Motorcycle tours in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (Pamir), Uzbekistan. Enduro tours. Jeep 4x4 tours
KAZAKHSTAN
THE NOMAD ENDURO
ENDURO MOTORCYCLE TOUR
9 DAYS
The Nomad Enduro has no group departure in 2027, but we can run it as a private tour for your group. Ask us about dates. To join a group in Kazakhstan in 2027, ride the Central Asian Ring, From Desert up to Glaciers or the Almaty Adventure Loop.
Goodbye asphalt! Hello off-road! Salam Alaikum to the steppes, sand dunes, and mountains!
The Nomad Enduro Tour is a unique motorcycle adventure for off-road and free-riding enthusiasts. Why is it unique? Because over 7 days, you'll ride an enduro motorbike through diverse and stunning landscapes: the endless flats of the Kazakh steppe, the sands of the Tau-Kum desert, rocky ridges, and the lush green alpine meadows of the Zaili Alatau mountains. And all of this takes place on the ancient trails of nomads.
You’ll experience the wild beauty of nature, savor traditional Kazakh cuisine, and ride enduro motorbikes—everything that makes the Nomad Enduro Motorcycle Tour in Kazakhstan unforgettable!
You are about to embark on a beautiful journey and truly experience life as a nomad!
P.S. We do not describe some places and roads on our website because it is exclusive part of our itinerary and commercial secret.
The Nomad Enduro: motorcycle tour in Kazakhstan
Duration: 9 travel days, 7 riding days
Country: Kazakhstan. Almaty region.
Start/Finish: Almaty. South capital city of Kazakhstan.
Total Distance: 1600 km
Bikes: Suzuki DR650SE
Roads: about 65% - sand, gravel, dusty steppe roads, country roads, dirt roads.
Accommodation: twin room in hotels (5 nights), country lodge (1 night), resort (1 night), guesthouse (1 night).
Group size: min 8 and max 10 riders.
Country: Kazakhstan. Almaty region.
Start/Finish: Almaty. South capital city of Kazakhstan.
Total Distance: 1600 km
Bikes: Suzuki DR650SE
Roads: about 65% - sand, gravel, dusty steppe roads, country roads, dirt roads.
Accommodation: twin room in hotels (5 nights), country lodge (1 night), resort (1 night), guesthouse (1 night).
Group size: min 8 and max 10 riders.
Date: private groups only in 2027
Price - USD 3350
Tour price includes:
Tour price excludes:
Requirements:
Tour price includes:
- Suzuki DR650SE bike and third-party insurance
- Guide on a motorcycle
- Support vehicle with passenger carrying ability
- All stays (shared twin room)
- Breakfast water, and soft drinks
- All entry fees
- Airport transfer
Tour price excludes:
- Possible damages to the motorcycle
- Damage deposit — USD 500 (refundable if no damage)
- Flights
- Visas (if required)
- Personal insurance
- Lunch and dinner
- Fuel
- Any other expenses not included in the price
Requirements:
- International driver’s license with motorcycle category
- Minimum age: 21 years
- At least 3 years of riding experience
- Very good off-road skills (especially on sand)
- Readiness for an adventurous journey
- Physical strength and endurance
- Pure optimism and respect for local laws and culture
PRICE INFO
1. Almaty.
Upon arrival in Almaty, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If you arrive during the first half of the day, an optional walking tour of Almaty’s main attractions can be arranged. Most of the city’s highlights are located within a short distance of the hotel and can easily be explored on foot.
In the afternoon, we will meet at the hotel to get acquainted, inspect the motorcycles, complete the necessary paperwork, and review the details of the upcoming adventure.
In the evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Kazakh restaurant, where you will have the opportunity to sample local cuisine and get to know your fellow riders.
Tomorrow, the open road awaits!
2. Almaty – Karabastau village. 190 km
Let the adventure begin!
We start gently. Leaving Almaty takes a little under 60 km of paved road and traffic, and then the asphalt gives way to open steppe and countless tracks running off in every direction. Today is about 130 km of off-road, with the first sandy sections of the tour, noticeably easier than what waits in the Taukum Desert.
It is the day to get used to your DR650, to feel the surface under the wheels and to settle into the rhythm of the group.
Lunch is on the way. By evening, we reach Karabastau, a small village out in the steppe near the Tamgaly gorge, and stop there for the night.
Overnight: Tanbaly museum and hotel.
3. Karabastau village – Aral-Tube village. 160 km
After breakfast, we ride about 60 km on paved roads to the village of Kanshengel, where we take a short break, enjoy some tea, and prepare for the day’s main adventure.
From Kanshengel, we enter the vast Taukum Desert, crossing about 90 km of sandy tracks, dunes, and remote desert terrain. This day offers a unique opportunity to experience Central Asia as caravans and explorers once knew it: vast, remote, challenging, and beautiful.
We will stop for a picnic lunch along the route and have time to rest before continuing through the sands.
