks of the Central Tien-Shan. Overnight camp at 2900m.
Day 16-17. Inylchek - Merzbacher lake
Two days to explore the
INYLCHEK GLACIER en route to grass-covered MERZBACHER MEADOW just opposite
MERZBACHER LAKE. Tonight you will camp in a superb location at 3400m next to an imposing glacier, ice-falls, green meadows and the sound of avalanches in the distance.
Day 18-19. Inylchek - Tyuz
After breakfast you will hike down towards the
TYUZ pass (4010m). Prepare for some challenging climbing over 1km of scree. This is an ideal place to spot wild animals including Ibex and Marco Polo sheep. Once over the pass you will traverse a high ridge, bringing you out into the Saryjaz river basin. Overnight camping amongst huge rocks and fallen boulders.
Day 20. Echkilitash
A day hike descending along the Tyuz river to Echkilitash. Here there is a border post where Kyrgyz guards will ask to check your documents. Overnight camp on the banks of the Saryjaz with a chance to go fishing.
Day 21-22. Saryjaz
Two days to trek up to the source of the Saryjaz river. The valley here becomes narrower and narrower and the mountains ever more high and wild. Your campsite on day 22 is situated under Ashu-Tor pass, just as remote and superb as its similarly-named counterpart.
Day 23-24. Narynkol
Today the trek continues over ASHU-TOR pass to the NARYNKOL area near
KARKARA valley. You have now crossed an invisible border and are on Kazak soil. Your first Kazak campsite is 10km from Ashu-Tor. Tomorrow you will head up to the next pass at 3842m and cross into KOK-JAR valley for another night of remote camping.
Day 25-26. Kok-Jar
After breakfast you traverse the KOK-JAR valley with its river of the same name. Your trek will follow the Kok-Jar riverbanks bordered by icy peaks. Towards the end of the second day you will come to a ridge of mountains. Behind it lies Djergalan valley, our next destination.
Day 27-28. Djergalan valley
DJERGALAN valley provides the setting for your next two days trekking. This valley is not so demanding as Kok-Jar and presents a good opportunity for easy walking along the crystal-clear river and across two low passes. There is a Soviet-era coal mine still working at the far end of this valley. Overnight camp on grassy meadows.
Day 29. Almaty. Kazakhstan
This morning you bid farewell to the Tien-Shan before continuing your journey to Almaty by road through the towns and villages of Kazakhstan (250km). Hotel accomodation will feel like a blissful luxury after so long in the mountains.
Day 30. Almaty - Depart for home
Today you fly home, taking with you many pleasant memories of your adventures in the Tien-Shan.
SECOND VARIANT
Day 21-24. Djergalan valley
DJERGALAN valley provides the setting for your next two days trekking. This valley is not so demanding as Kok-Jar and presents a good opportunity for easy walking along the crystal- clear river and across two low passes. There is an interesting Soviet-era coal mine still working at the far end of this valley. Overnight camp on grassy meadows.
Day 25. Almaty. Kazakhstan
This morning you bid farewell to the Tien-Shan before continuing your journey to Almaty by road through the towns and villages of Kazakhstan ( 250km). Hotel accomodation will feel like a blissful luxury after so long in the mountains.
Day 26. Almaty - Depart for home
Today you fly home, taking with you many pleasant memories of your adventures in the Tien-Shan.
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