Getting There
There is no public transport to Altyn Emel National Park and even hitchhiking would be difficult. You might be able to make it to Bashi village, but Bashi is still far from the park. Altyn Emel National Park is huge and without your own transport you won’t get far. But if you don’t have your own transport, there are several companies offering tours to Altyn Emel National Park.
What to Expect
There are a good few unique natural and historical objects of significant importance located in the park territory; the most famous one is a unique phenomenon of the nature – Singing Barchan dune which is 1.5 km long and 120m high. Climbing up the dune will be no trouble, and the soft sand will massage your feet if you walk barefoot. In dry windy weather, you can hear the low hum of the dune. The same sound is heard if you move your foot down the sand or slide down the dune.
The road to the Singing Dune passes through the wild steppe surrounded by desert and the Dzhungarian mountains. And the narrow labyrinth of the canyon of the Aktau mountains is one of the most interesting and picturesque places for hiking and cycling.
History
Altyn-Emel National Park was founded on 10 April 1996 with the purpose to preserve a unique natural complex, archeological, historical and cultural monuments, rare and endangered species of animals and plants.
Facilities Available
- Hotels
- Camping sites
- Hiking
- Cycling and motorcycling
