Esik and Turgen in 2 days: Saka burial mounds, Lake Issyk and waterfalls
- 2 daysDuration
- Русский, ҚазақшаGuide language
- up to 15 people
- QR code on your phoneTicket
A two-day trip east of Almaty: the Esik museum-reserve by the burial mounds where the 'Golden Man' was found in 1969, and Lake Issyk, a mountain lake damaged by a mudflow in 1963. You spend the night in a guesthouse in the Turgen gorge and on day two walk to the Bear Waterfall and have a trout lunch.
Highlights
- Saka burial mounds and the Esik museum
- Lake Issyk in the mountains
- Bear Waterfall in the Turgen gorge
- Night in a mountain guesthouse
Programme
Day 1 · Esik and Lake Issyk
- 09:00Meet at Dostyk Plaza mall, drive to the town of Esik (about 1.5 hours)
- 10:45Esik museum-reserve: the burial mounds and the Saka culture exhibition
- 12:30Drive up the gorge to Lake Issyk, walk along the shore
- 14:00Picnic lunch by the lake
- 16:00Drive to the Turgen gorge, check in at the guesthouse
- 19:00Dinner
Day 2 · Turgen gorge
- 08:30Breakfast
- 09:30Drive and walk to the Bear Waterfall
- 12:00Stops along the Turgen river, time for photos
- 13:30Trout lunch
- 15:00Drive back to Almaty
- 17:00Arrival at Dostyk Plaza
Included
- ✓ Transport during the tour
- ✓ Guide
- ✓ Museum tickets and ecological fees
- ✓ 1 night in a guesthouse (rooms for 2–4)
- ✓ Meals: picnic lunch, dinner, breakfast, lunch
Not included
- ✕ Single room
- ✕ Drinks with dinner
- ✕ Horse riding and other extras
- ✕ Insurance
What to bring
Comfortable shoes for trails · Warm layer for the evening · Rain jacket · ID document · Overnight personal items
Meeting
Almaty, main entrance of Dostyk Plaza mall (corner of Dostyk and Al-Farabi avenues)
Returns
You can return a ticket up to 24 hours before the start — 80% of the price comes back. Later — no return.
If the operator cancels the date or the group isn't reached, you get 100% back.
The tour runs with at least 4 people.
Reviews
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Tour operator
Saparga sells the tour as the operator's agent. The service is provided by the tour operator.