Arrive at Aktau International Airport and meet your local guide. After check-in at your hotel, enjoy a relaxing city tour of Aktau, a modern Caspian Sea port city set on dramatic coastal cliffs. Visit the seaside promenade, lighthouse viewpoint, and local market before having free time to stroll along the shore. This day helps you acclimatize before heading deep into the wild beauty of Mangystau.

Accommodation: Hotel in Aktau (standard 4★)
Driving Distance: Minimal (within city)

Today’s route takes you to the surreal Torysh Valley of Balls, where giant stone spheres dot the plain like a sculptor’s dream. Move on to the ancient Kokala Jurassic clays and the iconic Sherkala Mountain, whose mysterious silhouette beckons exploration. You’ll camp in the enchanting Ayrakty Valley of Castles, surrounded by towering natural spires.

Experience the dazzling beauty of the Tuzbair salt flat, a brilliant white landscape stretching to the horizon. Take in expansive panoramas and the tranquil silence of this former seabed. This day is all about stunning light, contrast, and dramatic photo opportunities.

Discover the deep reds and layered textures of Kyzylkup (Tiramisu Canyon) and the striking Bokty Mountain. These landscapes, with their buttery hues and sculpted ridges, feel like walking on another planet.

Today you’ll explore Bozzhyra Canyon with its grand panoramas, varied plateaus, and the breathtaking Fangs viewpoints — where the cliffs rise like frozen waves of stone. This is one of Mangystau’s most dramatic natural spectacles.  

Head into the dunes of Senek for expansive desert horizons and walk among the windswept sands. Visit Ybykty Canyon, with its porous rock walls and rugged beauty, and the historical Karaman-Ata site — a place of ancient spirituality.

Departure from Aktau back home