★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Jeep tour · 1 day
Singing Dune and Aktau-Katutau Mountains — Tour from Almaty
5 · 21 reviews
In one day, you'll see two natural wonders: the famous Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park and the colorful Aktau-Katutau Mountains. The route is on a comfortable SUV, returning to Almaty by evening.
WhenSat, Sun — departure 06:00
Duration12 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $103/person
Program
Jeep Tour Itinerary to Singing Dune and Aktau-Katutau Hour by Hour
06:00
Meeting and departure from Almaty
We meet in the city center, transfer to a jeep, and head towards Altyn-Emel.
09:00
Arrival at the national park
We obtain entry permits and head to the Singing Dune.
10:00
Singing Dune
Climb to the top of the dune, listen to its 'singing' in the wind, take panoramic photos.
12:00
Lunch in nature
Picnic in a scenic spot with mountain views (lunch is paid separately).
13:00
Aktau and Katutau Mountains
Transfer to the colorful rocks of Aktau-Katutau, walk and photo session.
16:00
Return trip
Depart back to Almaty along the highway.
18:00
Arrival in Almaty
Estimated return time, drop-off in the city center.
What's included
What's included in the jeep tour to Singing Dune and Aktau-Katutau
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by SUV (comfortable jeep, air conditioning)
- Driver-guide services in Russian
- Entry tickets to Altyn-Emel National Park
- Bottled water for the road
- Insurance during the tour
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Lunch (picnic, paid separately – $10/person)
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes for walking on sand and rocks
- Hat and sunscreen
- Windbreaker or jacket (wind on the dune)
- Camera or smartphone with charger
- Water bottle (if you want to refill from the cooler)
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.
★5
★4.52Alexander Пашкин
Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу
★4.74Andrey Шевелёв
Driver-guide
★4.27Анжелика Чвыкова
Гид-фотограф
★4.27Ильяс Дарбеков
Гид-переводчик
★4.55Мадина Данина
Организатор туров
★4.49Сергей Бабичев
Personal guide-водитель
Reviews
Reviews of the jeep tour to the Singing Dune and Aktau-Katutau
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Viktor D.
Our website ·
★★★★★Friends recommended this tour, and I decided to go. No regrets! The barchan really sings if you put your ear to the sand. The guide showed and told everything. The Aktau-Katutau mountains are also beautiful, especially liked the colorful rocks. We left early, but it was worth it.
Kanat R.
Our website ·
★★★★★Barlhan i gory Akta - eto nechto! Organizatsiya na 5, no vyyezd zaderzhali. Vse ravno super
Asel D.
Google ·
★★★★★My friend and I had long wanted to see the singing barchan, and finally we made up our minds. We went on the weekend, the departure was early, but we managed to sleep in the car on the way. When we got to the barchan, I was amazed: the sand really sings if you climb to the top and wait for a gust of wind. My friend didn't believe it at first, but then she heard it and squealed with delight. The guide helped us take beautiful photos against the backdrop of the barchan and mountains. The colored mountains of Aktau-Katutau also impressed us — it felt like we were on another planet. On the way back, we discussed the trip for a long time. Thanks to the guide for his patience and interesting stories!
Bakhtiyar S.
Google ·
★★★★★I'll go next time. The dune and Aktau are my stone. The guide spoke beautifully.
Natalya V.
Google ·
★★★★★Stunning landscapes. The dune looks like it's from a movie. The guide explained everything, the route was perfectly planned.
Dinara A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Barchan and Aktau mountains are a fairy tale! Very satisfied. Manager Madina helped with the choice of the tour, everything went perfectly
Ruslan A.
Our website ·
★★★★★I chose this tour because of its uniqueness. The dune really sings, you can hear it even from a distance. The Aktau mountains are all the colors of the rainbow. The guide is very friendly, helped with all the questions. I recommend it.
Elena P.
Our website ·
★★★★★A trip to the desert is something else! The singing dune really sings, the rocks are unusual. Organization is top-notch, but there were long lines in one spot. The driver did great, told us everything.
Yerlan T.
Google ·
★★★★★We went with colleagues after the work week to unwind. The jeep is comfortable, the driver is careful. The singing barchan is a miracle! The sand sings if you rub it with your hands or wait for the wind. We had a photo session at the top. The Aktau-Katutau mountains are colorful, like an artist's palette. The guide told many legends, it was interesting. We had lunch in nature, though at our own expense, but the food was tasty. We returned to the city by evening, a bit tired, but emotions are overwhelming. Thanks to the guide for an excellent excursion!
