Alien landscapes of Mangistau with Karyn Zharyk hollow
Alien landscapes of Mangistau with Karyn Zharyk hollow is a tour where you will cross c.1800 km, this is one of the most challenging as well as one of the most adventurous tours!
The wondrous region of Mangistau seemingly comes out of sci-fi movies or otherworldly adventures. Where once an ancient ocean Tethys seethed and reigned, now vast lands covered in a salt spread as far as an eye can see. Nature used Mangistau as its workshop carving cliffs with wind and rain, painting them with multicoloured chalks. And the jewel of such work is Karyn Zharyk, a depression, the bottom of which is covered in salt-marshes that make the mountains seem to float on a cloud. Even the animals that roam Karyn Zharyk are one of a kind: the Saiga antelopes that you will meet only steppes of Central Asia and Argalis. Endangered species hide from the eyes of people, but with luck, they can be seen in all their glory. These unique panoramas leave a trace in every traveller’s heart.
But Mangistau is not only a masterpiece of nature but a land filled with human creations striking in beauty and wisdom. Underground mosques, historical monuments and remnants of forgotten civilizations are hidden among cliffs and valleys, during this tour you will able to listen to the echoes of history in an underground mosque Beket-Ata. And of course, you will be able to explore Tuzbair lake “Salty Walls”. Having a walk on the surface of the lake as if you are a hero of old legends possessing powers mentioned in Bible, and look at the water under you feet separated by a seemingly thin layer of salt.
Day 1. Aktau- Karagiye Depression – Zhana-Ozen town
(Please note that Day 1 is adjusted based on the time of arrival to Aktau)
In the morning upon arrival to a sea-port city Aktau, a transfer provided to Zhana Ozen (165 km) via Karagiye hollow. Reaching 132 meters in depth, Karagiye Depression is the lowest point in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and the former Soviet Union, full of flora and fauna despite it a seemingly deserted look.
After an ascent to the eastern slope of the valley in 11 km we reach a beautiful observation deck of the Sautta natural boundary. In antiquity, a spring bubbled on a vast shelf under the rocks and nomad camps settled in this beautiful place.
In Zhana Ozen we drive to a hotel, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2. Zhana Ozen town – Tuesu sands – Bokty mount – Karyn-Zharyk hollow
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to see Tuesu sands, solemn and beautiful. After admiring the dunes, the journey continues to Bokty mount, red from the chalk that covers it. We further drive up to the Baisara Collonade – the precipice of South Aktau in a shape of a huge horseshoe. We descend 20 km southeast on the outer side of the cliff to a broken grader road leading to the village Akkuduk where ancient settlement is still visible.
Further, the dirt road along the picturesque sand dunes overgrown with saxaul leads to the south. After another 60 km, we turn to the east, where the Three Brothers cliffs stand proud. Here, on the southern tip of the Karyn-Zharyk hollow on the bank of a salty stream is the cordon of the Ustyurt reserve.
We organize overnight stay at the highest point of the Ustyurt cliff. If we do not make noise, grazing argali are visible on the slopes of the depression.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner prepared by our Guide. Overnight in a tent camp.
Day 3. Salty Hollow Karyn-Zharyk – Kogusem tract – Karamay mountain
After morning photography, our path goes north along the Ustyurt valley to the Karyn-Zharyk depression. A spectacular panorama of Karyn Zharyk, a land of salt that seemingly jumped out of a magical book, opens up to you. Once nomads lived on this land, but now there is no one, except for lonely mazaars (graves) standing on the edge of a cliff. The combinations of white and pink chalk against the blue surface of the litter transport you to an other-wordly landscape.
On our way, we pass along the gorge Kogusem, the slopes of which are painted red with ocher clays being eroded by rain for more than one millennium. As we travel in this region we can see a fanged rocky ridge of Karamay on the bottom of the salt marsh named Kenderliser. Their marine fossils are hidden among the sandstones, even petrified whale bones! We drive through the northern cordon of the reserve at the foot of Karamay and set up tents for a night under blinking stars
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner prepared by our Guide. Overnight in a tent camp.
Day 4. Mount Karamay – Boszhira valley – Beket Ata mosque
After breakfast we will be driving to Boszhira valley, which is somewhat similar to the USA’s Monument Valley. We will make stops to various vantage points for the best views of the striking landscapes.
