Geographical location

   Northern Tien-Shan. Zailiski Alatau ridge. Northern Tien-Shan stretches from west to east for 400 km. It is divided into two ranges – Zailiski Alatau (“the first range behind Ili river”) and Kungei Alatau (“bright snowy mountains faced to the sun”). Zailiski Alatau is 280 km long and up to 60 km wide. Its northern slopes belong to South-Eastern part of Kazakhstan. Kungei Alatau  ( 275 km long and  up to 31 km wide) is situated completely in Kyrgyzstan . The highest point of Kungey Alatau is Chaktal peak (H-4771) and of Zailiski Alatau - Talgar  peak (H-5017).All this mountain system belongs to Chiliko-Keminski mountain junction. The highest part of the ridge is situated between Kastek (H-2825) in the west and Amanjol (H-3510) passes in the east. It is about 180 km long.  The biggest glaciers: Korzhenevskogo, Bogatyr, Shokalskogo, Tuyk-Su, Djangaryk.

Climate in the region

Climate is continental. It is effected by relief, high-altitude zoning, presence of Issyk-Kul lake. Max average temperature in July is +18°C at 3600 m. Average monthly temperature at the coast in July is +16,5°C, in August +16,9°C. If summer is not hot, weather is mostly cloudless.
Temperature. The coldest months are January and February with average monthly temperature from –17°C to –24°C. Temperature in the high mountain hollows is from –14°C to -17°C. The warmest month is July with average monthly temperature from +14°C to +22°C. In  July at heights of 1000 - 1500 m temperature may reach – 0°C. In the high-altitude regions temperature falls by 0,6°C per every 100 m.
Sunny days. The most favorable are summer months. In July there are about 17 sunny days in region of our safari program, in September no more than 14. At the bottoms of deep valleys, within the forest line max number of favorable days in August and September is about 17.  Nights in summer in forest zone are not freezing
Winds. In Summer, in the mountains winds are mountain-valley. Wind speed is not high, it rises in the morning.
Precipitation. In Summer precipitation reach 2200 mm. At height of 2600 m snow lays in the third decade of August. When it is raining clouds are low, cover the peaks and passes.  In July and August  precipitation  reach 90 mm.  Precipitation increases with the height in the mountains from 433 to 633 mm per year. Max precipitation is in July. Southern slopes get 2 times less precipitation than northern ones. Precipitation rises from west to east from 119 mm to 538 mm.
Route and difficulties  – no difficulties. Any healthy person can join this program.

Season - from 20 of July to 10 of September
Duration - 9 days / 8 nights

The program:

1 Day. Arrival in Almaty. Meeting in airport. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation. Rest. Breakfast. City sightseeing: visit to the 28 Panfilov’s guardsmen park, Cathedral, Museum of national musical instruments, National museum, Medeo gorge, Republic square (4 hrs). Overnight at the hotel.
2 Day. Breakfast.  Transfer: Almaty – Big Almaty lake (H-2527 ) (28 km).  We leave Almaty, pass fairy cottages situated on the left bank of the river.  After Big Almaty gorge  dam (was built in 1975 for defence from mudflows)   is  cascade of  gydroconstructions  (were built  in the forties- fifties). Just after dam of hydroelectric power station- 2  is  hydroelectric power station-1. We ascent along streamer of mountain road to Big Almaty lake.  Beginning of the trekking in   Northern Tien-Shan mountains. Hiking: Big Almaty lake – confluence of Ozernaya and Touristov rivers (7 km).  Ascent starts from lake, further path becomes flat and passes to  old motor desolate  road . Ford Ozernaya river. We are surrounded by peaks of west ridge: Tourist (H-3965), Choi-Bolsana, Karniznaya (H-4047), Ozernaya (H-4126). Camping in tents on green meadows near Ozernaya river. Overnight in the tents.
3 Day. Breakfast. Hiking: Confluence of rivers – Ozerny pass (H-3503) – South - west Talgar river (H-2980) (7 km). Further way lies along the old motor road along left bank of brook, flowing from  Cherny glacier.  Ascent   to Ozerny pass and beginning of descent are flat. Pass is at main ridge of Zailiysky Alatau. Soon we can see panorama to Chong-Kemin river. After descent we ford  Kashka-Suu river.  Near South-West Talgar river – the halt. Overnight in the  tents.
4 Day. Breakfast. Hiking: South-west Talgar river – Green glade before glacier to Aksu (H-3476) (6 km). Ford river. After ford continue moving along  right bank of Chong-Kemin. There are many  edelweiss’s here. Soon  we see gorge of Ak-Suu river – left tributary of Chong-Kemin river. Ford to left side of river and from here radial hiking to Zhasyl-Kol lake (H-3116) (2 km). From here  Chon-Kemin  river inflows.  Zhasyl-Kol lale – large turquoise bowl. Overnight in the tents.
5 Day. Breakfast. Hiking: Green glade before glacier to Ak-Suu – Ak-Suu glacier – North Ak-Suu pass (H-4052) – Chong-Ak-Suu river (H-3000) (8 km).  From tongue of glacier we ford Ak-Suu river and come to glacier at middle part. Moving to south. From middle of glacier we ascent to pass along   south-east slope, ascent to pass is steep, but simple.   From pass we see panorama of  Zailiysky and Kungey Alatau peaks. Descent is steep, simple.  Pass around place covered firm snow and further descent on path along slop to ancient moraine. Soom we come to Chong-Ak-Suu river, passing 2 fords. Overnight in the tents.
6 Day. Breakfast. Hiking: Chong-Ak-Suu river – Verkhnee lake (H-2616) (6 km). Our way lies down along gorge . Grigoryevsoye gorge is one of beautiful places of North shore of Issyk-Kul – emerald alpine meadows, abundance of flowers and  mushrooms. On the way we will meet tents and yurts of local shepherds. Overnight in tents.
7 Day. Breakfast.  Hiking: Verkhnee lake  - Grigoryevka village – Issyk-Kul lake (H-1608) – Tyup village – Karakol town (H-1690-1850) (168 km).  Transfer to Karakol by autotransport. Our way  lies along north shore   to east part of Issyk-Kul lake  via many villages. Pass small Tyup  village and  after 30 km - Karakol. On the way visit to Przhevalsky museum. Accommodation in yurts in Karakol. Overnight in the yurts.
8 Day. Breakfast. Transfer: Karakol – Tyup village – Kegen village – Almaty (380 km). After Tyup village we turn to east and our way lies to Kazakhstan side. Along the road – kyrgyz villages, after ecological post we will see many bee-keepers with ownapiary, yurts and tents of shepherds, meadows with high grasses, herds and flocks . Custom procedure before Karkara village. Arrival in Almaty. Accommodation in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
9 Day. Transfer to airport. Departure from Almaty.