Guest houses
and Other Comfortable Accommodations

in the village of Zhalanash, Almaty region (250 kilometers from city of Almaty):

Situated far away from industrial regions, this is an extremely picturesque area at the foot of mountains covered with fir and mixed forest. The foothills are not steep and are carpeted with thick grass. Amazing fresh air is filled with the aroma of blooming grass. There is a horse farm on grounds with 20 horses. Jibek Joly's guest house in Zhalanash is a wooden house that accommodates up to 12 people. Cuisine: Kazakh National, European. Phyto-tea upon request. Hiking: Karabulak Gorge (5 km, 11km by bus), to Berkutshi (where you will find a man that raises birds for hunting), to Shet-Merke; Kaindi Lake, Kolsai (1) Lake (40km), Kolsai (2) and Kolsai (3) Lakes; horseback riding routes up to 7 days; herb collecting, berry picking (raspberries, black currants), mushrooms picking (milk-agarics).

More about Berkutshi you can look here.

at Kolsay (1) Lake (40 kilometers from Zhalanash settlement):

Jibek Joly's six room guest house on a slope overlooking the lake shore, accommodating 20 people (with a fire place hall), has a beautiful view of the lake at the bottom of the gorge. The fir tree lined slopes at a 40° incline. Hiking: up the gorge to Kolsay (2) Lake (9 km, 4 hour hike, altitude change of 434 m, 10° incline); herb collecting; and horseback riding.

in the village of Baiseit (130 km from Almaty):

Jibek Joly's comfortable two-storyed cottage. Excursions: visit Charyn Canyon, the Singing Sand Dunes, the Ayak-Kalkan mineral spring, the Ily petroglyphs, and the Chinese border custom-houses Zharkent and Kolzhat; opportunity to learn about Uigur cuisine, Uigur folklore and national musical instruments.

in the village of Zhalauly (250 km from Almaty):

Jibek Joly's small cottage in a valley surrounded by mountains. Two rooms in the cottage are for tourists and there is a good site for a tent camp close to the cottage. Excursions: to Mazar of Malai Batir, to an ancient cave sheep-fold, to an ancient cave pottery, to the panorama of Karkara Valley; walks and horseback riding in Uzun-Bulaksai, to see the unique view of the night sky; mumiye and herb, mushroom and berry collecting; horseback riding; an excellent place for hunting. Cuisine: Kazakh National, European.

in Shogansay Gorge (400 km from Almaty, 3 km from Baiankol Frontier Post):

Jibek Joly's wooden house with a sauna, accomodating up to 12 people. Excursions: view of Baiankol Gorge panorama, Chogansai Gorge, Taldisai Gorge, and Central Tien-Shan panorama which includes the Khan-Tengri and Baiankol peaks; hiking to Karakol and Akkol Lakes, to Shirokiy Pass and the Sac burial mounds, and on mountaineer routes in Central Tien-Shan; herb, mushroom and berry collecting; travel from Shogansay - Tekec River - Tuzkol Lake - Komirshi settlement and back; enjoy a walk to Aitibaindyn Aktasu. Cuisine: Kazakh National and European.

in the town of Karakol, Republic of Kyrgyzstan (380 km from Almaty):

Jibek Joly's two-story cottage with sauna and a fire place hall. Excursions: visit Przhevalsky memorial, visit Issyk-Kul lake panorama, drive to Zhety-Oguz (Seven Oxes) Gorge, visit hot mineral springs along the Altyn-Arashan Drive to Bokonbayevo (traditional types of hunting with birds); drive to high mountain pasture of yaks; horseback riding; mountaineer routes in Terskei Alatau and Central Tien-Shan. Cuisine: Kyrgyz, Dungan and European.

in Altyn-Emel National Park (230 km from Almaty, 160 km from the Chinese border):

Wooden guest house accomodating up to 12 people. Excursions: to the Singing Sand Dunes; to burial mounds and settlements of the Bronze Age; to the largest timuli in Kazakstan - King's burials from the 2nd -3rd centuries ΒΡ; caves and petroglyphs; to the Museum of Chokan Valikhanov, a famous Kazakh scientist and traveler; walks in the Park watching local flora and fauna. Cuisine: Kazakh National and European.

The price of full board is $65 p/p per day.

in Aksu-Dzhabagly Biosphere Preserve (about 650 km from Almaty):

Guest house accommodating up to 10 people (3 toilets, 2 showers, bathtub, hot water). Nearby there is a similar house that can accommodate 7-8 people. Meals: wholesome meals served in dining-room seating up to 20 people. Excursions: walks in the preserve, in Aksu River Canyon, and through Archa Forest, as well as horseback riding.

Weekend tours