Aksu Canyon
500 m deep.
Tomiris — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Almaz Tleuliyev — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tatyana Skripnik — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tatyana Skripnik — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Альмир Маратовна — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Альмир Маратовна — CC BY-SA 4.0 · AinaTurlan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Альмир Маратовна — CC BY-SA 4.0
Central Asia's oldest nature reserve, founded in 1926, covering some 132,000 hectares of the Western Tian Shan at 1,100 to 4,236 m. Its name comes from the Aksu, its largest river, and the Zhabagly range in the north. It runs from steppe and flowering meadows to forests and snowy peaks, the highest being Sayram Peak. In spring several wild tulips bloom, among them Greig's tulip, and rare animals live here, including the seldom-seen snow leopard, the brown bear and the Tian Shan argali. Its most famous sight is the Aksu Canyon, cut by the river up to 500 m deep between sheer rock walls, crossable in its southern part only on foot over a narrow bridge. From the rim there are dizzying views down to the river. Visits need a permit arranged in advance; reports put the fee at about 2,600 tenge per person a day plus a ranger, booked at least two days ahead, per visitor guides, so check current rules with the reserve or go with an organised tour.
500 m deep.
Wild ones.
Over meadows.
Talas Alatau mountains, about 100 km east of Shymkent
Yes, an advance permit with a ranger; reports put the fee at about 2,600 tenge a day, booked two days ahead, per visitor guides.