After lunch we will do 2 km trekking (2km one way) up to the Dreadnought Cliff from which opens an amazing view on the whole valley and especially adjacent rock with its three peaks rising from the plateau creating an image of castle like structure, this is a true Alien looking landscape reminder of the ancient ocean Tethys that used to reign here a million years ago. All the photos taken there are guaranteed to be striking!!
On the way back from the Dreadnought you will see mountains, which were given names as Yurta-tau mountain and Bastion due to its resemblance of mentioned objects.
Afterwards, our road leads us from natural wonders to wonders human. An underground mosque Beket-Ata built in the 18th century by a holy Sufi man is full of history and ancient wisdom. Some believe it was used as an observatory to track the movement of stars. Entrance is not easy to get to and requires a 1 km walk. Despite a far hard-to-reach location, Beket-Ata mosque is an important site of pilgrimage for local people.
Accommodation can be either Pilgrim house near Beket Ata mosque or tents. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner prepared by our Guide.
Day 5. Beket Ata mosque-Tuzbair Salt Lake- Aktau
After breakfast, our journey continues in the north-west direction along the Ustyurt Cliff up to Tuzbair lake. We will be driving on salt marshes where only wild animals and reptiles survive in these deserted lands. After 60 km, our path comes close to the chalk walls of Ustyurt, where once again we witness the grandiose power of nature. The view of the dazzling white rocks is astounding. Here nature has created another miracle – a grand white arch which we will definitely climb in order to have a view on the whole Tuzbair lake from above, you will once again be amazed with the views that will open your eyes and wonder how could this lake survive in a deserted area. The lake itself reaffirms to us the existence of Tethys ocean on this place.
After lunch, comes time to explore Tuzbair lake. Seated between two white mountains covered in salt, the lake gets its name from them translating from Kazakh as “Salty Walls”. We will walk 2 km on the salty surface of the lake creating an illusion of walking on top of the water. People might not believe photos of you walking on the lake like in biblical stories, but they will be no doubt be impressed.
If there is enough energy and strength, it is possible to hike the plateau, where stands a rock surprisingly resembling the Sphinx at the pyramids of Giza.
In the afternoon we will depart to Aktau and transfer to the airport or to the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch prepared by our Guide.
Price includes:
1. Meeting and transfer from and to the airport
2. Double accommodation in 3 * hotel in Zhanaozen on Day 1 (Temirkazyk hotel or similar)
3. 5-day Jeep tour on 4 WD off-road vehicles with air-conditioning in a group (max 3 people in one car)
4. Tour will be conducted by professional English speaking Guide-Driver or Guide driver with English interpreter;
