Part of the Ile-Alatau National Park and located 70km east of Almaty, this beautiful, densely forested gorge, carved out of rock by the whitewater of Turgen River, is a hiker's wonderland. The gorge sees relatively few visitors, so the half a dozen waterfalls, the most impressive of which is the 55m Buzgul, meadows and surrounding mountains remain relatively pristine. You can get here with your own wheels or else do a hiking or mountain biking tour with Kazakhstan Travel Agency.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
8.83 MILES
Some 69km east of Almaty, the main road into the settlement of Esik/Issyk is lined with a dozen or so Saka burial mounds dating back to the early Iron Age…
Nearby Kazakhstan attractions
8.83 MILES
Some 69km east of Almaty, the main road into the settlement of Esik/Issyk is lined with a dozen or so Saka burial mounds dating back to the early Iron Age…