★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Jeep Tour · 3 Days
Jeep Tour Altyn-Emel — 3 Days from Almaty
5 · 24 reviews
Embark on a three-day adventure through the Altyn-Emel National Park. Drive jeeps to the Singing Dune, see the Aktau and Katutau mountains, and watch the sunset in the steppe. The tour combines active recreation, camping nights, and wild nature.
WhenBy schedule
Duration3 days / 2 nights
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $121/person
Program
Itinerary of the Altyn-Emel Jeep Tour Hour by Hour
06:30
Departure from Almaty
Meet at Abay Square, board comfortable jeeps. The drive to the park takes about 4 hours.
10:30
Arrival at Altyn-Emel
Enter the national park, short stop for a snack and meeting the guide.
12:00
Singing Dune
Climb the sand mountain, listen to the 'singing' sand. Photo session and walk along the dune.
14:00
Lunch in nature
Picnic with Kazakh dishes in the shade of trees near the Ili River.
16:00
Aktau and Katutau Mountains
Drive to the colorful cliffs of Aktau (White Mountains) and Katutau (Red Mountains). Photos against unusual landscapes.
19:00
Sunset in the Steppe
Head to the viewpoint, dinner under the open sky, watch the sunset.
21:00
Overnight at Camp
Accommodation in yurts or tents, campfire, starry sky. On the second day — a similar program with visits to other locations.
What's included
What's Included in the Altyn-Emel Jeep Tour
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Jeep transfers from Almaty and back
- Guide-driver services (Russian/Kazakh language)
- Entrance tickets to the national park
- Camping accommodation (yurt or tent) — 2 nights
- Meals: lunches, dinners, breakfasts (as per program)
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Insurance (we recommend arranging it yourself)
- Additional excursions outside the program
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes for walking on sand and rocks
- Warm clothing for the evening (wind and cool in the steppe)
- Sunscreen and hat
- Camera or smartphone for photos
- Personal first aid kit (if needed)
Team
Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★4.9
★5Dinara Kassymova
Guide-lecturer in Almaty
★4.8Marat Zhunussov
Trekking instructor
★4.9Oleg Kim
Driver-guide, jeep tours
★4.8Zhanna Abenova
Tour manager
★4.9Timur Beketov
Multi-day tour guide
★5Aliya Nurlan
Group coordinator
★4.8Sergey Volkov
Instructor, ski tours
Reviews
Reviews about Altyn-Emel jeep tour
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Pavel
Google ·
★★★★★Bylo zdorovo, no neskolko raz teriali svyaz
Asem
Our website ·
★★★★★Looking for a vacation with kids, we chose this tour. We needed to get away from the daily city noise and connect with nature. The three days passed very quickly. We climbed the dune and listened to the song of the sand. The variety of colors of Aktau and Katutau mountains amazed the children. The guide told interesting stories at each location and used the time efficiently. Overnight at the camp, drinking morning tea — just wonderful. The kids are still talking about the impressions. We plan to go again next year.
Dmitry
Our website ·
★★★★★Eto bilo nechto. Aidos organizoval vse na 100
Yelena
Our website ·
★★★★★We planned our vacation for a long time. We chose this tour and were not mistaken. The manager is a wonderful organizer, everything was clear
Larisa M.
Our website ·
★★★★★My wife and I had long dreamed of riding through Altyn-Emel, but kept putting it off because of the long road. In the end we went and were thrilled. The guide talked about the desert and its inhabitants the whole way, so four hours flew by unnoticed. The Singing Dune is something unreal, the sand really does sound under your feet. Aktau and Katutau amazed us with their colors, the photos came out like from another world. The overnight stay at the camp was calm, the campfire and stars added to the atmosphere. The only downside is that it's very dusty in the steppe, we should have brought wet wipes. But the impressions are worth it, we'll come back again.
Anna
Our website ·
★★★★★We were debating whether to go or not. We decided and didn't regret it. Zhanna advised us to take warm clothes, which came in handy.
Maria
Google ·
★★★★★The chalk mountains are gorgeous. The photos turned out amazing. The departure was slightly delayed, but that's minor.
Ivan P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We chose this tour because of the reviews about the yurts. No regrets. The manager helped with choosing the date. We went together with my sister. The sunset in the steppe and the Aktau mountains were especially memorable.
Gulmira
Google ·
★★★★★Fresh air, the view is amazing. We went with friends, they had been before and praised it. We climbed the singing dune and listened to the song of the sand. We'll go again next year.
Aigerim K.
Google ·
★★★★★Huge thanks for the tour! Everything was super, especially the Singing Dune. Aidos organized everything perfectly
Andrey
Our website ·
★★★★★Super, I recommend it. We went as a family, the children were delighted with the overnight stay in the yurt. I especially liked the sunset in the steppe and the views of the mountains.