5. Meals: Day 1: Dinner; Day 2: BLD; Day 3: BLD; Day 4: BLD; Day 5: BL.
6. Accommodation in a tent from Day 2 to Day 5. Besides tents we also provide sleeping bags and mats
7. Entrance tickets and permission to Ustyrt Nature Reserve
8. Drinking water 1,5 L per person per day
Price excludes:
1. Meals not indicated in the program and/or not included into the tour price
2. Single accommodation supplement
4. Visa support and registration on the territory of Kazakhstan, if required
5. All personal and other expenses
Additional information
| Group | 1 Pax, 2 Pax, 3 Pax, 4 Pax, 5 Pax, 6 Pax |
|---|
Day 1
アクタウ ― カラギエの凹地 ― ジャナ・オゼンタウン
（1日目はアクタウへの到着時間に基づいて調整されることに注意してください）
朝、アクタウの港町に到着してから、カラギエの凹地を経由し、ジャナ・オゼン（165 km）に送迎が提供されます。深さが132メートルに達するカラギエ凹地は、中央アジア、そしてカザフスタン、ソ連邦で最も低い地点であり、一見捨てられたように見えても動植物に満ちています。
谷の東斜面に登った後、サウタの自然境界の美しい展望台に到着します。古代、岩の下の広大な場所に湧き水が湧き、この美しい場所に遊牧民キャンプが定住しました。
ジャナ・オゼンのツアーが終わってからホテルに行って、 晩御飯を食べて、一晩を過ごします。
Day 2
ジャナ・オゼンタウン ― テゥイエス砂 ― ボクテゥ山 ― カリン・ジャーリック凹地
ホテルで朝食をとった後、美しいテゥイエス砂を見に行きます。その次、チョークが覆っているから赤色になったボクテゥ山を目指します。それから、巨大な馬蹄形の南アクタウの断崖であるバイサラ列柱へ行きます。そして、崖の外側を南東に20 km下り、壊れた年生の道に進み、古代の集落がまだ見ることができるアククードゥック村に通じます。進んで、サクソールが生い茂る絵のように美しい砂丘に沿った未舗装の道路は南に通じています。次いで、東に向かうと60 km後スリーブラザーズの崖が立っています。当所では、塩気のある川のほとりにあるカリン・ジャーリック凹地の南端に、ウスチュルト自然保護区があります。
ウスチュルト崖の最高地点での宿泊を手配することができます。その場合、若し静かにしたら、うつ病の斜面に放牧アルガリが見えます。
朝食、昼食、夕食ガイドが準備しておきます。
テントキャンプで一晩泊。
Day 3
サルてゥ ― カリン・ジャーリック凹地 ― コグセッム路 ― カラマイ山
朝を過ごした後、ウスチュルト谷に沿って北に向かって、カリン・ジャーリック凹地に向かいます。魔法の本から飛び出したように、カリン・ジャーリック凹地にある塩の土地の壮大なパノラマが目の前にに開かれます。かつて遊牧民はこの土地に住んでいましたが、崖の端に立っている孤独なマザール（墓）を除いて、今は誰もいません。白とピンクのチョークと青い表面の組み合わせが、あなたを別世界の風景へと誘います。
途中で、斜面が黄土色の粘土で赤く塗られており、雨によって何千年も浸食されたコグセッムの峡谷を通ります。この地域を旅行すると、ケンデルライザーという塩類平原の底にカラマイ山だらけの尾根が見えます。そこには、海洋化石が砂岩の中に隠されており、石化したクジラの骨さえあります。カラマイ山ふもとにある保護区の北の列柱を通り抜け、夜明けの星の下でテントを作ります。
朝食、昼食、夕食ガイドが準備しておきます。
テントキャンプで一晩泊。
Day 4
カラマイ山 ― ボスジラ谷 ― ベケット・アタモスク
朝食後、アメリカのモニュメント谷にやや似ているボジラ谷に向かいます。印象的な風景の最高の景色を得るために、さまざまな有利な場所に立ち寄ります。
昼食後、2 kmのトレッキング（片道2 km）を行ってドレッドノートクリフ崖から渓谷全体、特に3つの山頂が台地から昇り、城のような構造のイメージを作り出す隣接する岩を眺めます。まるで、100万年前にここに君臨していた古代のテチス海を思い起こさせる、真の地球外の所に見える風景です。ドレッドノートからの帰り道には、言及されたオブジェクトの類似性によってユルタウ山とバスティオン砂と名付けられた山が見えます。
その後、私たちの道は自然の驚異から人間の驚異へ導きます。18世紀に聖スーフィー人によって建てられた地下のベケットアタモスクは、歴史と古代の知恵に満ちています。星の動きを追跡するための天文台だと考える人もいます。入り口まで徒歩1 kmの難しい道もあります。届きにくい場所にもかかわらず、ベケットアタモスクは地元の人々にとって重要な巡礼の場所です。
宿泊施設は、ベケットアタモスクの近くの巡礼者の家またはテントです。
朝食、昼食、夕食ガイドが準備しておきます。
Day 5
ベケット・アタモスク ― テゥズバイル塩湖 ― アクタウ
朝食後、旅は北西方向に続き、ウスチュルト崖に沿ってテゥズバイル塩湖まで続きます。そして、これらの無人地帯で野生動物と爬虫類だけが生き残る塩類平原を運転します。60ｋｍを過ぎて、ウスチュルトの白亜の壁の近くにあり、再び自然の壮大な力を目の当たりにします。眩しい白い岩の眺めは驚くべきものです。ここでは自然が別の奇跡を生み出しました。それは、上からテゥズバイル湖全体を見るために絶対に登る壮大な白いアーチ、もう一度の目を開けてこの湖がどうなるのだろうかと思う景色に驚くでしょう無人地帯で生き残ります。湖自体は、この場所にテチス海が存在することを再確認しています。
昼食後、テゥズバイル塩湖 を探索する時間になります。塩に覆われた2つの白い山の間にあるこの湖は、カザフ語で「塩壁」と訳されていることから名付けられました。ここでは、湖の塩分の多い表面を2 km歩いて、水の上を歩いているような錯覚を創造します。まだエネルギーがあれば、ギザのピラミッドで驚くほどスフィンクスに似た岩が立っている高原をハイキングすることができます。
午後には、アクタウに向けて出発し、空港又はホテルに移動します。
朝食、昼食、夕食ガイドが準備しておきます。
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