Best Mangystau Tour

in 5 Days

Overview:

The Mangystau region is located in the southwest of Kazakhstan, bordering the Caspian Sea to the west. Mangystau is predominantly desert with some semi-desert areas. It’s characterised by its arid climate and diverse geological formations, including the Ustyurt Plateau, which covers a significant part of the region.

The main attractions of the Mangystau region are Boszhira Valley, Sherkala Mountain, Valley of Balls, Tuzbair and many other historical sites such as the underground mosque of Shakpak-Ata and Beket-Ata Merdesah.

The administrative centre and largest city of Mangystau is Aktau, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. It’s a major port city and an important hub for transport and trade in the region. Aktau means “White Mountains”. Aktau’s economy is primarily based on industries such as oil and gas extraction, due to the significant reserves in the Caspian Sea. Fishing is also an important economic activity due to the region’s coastal location.

We offer you the best planned 5 day Mangystau Jeep Tour that covers the main highlights of the region. This is a wilderness based expedition where we camp in the middle of nowhere and stay overnight in a tent. We are well equipped with camping and cooking gear so it will be a real wild nature tour.

Please feel free to ask if you have any questions based on the Mangystau tour. Hope to see you in this mysterious region of Kazakhstan!

Itinerary:

Welcome to Mangystau! Mangystau is a truly fascinating region of Kazakhstan, known for its mysterious landscapes, rich history and cultural heritage. Our team will meet you on arrival at Aktau airport. Drive approximately 200km to Zhygylgan Cape. The name Zhygylgan means “fallen down” in Kazakh and it really looks like the earth has fallen down in this place. Zhygylgan Cape is an enchanting place with majestic cliffs and fascinating lion footprints from a distant past. Prepare to be mesmerised by the sweeping vistas and discover extraordinary geological wonders that will leave you in awe. Visit Sultan Epe (35km)Sultan Epe Mosque, the underground mosque of the protector of sailors holy Sultan Epe – a monument of religious architecture, the mosque was built around the IX-XII century. The mosque has 11 rooms. It is so narrow that in some places you have to crawl to get from one room to another. Its architecture, ventilation system and lighting show that it was built according to the most advanced models of the time. Drive another 20km to the Kapamsai Canyon. Kapamsai is a narrow limestone canyon with steep and even walls that reach a height of 70 metres. Overnight stay in the tent.

Enjoy your morning in the middle of nowhere. After breakfast, pack the camp and drive to the Shakpak Ata Mosque. The other mysterious underground mosque was built back in 9-10 centuries and famous for its masterpiece of architecture of that time, where you can discover how the ventilation system and lightning. It is well worth a visit. The next stop is a Torysh or well known as The Valley of Balls. Here you can enjoy the mysterious creation of nature, where you can discover balls of different sizes and colours, made of sedimentary rocks – sand and clay. Today’s final attraction is the breathtaking Sherkala Mountain (70 km). Sherkala is a lonely standing mountain of unusual shape, created during the formation of the mountainous Kara-Tau valleys as a result of the land rising from the depths of the sea.

From one side, the mountain resembles a huge white yurt, but from the other, Sherkala resembles a sleeping lion with its huge head resting on its paws. This is why the mountain is called Sherkala, which in Turkmen means ‘Lion Mountain’.

The Airakty-Shomanai Mountains, also known as the Valley of Castles, where colossal rock formations resembling grandiose castles provide a breathtaking backdrop for exploration and photography. Climb to the top of the mountains and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views. The next attraction is a Tuzbair (130 km). Tuzbair is a landscape with deserted shores surrounded by hills of multi-coloured clay are mesmerizing. Here you can enjoy the Martian landscapes. Overnight stay in the tent.

Drive to the Beket Ata Mosque, which takes about 1.5 hours. Beket-Ata was an important Sufi scholar who founded several underground mosques and a madrasa in the Mangistau region in the 18th century. Enjoy another great historical legacy at the Beket Ata Mosque. Drive on to one of the best attractions of the Mangistau region, the Bozjyra Tract. This is part of the Ustuyrt plateau. Enjoy the Martian views of the surrounding area! Overnight stay in tent.

Mount Bokty is a colourful natural wonder and one of the iconic sights of the Mangystau region. Rising 165 metres above the surrounding plains, the mountain is striped with shades of white, yellow, coral and brown, giving it the appearance of a layered cake. The clearly visible boundaries between its multicoloured clay and sandstone deposits make it a truly mesmerising sight. Kyzylkup invites you to marvel at the captivating beauty of Tiramisu Canyon, where the striking dark brown and white striped rock formations create a mesmerising spectacle. In the afternoon drive back to Aktau city. Check into local hotel in city centre. Farewell dinner with the team. Thank you for coming!

