Le sud-est est sans doute au Kazakhstan la région la plus riche en découvertes de toute sorte. On se limite ici à citer les incontournables.
Lacs Köl-Say :
Ces trois jolis lacs se détachent sur les contreforts boisés et escarpés du Koungueï Alataou, à près de 300 km par la route d'Almaty. Ils sont disséminés le long de la rivière Köl-Say, entre 1 800 m et 2 800 m d’altitude, près du village de Saty.
Canyon de Charyn :
La rivière Charyn a creusé un canyon de 150 à 300 m de profondeur dans les steppes situées à 200 km à l’est d’Almaty. L’érosion a ensuite façonné dans la roche des formations étranges et colorées, surtout sur une partie du canyon que l’on a surnommée la “ vallée des Châteaux ” (Dolina Zamkov). Rappelle étrangement l'Utah...!
Vallée de Karkara :
Elle sert depuis des siècles de pâturage d’été aux troupeaux kazakhs et kirghizes. La frontière kirghize est toute proche.
Les Tian Shan du Centre :
Sans aucun doute, un must au Kazakhstan ! Les montagnes les plus hautes et les plus magnifiques s’élèvent au point de jonction avec le Kirghizistan et la Chine. On y trouve le Khan Tengri (7010 m) et de nombreux sommets de plus de 5000 m dont le Mramornaya Stena (6400 m), à la frontière avec la Chine.
Les pétroglyphes de Tamgaly :
Ils figurent aussi sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco. Le site contient au moins 4000 pétroglyphes et remonte à l'âge du bronze pour les plus anciens pétroglyphes. Le site rappelle les pétroglyphes de Gobustan, en Azerbaïdjan.
Parc national d’Altyn-Emel :
Parc national de 4 600 km2 au nord-est du lac Kapshagay, il offre de magnifiques paysages et des sites archéologiques majeurs (pétroglyphes de Terekty et surtout, les 31 tumulus funéraires de Besshatyr, le plus grand ensemble de tombeaux scythes découvert). On y voit des rares gazelles à goitre, des argalis et des onagres. Attention, le parc est reculé. Prévoir ses dispositions pour le transport aller et retour.
The South:
Shymkent is the main city of this area. Here we are in the real kazakh country (kazakh stan). It is extremely rich in natural and cultural attractions region.
Taraz
Located on the road of Tashkent and Bishkek and Almaty Shymkent, Taraz is one of the oldest cities of Kazakhstan. Prosperous stage of the Silk Road, it was in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the capital of the Turkish state Karakhanid. Razed by Genghis Khan, it reappeared on the cards in the nineteenth century by becoming a stronghold on the northern border of the Khanate of Kokand.
Regional museum : it retains an impressive collection of Balbals, which are stone steles depicting characters.
Shakhristan market : already very Chinese, certainly very colorful.
Shymkent, not to be missed!
The central Bazaar
The Regional Museum :
It is interesting for its evocation of the past caravan Shymkent.
Bazaar Samal :
It will please fans. But how to take them! ..
Surroundings of Shymkent
Sairam :
About 14 km east of Shymkent, the small town of Sairam was a very old stage of the Silk Road: it could be 3000 years old.
Nature Reserve of Aksu-Jabagly :
These 1,319 km2 of valleys, rivers, snow-capped peaks and glaciers affecting Kyrgyz and Uzbek borders are the oldest nature reserve of Kazakh-stan (1926), and one of pleasant to visit and easier to access. The diversity of this region will appeal to all nature lovers.
Sairam-Ugam National Park :
This mountain park along the Uzbek border, southwest of the reserve Aksu-Jabagly, is less known than its neighbor but offers the same kind of attractions while being less expensive to visit .
Otrar
At about 150 km northwest of Shymkent are the ruins of the city that opened the doors to Genghis Khan in Central Asia. Genghis Khan destroyed Otrar, who had been one of the most important steps of the Silk Road. Today it is a large mound called Otyrar-Tobe, 11 km north of the small town of Shauildir.
The South east : "The country of the seven rivers"
The southeast is probably Kazakhstan's richest region in discoveries of any kind. Here we mention the best.
Lakes Köl-Say :
These three beautiful lakes stand out against the wooded and steep foothills of Alatau Koungueï, 110 km southeast of Almaty as the crow flies, but about 300 km by road via Tchilik (Shelek) and Jalanach. They are scattered along the Kul-Say River between 1800 m and 2800 m of altitude, in the southwest of the village of Saty.
The Charyn Canyon
Charyn Canyon :
The fast-flowing river has carved a canyon 150 to 300 m deep in the steppes located some 200 km east of Almaty. Erosion then shaped into the rock strange and colorful formations, especially on part of the canyon that has been dubbed the "Châteaux" (Dolina Zamkov). Strangely reminiscent of Utah ...!
Karkara Valley :
It has been used for centuries summer grazing in Kazakh and Kyrgyz herds. The kirghyze border is nearby.
The Tian Shan :
Undoubtedly a must in Kazakhstan! The highest and most beautiful mountains rise at the junction with Kyrgyzstan and China. There is the Khan Tengri (7010 m) and numerous peaks over 5000 m which Mramornaya Stena (6400 m) on the border with China.
Tamgaly petroglyphs :
They are also on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. The site contains at least 4000 and petroglyphs dating back to the bronze age to the oldest. The site reminds the petroglyphs of Gobustan, in Azerbaijan.
National Park Altyn-Emel :
National Park 4 600 km2 northeast of Lake Kapshagay, it offers beautiful scenery and major archaeological sites (petroglyphs Terekty least, the 31 burial mounds of Besshatyr, the largest set of Scythian tombs discovered to date the world). It rare gazelles goiter (Jeyran), argali and asses (kulan). Warning, the park is isolated.
