★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Jeep Tour · One Day
Jeep tour to the Singing Dune and Altyn-Emel Desert
4.9 · 21 reviews
Head to Altyn-Emel National Park to see the famous Singing Dune and endless desert landscapes. You'll encounter sand dunes, ancient petroglyphs, and wildlife.
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration10 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $102/person
Program
Hour-by-Hour Program of the Altyn-Emel Jeep Tour
06:30
Departure from Almaty
Meet at Abay Square, board a comfortable jeep. Get acquainted with the guide and group.
08:30
Breakfast at a roadside cafe
Stop at a roadside cafe for a hearty breakfast (included).
10:00
Arrival at Altyn-Emel Park
Enter the national park. Stop at a viewpoint overlooking the mountains.
11:00
Singing Dune
Climb the 120-meter dune. Descend on sand that emits a booming sound. Photo session with desert panorama.
13:00
Lunch in nature
Picnic in the shade of the dune: hot dish, salad, drinks. Rest and free time.
14:30
Excursion to petroglyphs and desert
Visit a canyon with ancient rock carvings. Walk through the desert in search of wild animals (kulan, goitered gazelle).
16:30
Return to Almaty
Transfer back with a stop for tea/coffee. Arrival at Abay Square around 7:00 PM.
What's included
What's Included in the Jeep Tour to the Singing Dune
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back by SUV (Toyota Land Cruiser or similar)
- Services of a professional guide-driver
- Entrance tickets to Altyn-Emel National Park
- Breakfast and lunch (hot dish, salad, drinks)
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Insurance (we recommend arranging it yourself)
- Tips for the guide (optional)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes (hiking or sneakers)
- Hat and sunscreen
- Windbreaker or jacket (wind in the desert)
- Personal first aid kit (if needed)
- Camera or smartphone for photos
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 of the jeep tour to the Singing Dune
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Gulmira Sh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We chose this tour because we wanted to show the children the real desert. We went with my friends as a family trip. Everything was organized on time, without delays. Climbing the dune was very impressive, the children played sliding down the sand. Oleg spoke in Kazakh and gave a lot of information about the local nature. The food was tasty, especially the lunch in nature. Seeing the petroglyphs was also interesting. We want to go again next time.
Aizhan K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Thanks to the team for organizing, everything was great. The Singing Dune is a natural wonder, very atmospheric. Oleg pointed out the best spots for photos.
Ivan B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★It was okay.
Beket A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Nature is amazing, organization is good. The sound of the barkhan is impressive. We'll go again next time.
Ksenia P.
Our website ·
★★★★★The vacation was a success, I recommend it to everyone.
Alina G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Everything was super.
Damir Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★Short but sweet: the desert is fire, the dune sings like a guitar, the guide is awesome!
Elena V.
Google ·
★★★★★I spent a long time choosing a tour to this particular desert, I wanted solitude. I didn't regret it, even though the road is bumpy. Zhanna is the life of the party. My friend and I went to escape the city bustle. What I remember most is climbing the dune — the sand shimmers in the sun, and when you go down, it really sings. The guide told a lot of interesting things about the desert and its inhabitants. The food was delicious, especially the picnic in the shade. Time flew by unnoticed. I will definitely come back again.
Svetlana O.
Our website ·
★★★★★Really enjoyed the trip, especially the moment when the sands start to sing. The organization was top-notch, and the driver was careful. Zhanna even managed to show us rare turtles. A small 10-minute delay didn't spoil the experience. I'll recommend it.
Marat A.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went with friends to see the famous singing dune. The departure was delayed by 20 minutes, but the guide told about the dunes so interestingly that we forgot about time. The views are unreal, especially at sunset. Descending with the sand — that's something!
Maksat K.
Our website ·
★★★★★The reason for choosing the tour is that I love nature. The dune really sings. Oleg is very knowledgeable and funny. The only drawback is that we left late (30 min). But everything was very great.
Zhanna L.
Google ·
★★★★★I wanted to see the Singing Dune since childhood. Dream came true! The wind was strong, but it added to the atmosphere. Thanks, Aliya, for the warm welcome.
Aliya T.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went as a whole family, the children had long asked to show them a real desert. We chose this tour because it is convenient in time and suitable for children. What we liked most was how the children ran on the sand and listened to the dune humming. We climbed it, the view from there is stunning. The guide showed ancient rock paintings and told about the animals that live here. Lunch in nature was very welcome, everything fresh and tasty. The way back passed unnoticed. The children still remember this trip.
Assem A.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Vse bylo super, spasibo za organizaciyu. Pustynya - skazka. Gid rasskazal mnogo.
Ruslan M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Had a blast, the dune really sings. The guide told us about the local fauna, very interesting.
Arman K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Ochen krasivo, no doroga dolgaya. No Oleg vse organizoval otlichno.
Maria D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Went with my friend on a colleague's recommendation. Didn't expect such beauty, the sand is like silk. Zhanna was very cheerful, set the mood.
Dinara T.
Google ·
★★★★★We waited 15 minutes for the bus, but in the end everything was great. The desert is impressive. The guide did a great job.
Olga S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great tour, I recommend it. The views are unreal. We went with colleagues, wanted to diversify the weekend. I liked that you don't have to think about anything — everything is organized. Climbing the dune was remembered for a long time, especially its humming. The guide told interestingly about the desert and animals. The weather was excellent, we took a bunch of beautiful photos. Lunch in nature also pleased. We returned tired but satisfied. I will definitely recommend it to friends.
Nursultan T.
Google ·
★★★★★Everything was smooth.
Yuliya N.
Google ·
★★★★★Beautifully deserted.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the 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 questionMeet at Abai Square at 06:30, departure immediately. We return to Abai Square around 19:00, with a stop for tea/coffee along the way. The day lasts about 10 hours, including breakfast, lunch and all stops in Altyn-Emel.
The main effort is the climb up the dune itself, 120 metres high, and a walk through the gorge to the rock drawings. An off-road vehicle takes you between the stops, so there are no long walks. No special training is needed, but comfortable closed shoes will make climbing the sand noticeably easier.
The format is private, and the guide-driver adjusts the pace and stops to your group, so both children and older relatives are usually comfortable. The programme has no overnight stays and no long walks: a climb up the dune, a picnic lunch at its foot and a leisurely walk through the gorge with the petroglyphs. If you have any doubts about health or age, message us on WhatsApp — we will clarify the details for your date.
Take closed shoes that do not mind sand, a hat and sunscreen — the desert sun is strong. A windbreaker or jacket will be useful, because it can be windy on the dune, as well as a personal first-aid kit and a camera. There is bottled water in the vehicle, and breakfast and lunch are included in the programme, so you do not have to bring food with you.
Yes, this off-road vehicle tour is private: the off-road vehicle and guide-driver work only with your group, there will be no other travellers. To book a convenient day, simply message us on WhatsApp — no prepayment is needed, and you pay on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash. Cancellation of the booking is free.
The price includes travel by off-road vehicle from Almaty and back, the work of the guide-driver, entry to Altyn-Emel National Park, breakfast and lunch, and water in the vehicle. You pay separately only for personal purchases such as souvenirs and extra drinks, tips for the guide if you wish, and insurance, which we recommend arranging yourself.