Madina K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Amazing trip. The dune feels alive. The guide gave a great tour.
Andrey L.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Good tour. I didn't think sand could sing. Thanks to Anzhelika.
Aigul S.
2GIS ·
★★★★★To be honest, I'm not a big fan of long trips, but my friends persuaded me. And I didn't regret it! The barchan is something incredible, especially when you stand on the top and listen to its 'singing'. The Aktau-Katutau mountains impressed with their colorful rocks, we took a bunch of photos. The guide told a lot about the nature and history of these places, it was very informative. Lunch in nature, though for an extra fee, but the views were worth it. We returned to Almaty tired but happy. Thanks to the driver for a comfortable ride and the guide for excellent organization!
Sergey I.
Our website ·
★★★★★It was awesome. The singing sand is a unique phenomenon. The guide made our day unforgettable.
Oleg E.
Google ·
★★★★★Good tour. Only the road is bumpy, but for such views you can endure. The guide is an excellent organizer
Larisa F.
Our website ·
★★★★★The singing dune and the Aktau mountains are beautiful. The guide organized everything perfectly.
Gulnara M.
Google ·
★★★★★Loved it. The Singing Dunes are a natural wonder. The guide was super.
Svetlana O.
Our website ·
★★★★★The dune and Aktau are powerful. Only the wind was a bit of a nuisance. The guide did great.
Olga S.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I had been dreaming of seeing the singing dune for a long time. And it happened! I'm overwhelmed with emotions. The colorful Aktau mountains are out of this world. Thank you, the guide, for your patience and great stories. The only thing was that departure was delayed by half an hour, but it was worth it.
Marat K.
Google ·
★★★★★I hesitated for a long time but went and didn't regret it. The nature is fascinating. The guide told everything very interestingly
Zhanna P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We left early in the morning, were delayed by 15 minutes, but it didn't spoil the impression. The jeep ride was comfortable, the air conditioning saved us from the heat. The singing barchan is something else! The sand really makes sounds similar to a hum. The guide told us where it's best to stand to hear the 'singing' and take panoramic shots. The colored mountains of Aktau-Katutau impressed with their colors, especially in daylight. We walked among the rocks and took photos. Lunch in nature was tasty, though for an additional fee. We drove back tired but satisfied. Thanks to the guide for interesting stories and care!
Ivan G.
Google ·
★★★★★I enjoyed the tour. The views were amazing. The guide gave valuable advice.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the jeep tour to the Singing Dune and Aktau-Katutau
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 questionYou need comfortable shoes — you will be walking on sand and stones, and sneakers are best. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a windbreaker: it is often windy on the dune, and the sun is hot during the day. A camera or smartphone with a charger and a water bottle will also come in handy — we provide water on the road.
The walking sections are short: a climb to the top of the dune and a walk by the colourful Aktau-Katutau rocks, with no long hikes. No special training is needed, the pace is calm, with stops for photos. If you get tired, the guide will tell you where to rest.
The small-group format and calm pace make the tour suitable for families, but keep in mind the walking climbs on sand and stones. The journey takes a full day — departing at 06:00 and returning by evening, which is worth considering with small children. If you have doubts about the exertion for a particular person, ask us on WhatsApp for your date.
Departure at 06:00, we meet in the centre of Almaty, from there we transfer to an off-road vehicle and drive towards Altyn-Emel. According to the programme, we return to the city at approximately 18:00, and drop-off is also in the centre. We will confirm the exact meeting point on WhatsApp after booking.
The $103 per person already includes an off-road vehicle with air conditioning, a driver-guide, entrance tickets to Altyn-Emel, water for the road and insurance for the duration of the tour. The picnic lunch with a view of the mountains is paid for separately — $10 per person. Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional drinks are also at your own expense.
The tour runs in a small-group format, but if you want your own group — write to us on WhatsApp for the desired weekend, and we will check for your date. We book without prepayment: simply confirm by message on WhatsApp and we will reserve a place in the off-road vehicle for you. Payment is on the day of the trip — Kaspi, by card or in cash, and cancellation is free.
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