Aksu-Zhabagly
Kazakhstan · Turkistan Region · 1200 m
Description
Aksu-Zhabagly is the oldest nature reserve in Kazakhstan and its draw is a three week event. For a fortnight from the middle of April the meadows above the village of Zhabagly turn red with wild Greig tulips, the ancestors of the garden kind, and the whole reserve is booked out for it. The rest of the season is the Aksu canyon, a gash several hundred metres deep in the Talas Alatau, and the petroglyph field at Kaskabulak on the plateau above. Homestays in the village do the feeding and the horses. Winter closes the high ground and the reserve keeps a museum and a visitor centre at the gate.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – May
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Wild Greig tulip meadows (mid-April - early May)
- Aksu canyon and its rim path
- Kaskabulak petroglyphs on the plateau(Multi-day trip)
- Bearded vulture and paradise flycatcher
- Zhabagly village homestays
- Horse trekking into the Talas Alatau
- Ular gorge walk
- Reserve museum and visitor centre
- Mashat and Kaskasu canyons(Day trip)
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- CIT