Enbekshikazakh District

Charyn State National Park has been a nature conservation and scientific institution of republican significance since February 23, 2004. It was established over an area of 93,150 ha to protect and restore unique natural complexes. Their ecological, historical, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value is explicitly among the reasons for this protection. In Charyn Canyon, the “Valley of Castles” route is 3 km long. Including breaks, it takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Since March 18, 2019, driving down into the canyon in private cars has been prohibited—important information for planning this excursion.

The Charyn Ash Grove is a different natural area. It covers 5,014 ha, of which 1,100 ha are pure stands of Sogdian ash. The natural stands of this protected ash, which dates back to the Paleogene, have been preserved in their original form. The route through the grove is open year-round. If you are choosing between canyon landscapes and forest nature, these offer two distinctly different focuses for your days out.

Mountain Landscapes and Waterfalls

Turgen Gorge is a natural tourist destination in Ile-Alatau National Park. The Assy Plateau lies between Turgen Gorge and the Bartogay Reservoir at an altitude of 2,100 to 3,200 m. It is known for its alpine meadows, an astrophysical observatory, and nomadic livestock farming. The “Shynturgen Spruces” natural monument is also part of Ile-Alatau State National Park: it is home to a dense, moss-rich spruce taiga with areas of permafrost.

The waterfalls include Bear Waterfall and Kairak Waterfall. Bear Waterfall is in Ile-Alatau National Park, surrounded by coniferous forest and mountain slopes, and is popular for hiking routes and ecotourism. Kairak Waterfall lies on the northern slope of the Ile-Alatau at 2,130 m and consists of three cascades. The tourist route from the bridge in Batan Gorge to the waterfall is 7 km long. This specific distance can help you fit the excursion into your daily plans without conflating the two waterfalls.

Lake Yesik is also a mountain lake in a gorge in the Ile-Alatau Mountains. It lies at an altitude of about 1,750 m and is known for its turquoise water and natural scenery. The access road to Lake Yesik and Turgen Gorge was opened to all types of vehicles on April 30, 2025.

Archaeology and Regional Discoveries

The Issyk State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve was established on January 30, 2010, on the site of the Issyk Necropolis. A royal Saka burial was discovered there in 1970. The museum-reserve has four main exhibition halls, including one devoted to the Golden Man. The combination of the archaeological site and the exhibition gives a visit a concrete archaeological focus.

The protected holdings of the museum-reserve include more than 90 burial mounds in the Issyk Necropolis, as well as the ancient Scythian settlements of Rakhat and Örikti. The museum also organizes excursions to the Rakhat archaeological complex and the medieval city of Talgar. If you are interested in history, you can consider these experiences as a focus of their own alongside nature outings.

Viticulture and local traditions offer further insights into regional culture. Since 2020, the Issyk winery has been developing wine tourism with walks through vineyards and visits to wine cellars. The rural district of Bolek hosts the “Prazdnik urozhaya” apple festival every year. These cultural experiences may help shape your stay if you want your excursions to include more than just scenery and hiking routes.

The town of Yesik is also located in the district and can help you orient yourself when choosing your destination. Base your vacation rental search on which of the nature and cultural themes described here matter most to you.

For the broader travel overview: Almaty.