By late afternoon, we reach the village of Aral-Tube and a comfortable riverside country lodge, a true oasis after a day in the desert. Relax, visit the sauna, and recharge for the days ahead.
Overnight: Iva Country Lodge.
4. Aral-Tube village – Qonaev (Kapchagai). 210 km
Today we continue our ride along the Ili River, one of Kazakhstan’s most important waterways and part of a region once crossed by the ancient Silk Road. The day offers plenty of off-road riding, with a mix of sandy tracks, salt flats, and, depending on conditions, sections of mud. No two kilometers are quite the same.
We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing our journey toward Qonaev. Near the town, we join the highway for the last stretch.
By evening, we arrive in the town of Qonaev (Kapchagai), where we check into a comfortable hotel for the night.
Overnight: Victoria Hotel.
5. Qonaev – Altyn-Emel National Park. 160 km
Today we continue our off-road adventure into the remote countryside. Along the way, we will pass through traditional rural settlements and experience a side of Kazakhstan that has changed little over the years.
Our route crosses the Kokhan Plateau, a vast area of rolling steppe stretching along the Kaprek Mountain Range. During the day, we will also cross the Altyn-Emel Pass, one of the historic gateways into this remarkable region.
Around midday, we will stop for a picnic lunch before continuing toward Altyn-Emel National Park.
By evening, we arrive at our guesthouse in the village of Basshi near Altyn-Emel National Park. Here, you will experience the warm hospitality of a local Kazakh family and enjoy a peaceful and quiet place to rest before the next stage of the journey.
Overnight: Agai-Kum Guesthouse.
6. Altyn-Emel National Park – Chundzha Hot Springs. 280 km
Today we continue our journey through Altyn-Emel National Park, one of Kazakhstan’s most remarkable protected areas.
Our first destination is the famous Singing Dune, a unique natural phenomenon. If weather and sand conditions are favorable, you may have the opportunity to hear the dune’s mysterious humming sound that gave it its name.
After visiting the dune, we return to the village for lunch and then, if the park gives us permission to enter, ride on to the colorful Aktau Mountains, whose striking formations and unusual geology create one of the most unusual landscapes in Kazakhstan.
Later in the day, we leave Altyn-Emel behind and ride east toward the Ketmen Mountain Range. This part of the route follows the paved highway.
By evening, we arrive at our accommodation near the Ketmen Range. A pool fed by natural hot springs provides the perfect opportunity to relax tired muscles after a day on the road.
Overnight: Derevushka Resort.
7. Chundzha Hot Springs – Saty village. 300 km
After breakfast, we leave the hot springs behind and head into the forested mountains of the Ketmen Range, one of the most remote corners of the Northern Tien Shan.
If weather conditions permit us to enter the mountains, we will climb a mountain pass and discover a completely different landscape. The open steppe gives way to forests, mountain meadows, and winding tracks deep in the mountains, with a mix of remote trails, river crossings, and mountain terrain along the way. If snow closes the pass, we take the road around it through Kegen (226 km).
Around midday, we will stop for a picnic lunch in the mountains before continuing our ride.
In the afternoon, the route follows a paved road toward Kolsai Lake. While less demanding than the off-road sections, this is widely considered one of the most scenic roads in the Almaty Region, opening magnificent views of the valleys on one side and, on the other, forest-covered mountain slopes and distant snow-capped peaks.
Our destination is Kolsai Lake, a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by forests and the peaks of the Northern Tien Shan.
After visiting the lake, we descend to the village of Saty, where we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Overnight: Kolsay Grand Hotel.
8. Saty village – Almaty. 300 km
After breakfast, we leave Saty and begin our journey back toward Almaty. Our route follows the edge of the famous Charyn Canyon, offering occasional views into one of Kazakhstan’s most remarkable natural landmarks.
We then ride along the foothills of the Toraygyr Range before descending through the wide Sagety Valley toward the village of Kokpek, where we will stop for lunch.
After lunch, we join the highway for the final leg of the journey. This allows us to keep a comfortable pace and return to Almaty well before dark, with a last chance to enjoy the vast open landscapes of southeastern Kazakhstan.
By evening, we arrive in Almaty, where a festive farewell dinner awaits us: a chance to relax, share stories from the road, and celebrate the adventure together.
9. Departure from Almaty
Upon arrival in Almaty, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If you arrive during the first half of the day, an optional walking tour of Almaty’s main attractions can be arranged. Most of the city’s highlights are located within a short distance of the hotel and can easily be explored on foot.
In the afternoon, we will meet at the hotel to get acquainted, inspect the motorcycles, complete the necessary paperwork, and review the details of the upcoming adventure.
In the evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Kazakh restaurant, where you will have the opportunity to sample local cuisine and get to know your fellow riders.
Tomorrow, the open road awaits!
2. Almaty – Karabastau village. 190 km
Let the adventure begin!
We start gently. Leaving Almaty takes a little under 60 km of paved road and traffic, and then the asphalt gives way to open steppe and countless tracks running off in every direction. Today is about 130 km of off-road, with the first sandy sections of the tour, noticeably easier than what waits in the Taukum Desert.
