Fortunately for us the places in Kazakhstan that we all only ever dreamt of visiting are now possible. There are a lot of things and a lot of places to see here. Horses and ponies are the most important means of transport out here and also a friend in the everyday life of people. although horseback riding maybe be a very nice way of seeing the beautiful place walking across the vast mountain meadows, accompanied by the nomads, who have been doing the very same thing for centuries, is a better option and also an incredible experience. The overall trek is one of the most exciting, spectacular and undisturbed routes which leave a positive impact upon you. The existence of this great range, otherwise known as the Celestial Mountains has existed for many centuries. It runs for over 1,600 kms from Tashkent to Urumchi, beyond which it rises again as the Bogdo Ola Range . It is only time for you now to stand before it and feel its aura.

It is about a one hour drive to the Alma- Arason gorge. It takes about 5-6 hours throught a forest until you reach a mountain setting where you can camp overnight. You can see some snowcapped peaks nearby.

From here you cross a bridge and you reach along the right bank of the Alma Arason River . Further upstream you leave the tree line behind and the gorge narrows. There are a number of small streams to cross and then gentle walking across grassy flower-filled slopes leads you across huge meadows until you reach a pass. Camp overnight here.

A chance for exploration of the plateau area, east of Dzhigit Peak (13,117ft/3,975m), with excellent views, particularly south into Kyrgyzstan and your tents far below. Camp at same place.

Two hours gently up over the talus brings you to the pass and into Kyrgyzstan . There are spectacular views of the Chon Kemin valley and surrounding snowy mountains. From here a gentle path leads down to and along beside the impressive Almaty River as it drops to the valley floor. After two hours descent you are in the Chon Kemin gorge.The bottom of the gorge looks like a carpet with an endless garden of meadow flowers. Camp overnight here.

From here descend few hundred feet into the vast and fabulous Chon Kemin valley, and continue at a pleasant slow pace up the gorge, keeping a wary eye for marmot holes in the long grass, wading some tributaries of the Chon-Kemin River . Camp overnight here.

Continue walking up to the head of the valley and trek all the way up to Zhasyl-Kul Lake . It is a beautiful lake and you might be tempted to stay a little longer. Retracing your steps and climbing up a side valley on the far side of the river, with plenty of boulder hopping, you reach the moraine at the snout of the Aksu Glacier. Camp overnight.

Begin walking straight up the tongue of the glacier. The glacier itself is mainly a plane and very straightforward. Leaving the glacier you wind your way up towards the Aksu Pass. It is about 3 hours to the pass where there may well be some large patches of snow. Once on the other side you descend for two hours until you reach a river, and then it is a half hour's descent down into a lovely wide valley. Here there is a wide choice of campsites and the valley is inhabited by quite a large number of nomads. They live here in the summer months with their herds of wild horses and sheep and live in yurts or large square tents. These people are extremely friendly and will undoubtedly want to test you with some of their fermented mares' milk and offer you a ride on one of their horses. Camp overnight here.

Take a 22km drive to Issyk-Kul Lake . This is a beautiful spot in the old Soviet Union and is like a small inland sea surrounded by snow-topped peaks. It is a wild and unspoilt place with a sandy shore. The water is surprisingly warm and a swim is a must; a great place for a picnic lunch on the east shore. Later you leave the lake and drive the 5 or 6 hours to Karkara Base Camp. The scenery is fantastic and interesting. There are signs everywhere of the decay of the old communist system; collective farms with rusting equipment and large areas of land that are not being cultivated, derelict army barracks and interesting small towns and villages of simple wooden chalets. There are very few cars and even fewer people. You pass through an unmanned frontier post back into Kazakhstan , arriving at Karkara Base Camp after a few minutes. Camp overnight.