Almaty

Steppe, Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: 13000km.com)
Steppe, Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: 13000km.com)

1. Altyn-Emel National Park – Steppe

Singing Sands of Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: tourasia.kz)
Singing Dunes, Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: tourasia.kz)

2. Altyn-Emel National Park – Singing Dunes

Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: turanasia.com)
Aktau Mountains, Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: turanasia.com)
Produce stand along the road to Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: almatyexplorer.wordpress.com)
Produce stand along the road to Altyn Emel National Park (Photo: almatyexplorer.wordpress.com)

3. Altyn-Emel National Park – Aktau Mountains

Kok Zhailau (Photo: nextsteppe.wordpress.com)
Kok Zhailau (Photo: nextsteppe.wordpress.com)
Big Almaty Lake (Photo: travelcravings.com)
Big Almaty Lake (Photo: travelcravings.com) 

4. Ile-Alatau National Park – Trans-Ile Alatau Mountains, Kok Zhailau, Big Almaty Lake, Issyk Lake, and Turgen Gorge

Almaty (Photo: jetfarer.com)
Almaty (Photo: jetfarer.com)
Ascension Cathedral, Almaty (Photo: leggypeggy.wordpress.com)
Ascension Cathedral, Almaty (Photo: leggypeggy.wordpress.com)

5. Almaty City (largest city and Soviet era capital) – Medeu Skating Rink, Ascension Cathedral, Green Bazaar, and Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

Kaindy Lake (Photo: alibeksamat.wordpress.com)
Kaindy Lake (Photo: alibeksamat.wordpress.com)

6. Kaindy Lake in the Tien Shan Mountains

Tamgaly-Tas petroglyph site (Photo: triplegemtravels.com)
Tamgaly-Tas petroglyph site (Photo: triplegemtravels.com)

7. Tamgaly-Tas petroglyph site

Wild apple forest (Photo: silka.tours)
One of the last wild apple forests (Photo: silka.tours)

8. Last wild apple forests

9. Charyn Canyon – Charyn National Park

Kolsai Lake (Photo: cnbworldtour.wordpress.com)
Kolsai Lake (Photo: cnbworldtour.wordpress.com)

10. Kolsai Lakes National Park