★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Jeep Tour · 2 Days
A two-day jeep tour from Almaty to the Altyn-Emel National Park. You'll hear the singing dune, see ancient petroglyphs, and visit Lake Kapchagay. Overnight in a yurt for a full immersion in the wild.
Program
Meet at the Palace of the Republic (Dostyk Ave, 56). Drive towards Altyn-Emel National Park.
Quick photo session overlooking the reservoir. Optional stop at a store for supplies.
Enter the reserve. Lunch in the field (hot meal, tea, snacks).
Climb the 150 m dune. In calm weather, you can hear the sand humming. Descent and free time.
Visit a canyon with ancient nomadic rock carvings. Short walk.
Settle into ethno-yurts on the park grounds. Dinner with Kazakh dishes.
Breakfast, pack up. Leave the park.
Swim and relax on the lakeshore (weather permitting).
Stop at a roadside cafe (paid separately).
Arrive in the city, end of tour.
What's included
Already included in the tour price
Optional, on site
To make the day comfortable
Team
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
★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
The tour is super! Nature is gorgeous, the air is clean. The guide accompanied the group, very attentive. The dune really sings if you listen. Only positive emotions left.
Everything was perfectly organized. The road was long, but it was worth it. Oleg told lots of interesting things.
Backstory: I wanted to escape the city hustle. The tour gave me a reset. Too bad it was chilly at night, but they provided sleeping bags.
The trip left unforgettable impressions. The sunset at the dune was especially amazing.
We went as a whole family, the kids really enjoyed running on the dune. The food was delicious, especially dinner in the yurt. The weather was great, everyone was happy.
Kogda ya uslishal, kak poet barhan, dazhe ne povetril. V turisticheskoi kompanii vse skazali verno.
First time in Kazakhstan, decided to go out into nature. Liked the tour, Zhanna answered all my questions.
The departure was delayed by 20 minutes, but it's no big deal. The road was bumpy, but the views are worth it. Really enjoyed it!
I chose the tour on my friend's recommendation. No regrets. Mountains all around, clear sky. Super!
We went on vacation with our family, the kids love nature. The sound of the dune was amazing, especially when it's quiet. The guide told us many interesting things. We slept well in the yurt at night.
For a long time I couldn't decide on the trip, but my friend persuaded me. We took a two-day tour to recharge. The nature of Altyn-Emel impressed us: the dune is huge, the sand sings if you listen closely. The petroglyphs are interesting, but we wanted more time for them. The night in the yurt was comfortable, the food was tasty. In the morning we went to the lake, but it was cool, so we didn't swim. Now I want more, next time I'll take a three-day tour.
Davno ne bila v gorah. Ochen otvlekla, poluchila udovolstvie. Vse rabotniki privetlivye.
I had long wanted to see the Singing Dune, and now my dream has come true. My husband and I went to relax in nature. The tour met our expectations, the nature is incredible. The guide suggested the best angle for a photo on the dune. The petroglyphs also impressed us, especially the ancient drawings. The night in the yurt was cozy, but cool. In the morning we swam in the lake, the water was invigorating. I'm very happy with the trip, thanks to the organizers!
I really needed a break from the city, so I decided to go alone. Nature calms you down, especially the silence in the desert. The guide suggested a route for a walk along the dune. The petroglyphs impressed me with their ancient drawings. The night in the yurt passed calmly, though it was cool. In the morning I didn't swim in the lake, just walked. Overall the trip gave me what I was looking for – peace and new impressions.
We went with friends for the weekend to take a break from work. We had long wanted to see the singing dune. The road was long, but the views are worth it. The dinner under the stars was especially memorable – the atmosphere is incredible. The guide told us about ancient drawings, it was interesting. The night in the yurt passed calmly, though it was cool. In the morning we went to the lake and swam a little. Overall we had a great time, I recommend it!
A tour for nature lovers. The barkhan is very large, the view is amazing. I liked it.
Amazing! The nature is very beautiful. When you descend from the barkhan, the sand hums. The guide is a great guide.
These two days flew by. Huge thanks to Zhanna for the organization, everything was spot on.
My sister and I had long dreamed of seeing a real desert. We chose this tour because we wanted to hear the singing dune. The nature is magnificent, the sunset especially impressed us. The guide conducted the excursion professionally and told us many interesting things about the petroglyphs. The night in the yurt was cozy, though a bit cool. In the morning we swam in the lake, the water was invigorating. Thank you for the organization, everything was well arranged.
First time at the Singing Dune. The sound is truly unusual. Thanks to the guide Timur for the tour.
We spent a long time choosing between tour operators and settled on this one. We didn't go wrong. Everything was top-notch.
Zhanna is an excellent organizer, she explained everything. The dune really sings.
I had long dreamed of a trip to Altyn-Emel, and finally went with a friend. The dune impressed me — huge, the sand hums under your feet. Mosquitoes bit, but that's minor. The sunset there is simply magical.
Went with colleagues after the work week. Liked everything, but the road is dusty. A thermos with tea saved us. The camp is cozy, the night in the yurt was calm. In the morning we refreshed ourselves at the lake.
FAQ
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 questionAt night in the steppe it is noticeably colder than during the day, so a warm jacket is essential, and it is better to climb the dune not in flip-flops but in closed shoes — trainers or trekking boots. During the day the sun is strong — a hat and sunscreen will come in handy, plus insect repellent and your own medications. On the second day the program includes swimming at Kapchagay, so a swimsuit or trunks are also worth taking.
The main exertion over the two days is the climb up the dune itself and a short walk to the petroglyphs in the Terekty gorge; the rest of the time you travel by off-road vehicle. No special athletic training is required, but walking up the sand is harder than it looks, and it is better to go at a measured pace. The format is private, so the guide adapts to your group, and if someone finds it hard, you can always take a rest.
The tour is private, and that is the main thing: the guide adjusts the pace, stops and time at the dune specifically to your group, not to someone else's group. The night is spent in yurts on the park grounds, with dinner and breakfast, not in tents — for elderly parents this is more comfortable than a classic hike. As for the specific age and how they feel — write to us on WhatsApp, and we will look into it for your date.
The start on the first day is early — meeting at 06:30 at the Republic Palace on Dostyk Avenue, 56, and immediately departing towards the national park. On the second day, return to Almaty is scheduled for around 15:00, after swimming at Kapchagay and lunch at a roadside cafe. We will confirm the exact time for your date on WhatsApp.
The price already includes the entire journey by off-road vehicle from Almaty and back, the driver-guide's services, entrance tickets to the national park, the night in a yurt, dinner and breakfast, as well as water in the vehicle. Additionally, on the spot you pay for both lunches — on the first day in field conditions and on the second day at a roadside cafe — plus personal expenses such as souvenirs and insurance. If you wish, you can buy groceries along the way when there is a stop at a shop.
Yes, this two-day tour is private, so the off-road vehicle will have only your people, and you choose the date from the daily departures. We hold the booking via a WhatsApp message — no prepayment is needed; you pay on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash. If your plans change, cancellation of the booking is free.