Road trip in Western Kazakhstan
Aktolagai, Ustyurt plateau, Mangistau

Aktolagay

We get up early to enjoy the sunrise, because the morning light gives completely different colors and presents a seemingly familiar place in a completely different way. After breakfast, we pack up the camp and set off by car along the mountain range. We will have to stop very often, because literally every 100-200 meters there is a new observation deck and a new stunning view, unlike the previous ones!

We will finish our excursion closer to the evening, having driven around the Aktolagay mountain range along its upper part, we will go down and set up a tent camp at the bottom.

Aktolagay - Mount Sherkala

We have breakfast, pack up our tents and head further towards the Mangyshlak Peninsula. Again about 150 kilometers of steppe off-road, in the middle of which the ancient mausoleum of Dzhuban unexpectedly appears, after inspecting which we will go out onto an asphalt road of excellent quality, along which we will drive another 560 km. Closer to evening we will turn off it and, having overcome the last 20 km of gravel, we will find ourselves near Mount Sherkala, where we will spend the night in tents.

Sherkala is a lonely mountain of an unusual shape, one of the main symbols of Mangistau in Kazakhstan. Depending on the viewing angle, on one side the mountain looks like a dome, on the other - like a lying lion. The southern part is quite steep, and the northern part seems flat, has many small gorges with caves, but it is impossible to climb to the top without mountaineering equipment. However, mountaineering is not in our plans, we will simply enjoy the beauty of the mountain, setting up tents right at its foot.

Mount Sherkala - "Caspian landslide" - Port Shevchenko - Aktau

In the morning we walk around the mountain for 2-3 hours, explore its relief and small caves, and then get into the cars and along the rutted roads in the steppe we go to the "Caspian landslide" - a giant natural formation that forms a multi-kilometer descent to the sea. On the way we will observe the chalk mountains of the Mangyshlak Peninsula (we are already on it), as well as a scattering of huge stone balls, as if scattered around the area by some giant.

By evening we will arrive in the city of Aktau, where we will check into a hotel, with pleasure after several nights in tents and driving through the dusty steppe, we will take a shower and go for a walk around the evening city. Dinner in a cafe or restaurant.

Aktau - Karagiye Depression - Zhanaozen - Boszhira

In the morning we set off for the main pearl of our journey - the Ustyurt Plateau. 140 km to the city of Zhanaozen there will be a wonderful asphalt road, then you will have to drive on a very dusty dirt road, and then even along the ruts in the steppe. By the way, before reaching Zhanaozen we will pass the Karagiye Depression, which is in fifth place in the ranking of the deepest depressions in the world, its absolute mark is 132 meters below sea level, and 100 meters below the waters of the Caspian Sea. The exact nature of its origin cannot be determined to this day. It is located at the foot of the Karakhau Mountains. The length of the depression is 50 km, the width is 30 km.

Well, when approaching the Ustyurt Plateau, an optical surprise awaits us! We are driving through the steppe and there is a kilometer, 500 meters, 300 meters left to the plateau... but nothing is visible, as if the navigator is deceiving us and the steppe will continue for many kilometers. And only having driven very close, we find ourselves on the edge of the cliff - the plateau is below, much lower than the steppe level!

First we admire it from above - having driven along the edge of the cliff several observation platforms, and then we reach the road that was laid down - into the very heart of the plateau.

Having descended to the plateau, we will drive another 20 kilometers and find ourselves near Bozzhira - the most famous and iconic place of the Ustyurt plateau. Not far from it we will set up our tent camp.

Boszhira and its surroundings

We spend the whole day hiking and making small ascents to the natural attractions of Boszhira. There is a lot to see, explore, and photograph!

By evening we return to our tent camp, cook dinner, and make a small fire from the firewood we brought with us.

Ustyurt Plateau

On this day, in the morning, we will pack up our camp and take a car trip along the plateau, stopping in beautiful places and exploring the area. We will try to drive away from popular places actively visited by tourists, perhaps we will be lucky and we will be able to find paleontological artifacts there: ammonites, teeth of ancient sharks and rays, vertebrae of bony fish... After all, the Ustyurt plateau was once the bottom of an ancient sea.

