Altyn Emel - Zharkent

On this day, we have to get up quite early to have the chance to observe the animals grazing mainly before sunrise along the road leading to the Chanting Dune, about 1 hour's drive away. This dune is 1.5 km long and 120 metres high, with a crescent shape that makes it unique and magnificent. When the wind blows in from the west and scatters the sand, it sounds like an organ playing in the heart of the desert. We climb to the crest of the dune.

We then head for the town of Jarkent, just 20 km from the border with China and populated mainly by Uyghurs. The journey to Jarkent takes around 3 hours. We have lunch in a local café, then visit a wooden mosque with unusual Chinese-style architecture. In this village, you'll also find an Orthodox church built in the late 19th century after the annexation of Kazakhstan by the Russian Empire.

Dinner in a local café, followed by an overnight stay at the hotel.