Jeep Tour · 2 Days

Altyn-Emel: Singing Dune in 2 Days

4.9 · 24 reviews

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.

WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration2 days, 1 night
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $155/person

Program

Hour-by-Hour Program of the Altyn-Emel Jeep Tour

06:30

Meeting and departure from Almaty

Meet at the Palace of the Republic (Dostyk Ave, 56). Drive towards Altyn-Emel National Park.

09:00

Stop at Kapchagay Dam

Quick photo session overlooking the reservoir. Optional stop at a store for supplies.

12:00

Arrival at the park, lunch

Enter the reserve. Lunch in the field (hot meal, tea, snacks).

14:00

Singing Dune

Climb the 150 m dune. In calm weather, you can hear the sand humming. Descent and free time.

17:00

Terekty Petroglyphs

Visit a canyon with ancient nomadic rock carvings. Short walk.

19:00

Check into yurts, dinner

Settle into ethno-yurts on the park grounds. Dinner with Kazakh dishes.

07:00 (Day 2)

Breakfast and departure

Breakfast, pack up. Leave the park.

10:00

Lake Kapchagay

Swim and relax on the lakeshore (weather permitting).

13:00

Lunch at a cafe

Stop at a roadside cafe (paid separately).

15:00

Return to Almaty

Arrive in the city, end of tour.

What's included

What's Included in the Altyn-Emel Jeep Tour

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer in a comfortable SUV (jeep) from Almaty and back
  • Driver-guide services throughout the route
  • Entrance tickets to Altyn-Emel National Park
  • Accommodation in a yurt (1 night)
  • Dinner and breakfast (home-style cooking)
  • Bottled water in the vehicle

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Lunches (lunch on Day 1 and lunch on Day 2 are paid extra)
  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
  • Insurance

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable shoes for climbing the dune (sneakers or trekking boots)
  • Warm jacket (it gets cool in the steppe at night)
  • Sunscreen and hat
  • Swimwear (for Lake Kapchagay)
  • Personal medications and insect repellent

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.

Aidos Serikov — Senior guide, mountain routes★4.9

Aidos Serikov

Senior guide, mountain routes

187 reviews · experience 14 years

Dinara Kassymova — Guide-lecturer in Almaty★5

Dinara Kassymova

Guide-lecturer in Almaty

142 review · experience 11 years

Marat Zhunussov — Trekking instructor★4.8

Marat Zhunussov

Trekking instructor

96 reviews · experience 9 years

Oleg Kim — Driver-guide, jeep tours★4.9

Oleg Kim

Driver-guide, jeep tours

164 review · experience 13 years

Zhanna Abenova — Tour manager★4.8

Zhanna Abenova

Tour manager

78 reviews · experience 7 years

Timur Beketov — Multi-day tour guide★4.9

Timur Beketov

Multi-day tour guide

118 reviews · experience 10 years

Aliya Nurlan — Group coordinator★5

Aliya Nurlan

Group coordinator

64 review · experience 6 years

Sergey Volkov — Instructor, ski tours★4.8

Sergey Volkov

Instructor, ski tours

103 review · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
OM
Olga M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #42144
KP
Ksenia P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Everything was perfectly organized. The road was long, but it was worth it. Oleg told lots of interesting things.

Verified review · Order #39601
GZ
Gulmira Zh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #39617
AD
Alexandra D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

The trip left unforgettable impressions. The sunset at the dune was especially amazing.

Verified review · Order #39529
BA
Bauyrzhan A.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #38722
AT
Arman T.
Google ·
★★★★★

Kogda ya uslishal, kak poet barhan, dazhe ne povetril. V turisticheskoi kompanii vse skazali verno.

Verified review · Order #38144
TB
Temirlan B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

First time in Kazakhstan, decided to go out into nature. Liked the tour, Zhanna answered all my questions.

Verified review · Order #38147
MT
Marat T.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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!

Verified review · Order #37810
EL
Ekaterina L.
Google ·
★★★★★

I chose the tour on my friend's recommendation. No regrets. Mountains all around, clear sky. Super!

Verified review · Order #36202
AU
Askhat U.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #32008
PI
Polina I.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #31777
ZR
Zulfiya R.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Davno ne bila v gorah. Ochen otvlekla, poluchila udovolstvie. Vse rabotniki privetlivye.

Verified review · Order #31628
AK
Aizhan K.
Google ·
★★★★★

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!

Verified review · Order #31486
TA
Tatyana A.
Google ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #31419
BE
Bekzhan E.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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!

Verified review · Order #29134
MK
Maksat K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

A tour for nature lovers. The barkhan is very large, the view is amazing. I liked it.

Verified review · Order #27928
AK
Anuar K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Amazing! The nature is very beautiful. When you descend from the barkhan, the sand hums. The guide is a great guide.

Verified review · Order #23174
DS
Dinara S.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

These two days flew by. Huge thanks to Zhanna for the organization, everything was spot on.

Verified review · Order #22567
VK
Venera Kh.
Google ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #21554
IS
Ilya S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

First time at the Singing Dune. The sound is truly unusual. Thanks to the guide Timur for the tour.

Verified review · Order #19386
EF
Elena F.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We spent a long time choosing between tour operators and settled on this one. We didn't go wrong. Everything was top-notch.

Verified review · Order #19225
RG
Ruslan G.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Zhanna is an excellent organizer, she explained everything. The dune really sings.

Verified review · Order #18268
AN
Aliya N.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #16148
VN
Vitaliy N.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #12310

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 question

At 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.