Best Mangystau Tour

Duration: 5-Days
Availability: Four seasons
Best time: April, May, September, October
Begin and end: Aktau / Aktau
Tour type: Sightseeing
Price from: 1550 USD p.p

Our highlights

Bozzhyra Track
Ustyurt Plateau
Sherkala Mounains
Beket Ata Ground Monastery
Zhygylgan Cape
Torysh, Valley of Balls
Tuzbair
Airakty

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Tour Price Includes

Land Transportation 4*4
Local Driver
English speaking guide
Camping gear tent, matrass, sleeping bag, kitchen tent
Accommodation in Aktau
Eat & Drink
Fees & Permits
Activities

Tour price excludes

Personal needs
Alcoholic beverages
Gratitude

Tour details:

Please pack all necessary things that you think might be needed. Here are some tips: day pack, sunglasses, anti-mosquito, sunscreen, waterproof jacket, hand sanitizer, toiletries, power bank, camera, headlamp, hat, hiking shoes, warm jacket, sandals, and personal medicine. And please have some cash in case you want to go shopping or buy souvenirs.

Most attractions have their own toilet facilities. But if you’re driving between attractions or hiking in the wilderness, it’s likely to be an outdoor toilet.

Mangystau is a land of endless Martian views. And anyone who loves a wilderness expedition and local cultures is welcome to book this tour. This is truly a unique expedition that covers many beautiful places and visits historical heritages.

Please do not hurt the feelings of the locals and respect their traditions. When visiting the mausoleum, mosque and other local sacred sites, please dress promptly. Please get ready for the trip at the scheduled time. And if there is any inconvenience, please inform your guide first. Generally, there are not many inconveniences on this trip, but let’s remember that we are travelling and try to enjoy the moment! The group atmosphere is important and as an experienced team we try to make the tour as enjoyable as possible and ask you to help us.

We are responsible for visiting the places and seeing the attractions that we have mentioned in our itinerary. We are responsible for guiding you with pleasure and giving you a great expediton.

We are not responsible for any unplanned inconvenience during the tour. We are not responsible for the traffic in the city and finally we are not responsible for the bad weather conditions that you have to be prepared for in advance.

– We ask that you book your trip as soon as possible. To ensure everything runs smoothly, bookings must be made at least two months in advance.

– If any of the attractions are not open, we will replace them with other highlights that are no less exciting.

– The tour is flexible and we can create your own personal expedition based on your wishes.

We will be visiting many places and will always be on the move, there will be several transfers and flights between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and it would be appreciated if you could bring very well packed luggage and probably duffel bags rather than suitcases.

We will be visiting many bazaars and public places, so please take care of your belongings and be careful with your money and documents.

It is perfectly fine to take a day or two off during the trip to just relax. If you are in your 40s or 50s, we will probably have a day off to rest. It is cool to visit a new attraction every day, but you do get tired sometimes.

The best time to visit Mangystau is rather Spring or Autumn. During the summer time it gets extremely hot and challenging for trekking. But if you are used to do that hot weather conditions, we can arrange that.

To confirm your trip we ask you to pay 600 USD DEPOSIT and the balance can be paid 2 months before the tour start date. We ask you to make your payment by bank transfer (SWIFT CODE)

Here is our cancellation policy that we recommend our clients follow.

Cancelling the tour within more than 2 months, 50% of your deposit payment will be rebussed (300 USD)

Cancellation within less than 1 month, the deposit will not be refunded (600 USD)

The Mangystau 5-day tour is based on camping in the wild nature. During the trip you will stay in a tent and enjoy the surrounding Martian views. On the last day of the trip you will stay in a comfortable hotel in the centre of Aktau city on the coast of the Caspian Sea..

We have an expedition chef and three meals a day are included in the tour. At lunchtime we will always be on the move so lunch will be served as a packed lunch or visit to a small town in that region. Our experienced chef cooks traditional local and international dishes and if you prefer a vegetarian or vegan meal please let us know in advance. That is absolutely fine with us!

This is a wilderness expedition and you will visit several attractions each day, covering over 1000 kilometres in total. The local support team is therefore very important. During your Mangystau trip you will be supported by the local driver who is experienced in this region and will take you from one place to another very smoothly. We will have off-road vehicle which can survive in such as dust mountain route. English speaking tour guide who will introduce you to the local traditions, cultures and history of the mausoleums. Very who is happy to arrange you great trip. And expedition cook who will serve three meals a day and take good care of you during your visit.