Turgen Gorge: from waterfalls to relict spruce forests

Route thread: Almaty – eco-post of Ile-Alatu National Park - Turgen Gorge.

Route description:

The Turgen Gorge is 70 kilometers from Almaty, in the Ile-Alatau National Park. From the junction at the intersection of Ryskulov and the Kuldzhinsky tract, you should move to the east, at the 36th kilometer, and turn right towards Esik (Issyk). At the 57th kilometer, before the gas station, turn right again and reach the eco-post of the national park. The gorge interests people with the Bear and Kairak waterfalls, relict Chinturgen moss spruce forests, mountain rivers Turgen and Kishi Turgen, an ostrich farm, and several trout farms.

There are also the famous Saki mounds, where the Golden Man was found in the 1960s of the last century, on the road to the gorge.

We arrived in the village of Batan. The forestry is located here, and two rivers merge, Turgen and Maly Turgen.