3-Day Nomadic Adventure: Turgen Falls, Assy Plateau & Glamping

n ridge - by the Kuldja Road, a part of the Silk Way. First stop is at a nice museum of Saki (Scythe) culture located at the entrance of the Issyk town. The museum is situated in the centre of the King's valley, famous for its giant burials of ancient rulers and warriors of Saki tribes (IX – III BC). One of the burials is excavated and is open for the visitors so that everyone could see how people like a famous Golden Man (symbol of Kazakhstan) were buried. An excursion by the museum and a King’s valley takes 45 minutes and after it we head up the mountains to see another attraction - a highland Issyk Lake.

The color of its water changes depending on the season and can be from steel gray to turquoise. The surrounding peaks are reflected in the surface of the lake, and this is definitely worth seeing landscape.

There are 15 kilometres more to the east from Issyk, and we enter huge Turgen ravine. Turgen is one of the most beautiful places in Zailisky Alatau range. While you’re moving further by the road that stretches deep into the canyon along the overflowing Turgen River, you feast your eyes on the richness of the luxuriant vegetation. In the beginning of the gorge, a well-known rainbow trout farm is located. Turgen valley is also known for its waterfalls: there are 7 big falls in this area but 2 of them are definitely “must visit” places: a Bear waterfall is 30 meters tall and located a height of 1450m ASL, and Kairak waterfall – the gem of Turgen collection. So, we will not miss a chance and take a guided hike to the Bear waterfall (1.5 hours).

date at Trekking Club campsite, which will become your unforgettable "glamping" experience! What is a camp about? Our camp is a huge forest "island", fenced off from civilization by a turbulent river on the one hand and the slopes of the Assy plateau on the other. It really is an island! Cars remain in the parking lot on the shore, and you can get to us only by crossing the suspension bridge, the idea of which we spied on in Nepal. The camp became a finalist of Sustainable Destinations TOP 100 by Green Destinations, and can proudly say that it remains the most environmentally friendly tourist destination in Kazakhstan. Accommodation is provided in big two-room safari-styled tents with lighting, beds. In such a lovely place we take a dinner (riverside buffet in a big canteen tent), take hot shower and stay overnight - surrounded by high mountains and wild nature.

The road starts in the forest zone of Turgen gorge, and climbs up through the thicket that ends suddenly at a height of 2600 meters ASL. And a boundless green highland valley appears. The Kazakh nomads use Asy plateau for the thousands of years as a summer pasture, and they are still there with their goats, sheep, horses and white yurts. Enjoy the nomadic wanders: immense highlands full of beautiful happy animals, white beads of yurts scattered here and there across the vast plateau, shepherds followed by their faithful Tazy dogs, ancient Saki (Scythian) ruins and burial pyramids, Bronze Age rock carvings, and of course wildlife. After a picnic on the plateau with incredible views of Tien Shan snow peaks and glaciers, we stop to see the Assy space observatory and drive down to the camp.

Take dinner and stay another night. Those inspired by the nomads may also try a Scythian sauna, which is available at a camp.

A way starts at a confluence of rivers Kishi-Turgen and Turgen. A good, wide path follows up the Turgen stream. There are 8 kilometres in total from Batan (start point) to the fall, with no significant ascents or dangerous points. All you need is to enjoy the amazing wild nature around – deep Schrenk spruce groves paved with endemic mossy grasses, ash-tree shrubs, colourful meadows… Having crossed 11 old bridges, we finally come at a confluence of Turgen and Kairak rivers where turn left and hike up for another 20 minutes. The Kairak waterfall is one of the biggest in the region: it’s height is 70m and it never dries. A way to the waterfall takes 2,5-3 hours of walking. Normally we spend another 30-40 minutes near the fall to take pictures and lunch. Way back takes another 2 hours, so you should consider 5-6 hours of walking in total. After a hike we come back to the camp and take late lunch.

You may expect arrival to your hotel in late afternoon.