Zharkent - Saty

In the morning, we drive to Charyn National Park (2-hour drive).

On the way, we pass through the ancient Sogdian ash grove, which existed as far back as the Paleogene era (around 5 million years ago). Near the grove are the ancient burial mounds (kurgans), which stretch for several kilometers in a narrow chain.

But the park's main attraction is Charyn Canyon. It's a picturesque natural space that impresses with its supernatural scenery. The canyon is 200 meters deep and the steep mountains are 150 to 300 meters high. The canyon itself is a natural monument composed of sedimentary rocks up to 12 million years old.

We walk through the area known as the "Valley of the Castles", which features rock formations reminiscent of the shapes of a dungeon. The Valley of the Castles is over 2 km long and varies in width from 20 to 80 meters.

We reach the Charyn River (40-minute walk) for a picnic lunch. We then head for the village of Saty (1 hour's drive), where we stay in a guesthouse.