Tour to Big Almaty Lake

Tour to Big Almaty Lake

The most surprising places in the foothills of the Tien Shan with the visit of Big Almaty Lake

Big Almaty Lake is a highland pond in the Zailiysky Alatau at an altitude of 2511m above sea level. It is 15 km south of the center of Almaty. Lake located in gorge of river Big Almatinka. BAL is the highlight of the Trans-Ili Alatau, rising to 2510 meters above sea level and within the Ili Alatau-National Park. Due to height, in the summer in the lake water temperature does not exceed 8°.

After breakfast depart to excursion in the Big Almaty Lake (about 30 km from Almaty).

Big Almaty Lake is located in gorge of river Big Almatinka, is considered to be the highlight of the Trans-Ili Alatau, rising to 2510 meters above sea level and within the Ili Alatau-National Park. Due to height, in the summer in the lake water temperature does not exceed 8°.

Astronomical Observatory

After visiting and seeing the pearl of Tian Shan, we will see Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory (3.2 km from BAL).

The Tian Shan Astronomical Observatory founded in 1957 is located high in the beautiful mountains of Tian Shan mountain chain near Big Almaty Lake, at the altitude of 2735 m above the sea level. It is part of Kazakhstan’s National Center for Space Research and Technologies, where investigate the physical processes taking place in the different layers of the solar atmosphere and solar activity. And also there is a telescope that Hitler gave Mussolini! Telescope the guerrillas intercepted and handed over to the USSR, then it was destined in Kazakhstan. Here is a historical relic.

Falconry farm

As an alternative on a way back from The Tian Shan Astronomical Observatory, you can transfer to Falconry farm “Sunkar” (18.1 km from Observatory).

“Sunkar” (Falcon) is the first Falconry Centre in Kazakhstan. It was established in 1989 for the purpose of breeding rare and endangered species of birds of prey and their reintroduction into the wild, primarily listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. There visitors will get a lot of information about the history of falconry, the biological features and the way of life of birds of prey.

Drive back to Almaty.