Adventurous Trip along the Ili

Meeting with guide in Almaty and transfer for boat tour. The starting point is located near Kapchagay city dam (~80 km from Almaty) and the finishing point is near Tamgali Tas.
Rafting is a good example of outdoor activity which is both challenging, safe and extremely exciting. For people who have never rafted before the location is just perfect – Ili river is a 1st class type of difficulty according to international scale. Besides, we provide you with instructors, boats and equipment to secure you during the trip.

While travelling you are going to see attractions and cites of ancient Zhetysu such as Buddhist paintings of Tamgali-Tas, a medieval castle replica left from “Nomads” film, Zhengis han crossing and the rock canyon.

After the trip we are going to learn more about Tamgali-Tas Buddhas. On the Ili’s right shore 1000 of ancient rock paintings were found. The most famous of them are 5 images of Buddhas dating from the XIV-XVI century. Archaeologists state that this place could be a Buddhist Temple on open air.
Lunch during excursion.
Departure to the city.

We can provide you a 1 day tour to Tamgali-Tas not only in season of boat-trips, but in period from March to December.
The main exhibitions there, as mentioned before, are rock paintings of Buddhas. There are 18 rocks in total – 2 images of Buddhas located on one of them and 3 on the another one. Legend says that Buddhist missionaries left these paintings because they saw a miraculous sign while travelling through Ili river basin. An earthquake shattered nearby rocks, creating a crossing through river. Pilgrims recognized this unique phenomenon as the sign to return back to India. On the bottom side to the Boddhi Satva Arya there is an inscription in Sanskrit: “Worship Saint Avalokiteśvara”.