The northern entry to the Altyn Emel National Park is located in Bas’shi village, 300 kilometres from Almaty. The northern gate is used to reach the famous attractions of the Park: Singing Dune, Aktau mountains and Katutau. Thus, we start early and via Konaev and Saryozek towns to Bas'shi, where (at the Park's main office) take the permissions.

We enter the Park and head to the Singing Dune, with a stop at Oshaktas dolmens. Singing Dune is located in the valley of Ili River, about 2 kilometers from the river in its right bank, between small mountain ranges – the Greater and Lesser Kalkans. It looks like huge sand dune with overall height of 150m and length about 3 kilometers. The ridge is sharp as a blade, the sand crumbles underneath your feet, but the ridge does not get blunt. Two smaller sand dunes continue the big one. The whole complex has an area of about 10 square kilometers. Other similar sand dunes in Kazakhstan can be found only in Mangistau region (eg.Sam sands), but the main difference of Semirechye dune (other name of Singing Dune) that in hot windy weather it is capable of making sound resembling low hum of jet aircraft. If the weather is good, we can take a hike along the Dune's ridge and serve lunch with Dune's views.

After visiting the Dune, we either drive back to Bas'shi, accommodate at a guest house, take dinner and stay overnight (if you prefer a guest house accommodation option and it is available on your dates). Or drive deeper inside a Park and by the end of the day arrive in Aktau colorful mountains. Here we set a tent camp: living tents with sleeping bags/mats, modern outdoor kitchen, table/chairs, lighting and other camping facilities. A guide cooks and serves your dinner and you enjoy the sunset with Aktau views along with freshly prepared meals in the open air. Stay overnight in tents (tent camping) at a glade in Aktau mountains.