We will spend the night in tents in one of the beautiful places on the plateau.

Ustyurt Plateau - Underground Temple Beket-Ata - Aktau

We leave the Ustyurt Plateau and head towards the city of Aktau. However, for a change, we will take a different road - 150 kilometers of track roads across the steppe to the Atyrau - Aktau highway, along which we will reach the city with a breeze. But on the way we will stop at another interesting place, this time - man-made. Beket-Ata is an underground temple and a holy place for most residents of Kazakhstan.

Upon arrival in Aktau, we will check into a hotel, wash off the dust and dirt accumulated during the trip, and then go to a cafe or restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Home

Transfer to the airport and flight home. If your flight is not early in the morning, we will have time to swim in the Caspian Sea.

The tour does not require any special skills or fitness from participants and is suitable for anyone. However, it is very important to be prepared for early rises and long journeys by car, including on bad dusty roads and complete off-road conditions.

You should also be prepared to spend the night in tents, without a shower or equipped toilet all the days that we will be traveling in places where there are no hotels and civilization in the usual sense of the word.

In May in the West of Kazakhstan, as a rule, it is quite warm and sunny, the temperature is about +20+23 °C, but there are also cool, rainy days, so do not forget to take warm clothes.

Despite the fact that we are going on a car tour, on our route we have a significant share of natural attractions that require fairly long walks. This means that you should approach the choice of clothing seriously. Waterproof shoes, protection from rain (a thick raincoat or membrane jacket) and dust will come in handy. Be sure to take a fleece jacket or sweater, a windbreaker, an insulated jacket (for the evening), and hiking pants. A light hat and gloves, a set of thermal underwear and several pairs of socks will also not be superfluous. Shoes should be comfortable, allowing you to take long walks in nature, we will also walk on off-road, rocks and sand, so the ideal footwear option is trekking boots or trekking sneakers.

There are several overnight stays in tents planned on the route, so you will need a sleeping bag (for a comfortable temperature of about 10 °C) and a mat (inflatable or foam), take care of clothes for sleeping (night temperatures at this time of year are usually 12 - 15 °C, but can drop below. Also take a headlamp, a seat cushion (backrest), a set of personal utensils (bowl, cup, spoon), a small backpack (20-25 l), a thermos. You may want to swim in the sea, take bathing suits for this purpose.

The tour is quite active and eventful, therefore it requires discipline and personal involvement in the process from the participants.

During the trip by car, delays and unforeseen circumstances are possible - car breakdowns or punctures, road and bridge repairs and, as a result, the route may be adjusted depending on the current situation. Changes are discussed with the participants, but the final decision is made by the tour organizers, since they are responsible for the program and the safety of the group.

Meals are provided by the participants at their own expense in cafes along the route and/or in stores where you can buy something for a snack, except for cases when there are no hotels and cafes on our way, and we spend the night in tents - on these days the tour organizers prepare hot camping meals.

Arrival to Atyrau / departure from Aktau home earlier or later than the dates specified in the program is paid by the participants themselves, including transfer to / from the airport, as well as accommodation in hotels / hostels / rented apartments on days outside the tour dates.

Please note that we do not provide visa support to Kazakhstan for foreign citizens. If you require a visa to enter Kazakhstan, you must take care of this yourself and at your own expense.

1. If you are interested in this tour, leave a request through the registration form on this page or write to us at WhatsApp, Telegram or by email, we will contact you and answer all your questions.
2. To reserve a place, you must make an advance payment of 30% of the tour cost. The advance payment is made through the website (section Payment) and is refundable 45 days or more before the start of the tour and non-refundable, unfortunately, less than 45 days before the start, if the refund is related to your refusal to participate (for any reason). If the tour does not take place due to our fault, due to the group not being formed, or due to force majeure, the advance payment will be guaranteed to be returned to you in any case.
3. The final payment is made on the first day of the tour. You can pay using the QR code that the tour organizer will provide you, in cash, or through the website.