Talgat
Yandex ·
★★★★★Top-notch organization. Thanks to Dina.
Bakhyt
2GIS ·
★★★★★We thought for a long time before the trip, because we were going with kids. But everything went well. In three days we admired various scenes of nature. The song of the dune especially interested the children, they played in the sand and thoroughly enjoyed it. The mountains being multi-colored is amazing, especially the red mountains of Katutau stuck in memory. The guide gave a lot of information about the local nature. Overnight at the camp, talking by the fire — we liked everything. Only in the evening it was windy, we had to close the tent. Nevertheless, both the kids and we really liked it, we decided to go again.
Dana
Our website ·
★★★★★We planned our vacation in advance, wanted something unusual. Friends recommended Altyn-Emel, and we didn't go wrong. We went as a trio with my brother and his wife. Already on the approach to the park the landscapes began to change, and when we climbed the Singing Dune, we were simply speechless. The sand shimmers and makes sounds as if alive. The Aktau and Katutau mountains are a separate story, the colors are so bright that you can't believe it's not decorations. At night at the camp it was cool, but we took warm clothes as the guide advised. Overall the trip left a mass of emotions, we will definitely come back here again.
Nurzhan
Google ·
★★★★★Liked everything. The guide drove well
Kristina
Google ·
★★★★★Neskolko raz sbivalis s marshruta no eto dazhe veselo
Bekzat
Google ·
★★★★★We prepared thoroughly for this trip, because my friends had been before and praised the nature. Indeed, you can't get enough of the views. We were amazed when we heard the secret of the Singing Dune, and the colors of Aktau and Katutau mountains are just like in pictures. The guide talked a lot about the local area, stopped at every spot and gave us time to take photos. Overnight at the camp, making a fire, watching the stars — everything is perfectly organized. Only it was cold at night, I would recommend taking warm clothes. I advise nature lovers to go.
Ruslan
Yandex ·
★★★★★Vsel bilo klassno, no nemnogo opozdali s vyezdom.
Zhanna
2GIS ·
★★★★★We went with children. They really liked sleeping in the yurt, they still remember it. The food was delicious, the guide was always nearby and gave advice. We planned the trip in advance, we wanted to take the kids out into nature.
Zhanat
Our website ·
★★★★★I liked it. I want to go again.
Olga
Google ·
★★★★★The road is bumpy, but it's worth it. The driver is super. We went with my brother, we specifically looked for a tour with an overnight stay. The dune and the colored mountains are something unreal.
Marat A.
Yandex ·
★★★★★The Altyn-Emel jeep tour was awesome. The Aktau mountains were out of this world.
Sveta
Google ·
★★★★★I really liked the Singing Dune. But we waited for the tourists to leave. The guide timed it well. We went with friends, we had long wanted to see the desert. The impressions were strong.
Sergey
Yandex ·
★★★★★The cars are powerful, we drove everywhere. The only thing is we were delayed on the road. But the driver handled it
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Altyn-Emel jeep tour
We've collected the questions travelers ask most often. Didn't find your answer? Write to us — a guide will reply in a couple of minutes.
Ask a questionBring comfortable shoes — you'll be walking on the sand of the dune and the rocky slopes of Aktau and Katutau. Be sure to pack warm clothes for the evening: in the steppe it's windy and cool after sunset. A hat, sunscreen, a camera and a personal first-aid kit will also come in handy.
The walking sections here are short and specific: the climb up the Singing Dune, a walk along it, and stops at the colourful rocks of Aktau and Katutau. Most of the time the group travels by jeep and spends the evenings at the campsite, so no athletic training is required. If you're worried about a particular section, message us on WhatsApp — we'll tell you more for your date.
There are no specific age restrictions in the programme, but the format involves a long drive in jeeps and two nights in the field. The decision depends on how your companions handle such conditions. Check the group composition on WhatsApp, and we'll honestly tell you how well the format suits you.
Meet at Abai Square at 06:30, from where the jeeps head towards the national park. The drive takes about four hours, then the programme includes the Singing Dune, lunch by the Ili River, the Aktau and Katutau mountains and sunset in the steppe. By 21:00 the group settles in at the campsite.
The price includes jeeps from Almaty and back, a driver-guide, entry to the national park, two nights at the campsite, meals according to the programme and water in the vehicle. On site, you'll only need money for personal expenses — souvenirs and extra drinks. We recommend arranging insurance yourself in advance, and excursions outside the programme are not included in the price.
This tour is a group tour, so you travel together with other tourists according to the general departure schedule. If you want your own group, message us on WhatsApp — we'll check what can be arranged for your date. In any case, booking is made by message, with no prepayment, and you pay on the day of the trip — Kaspi, card or cash; cancellation is free.
