Top places in Kazakhstan
Discover the wonders of our country
700-year-old Willow Tree
The oasis around the magnificent tree offers shade, legend, and cool streams—a sacred stop between the fiery landscapes of Katutau and Aktau
The 700-year-old willow in the Kosbastau oasis is a unique natural monument of Altyn-Emel. Rising 20 meters high with a trunk girth of 15 meters, it provides cool shade beside a small lake and a radon spring, offering relief from the desert heat. Legends claim Genghis Khan once rested here, though the tree likely sprouted later. Sacred to locals, the willow is a peaceful and refreshing stop for travelers en route to the Katutau and Aktau mountains
Aktau Mountains
Hike through the otherworldly lanscape — a maze of colored cliffs and ancient canyons waiting to be explored in Altyn-Emel's wild heart
Almaty
Our start point
Besshatyr Mounds
Explore the ancient grand Saka royal tombs rising from the steppe, still echoing the spirit of nomads from 2,500 years ago
Oshaktas Steles
Mysterious monuments rise in the steppe—ancient altar or Mongol firepit? A silent enigma on the road to the Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel
Singing Dune
A natural wonder that emits a deep, resonant hum when the wind moves its sands—a rare and mysterious desert phenomenon
Katutau lava formations
Rising like frozen waves in the desert — a surreal volcanic landscape shaped by ancient eruptions in Altyn-Emel Park
Kapchagai Lake
A lifeline in the steppe — the Reservoir powers the region and fuels recreation, from fishing to beach adventures near Almaty
700-year-old Willow Tree
The oasis around the magnificent tree offers shade, legend, and cool streams—a sacred stop between the fiery landscapes of Katutau and Aktau