ONE-DAY TOUR TO A PEARL OF THE ZAILISKIY ALATAU

Big Almaty Lake is located in the gorge of the Big Almatinka River in the Zailiskly Alatau at the height of 2511 meters above the sea level, 28 kilometers south from the City of Almaty. The lake is in a gullet among majestic mountain peaks. BAL is a part of the Ile-Alatau National Park and emerges as a basin with the depth of 40 meters, length of 1.6 km, and the width of about 1 km.  The temperature of its water in summer is 10-12 degrees Celsius. As the overwhelming majority of lakes of the Tien Shan, BAL came into existence as a result of an earthquake.  

Three main peaks, seen from the northern end of the dam, tower above the lake:

- Soviets’ Peak (4317 m) – in the south-east,

- Ozyorny Peak (4110 m) – in the south, up the river valley,

- Tourists’ Peak (3954 m) – south-west from the lake.

North-west from Tourists’ Peak, there is the ridge of Big Almaty Peak, a pyramid with the height of 3681 meters, which is seen well from the city center.  

Depending on the season, the lake changes its color – from light-green to turquois-blue.  An excursion to Big Almaty Lake is interesting at any time of the year. Even in winter, when the mirror-like surface of the lake is covered with ice and snow, it delights with its expanse and mystique. The road to the lake is very picturesque and beautiful. The road passes by slim fir trees and mixed forests, entrancing in summer with freshness of greens and in autumn – with their bright colors. The ribbon of serpentine here and there dives under tree crowns and then curls on a steep slope above the gorge. Just over BAL, the Tien Shan Astronomic Observatory and the Special Solar Observatory are located. 

Big Almaty Peak is the last top, the northern in the Big Almaty Spur and Big Almaty Gorge.  It is seen well from the city as a huge pyramid. By accounts of the local city historians, as early as in 1909, a group of gymnasia students with their teacher climbed on its top. A mention about it is in the city archives. Up to the fifties of the XX century, on the schemes and on the city panorama of the mountains, it was called Pyramid.  It is located in the northern tail of the Big Almaty Spur, north from Zhussalykzen Pass, where the Scientific Station of P.N. Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, more known as “Cosmos Station”, is located.    

In the upper part on the ridge, one can see 3 approximately equal in their heights pinnacles. In the north, the cyclorama of Ile Valley and Almaty City is opened. In the east, the tops of Small Almaty Gorge and Satpayev Peak are seen, and deep in the gorge – Big Almaty Lake.  In the south, there are tops of the circus of Gorodetskiy Glacier and peaks Tourist, Turan, and Momushuly. In the west, the view to the peaks of Kargaly Spur opens. 

PROGRAMME

Departure from Almaty at 09:00a.m. 

Stops for photo sessions (Almarassan Gorge, mountainous serpentine). 

Ascent up the lake to the serpentine to the Observatory. Photosessionagainstthelake, small walk, late breakfast. 

Transferinjeepsupwards from the Observatory to the Cosmos Station. 

ClimbingBigAlmatyPeak (5 hoursupanddown, restforhalf-an-hour, photo session on the top). 

Descending to jeeps, arrival in Almaty at 06:00 p.m. 

THE COST

A trip in jeeps - from 23 000 tenges for one tourist (without meals);

The cost includes transport, services of a Russian/Kazakh speaking guide, ecological duty, meals (depending on the option); additional option: an English speaking guide - 15 000 tenges.

We provide the option of driving a car by a tourist on route. The conditions of hiring are discussed at request and in the presence of needed skills and a driving license of such tourist.