It is the day to get used to your DR650, to feel the surface under the wheels and to settle into the rhythm of the group.
Lunch is on the way. By evening, we reach Karabastau, a small village out in the steppe near the Tamgaly gorge, and stop there for the night.
Overnight: Tanbaly museum and hotel.
3. Karabastau village – Aral-Tube village. 160 km
After breakfast, we ride about 60 km on paved roads to the village of Kanshengel, where we take a short break, enjoy some tea, and prepare for the day’s main adventure.
From Kanshengel, we enter the vast Taukum Desert, crossing about 90 km of sandy tracks, dunes, and remote desert terrain. This day offers a unique opportunity to experience Central Asia as caravans and explorers once knew it: vast, remote, challenging, and beautiful.
We will stop for a picnic lunch along the route and have time to rest before continuing through the sands.
By late afternoon, we reach the village of Aral-Tube and a comfortable riverside country lodge, a true oasis after a day in the desert. Relax, visit the sauna, and recharge for the days ahead.
Overnight: Iva Country Lodge.
4. Aral-Tube village – Qonaev (Kapchagai). 210 km
Today we continue our ride along the Ili River, one of Kazakhstan’s most important waterways and part of a region once crossed by the ancient Silk Road. The day offers plenty of off-road riding, with a mix of sandy tracks, salt flats, and, depending on conditions, sections of mud. No two kilometers are quite the same.
We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing our journey toward Qonaev. Near the town, we join the highway for the last stretch.
By evening, we arrive in the town of Qonaev (Kapchagai), where we check into a comfortable hotel for the night.
Overnight: Victoria Hotel.
5. Qonaev – Altyn-Emel National Park. 160 km
Today we continue our off-road adventure into the remote countryside. Along the way, we will pass through traditional rural settlements and experience a side of Kazakhstan that has changed little over the years.
Our route crosses the Kokhan Plateau, a vast area of rolling steppe stretching along the Kaprek Mountain Range. During the day, we will also cross the Altyn-Emel Pass, one of the historic gateways into this remarkable region.
Around midday, we will stop for a picnic lunch before continuing toward Altyn-Emel National Park.
By evening, we arrive at our guesthouse in the village of Basshi near Altyn-Emel National Park. Here, you will experience the warm hospitality of a local Kazakh family and enjoy a peaceful and quiet place to rest before the next stage of the journey.
Overnight: Agai-Kum Guesthouse.
6. Altyn-Emel National Park – Chundzha Hot Springs. 280 km
Today we continue our journey through Altyn-Emel National Park, one of Kazakhstan’s most remarkable protected areas.
Our first destination is the famous Singing Dune, a unique natural phenomenon. If weather and sand conditions are favorable, you may have the opportunity to hear the dune’s mysterious humming sound that gave it its name.
After visiting the dune, we return to the village for lunch and then, if the park gives us permission to enter, ride on to the colorful Aktau Mountains, whose striking formations and unusual geology create one of the most unusual landscapes in Kazakhstan.
Later in the day, we leave Altyn-Emel behind and ride east toward the Ketmen Mountain Range. This part of the route follows the paved highway.
By evening, we arrive at our accommodation near the Ketmen Range. A pool fed by natural hot springs provides the perfect opportunity to relax tired muscles after a day on the road.
Overnight: Derevushka Resort.
7. Chundzha Hot Springs – Saty village. 300 km
After breakfast, we leave the hot springs behind and head into the forested mountains of the Ketmen Range, one of the most remote corners of the Northern Tien Shan.
If weather conditions permit us to enter the mountains, we will climb a mountain pass and discover a completely different landscape. The open steppe gives way to forests, mountain meadows, and winding tracks deep in the mountains, with a mix of remote trails, river crossings, and mountain terrain along the way. If snow closes the pass, we take the road around it through Kegen (226 km).
Around midday, we will stop for a picnic lunch in the mountains before continuing our ride.
In the afternoon, the route follows a paved road toward Kolsai Lake. While less demanding than the off-road sections, this is widely considered one of the most scenic roads in the Almaty Region, opening magnificent views of the valleys on one side and, on the other, forest-covered mountain slopes and distant snow-capped peaks.
Our destination is Kolsai Lake, a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by forests and the peaks of the Northern Tien Shan.
After visiting the lake, we descend to the village of Saty, where we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Overnight: Kolsay Grand Hotel.
8. Saty village – Almaty. 300 km
After breakfast, we leave Saty and begin our journey back toward Almaty. Our route follows the edge of the famous Charyn Canyon, offering occasional views into one of Kazakhstan’s most remarkable natural landmarks.
We then ride along the foothills of the Toraygyr Range before descending through the wide Sagety Valley toward the village of Kokpek, where we will stop for lunch.
After lunch, we join the highway for the final leg of the journey. This allows us to keep a comfortable pace and return to Almaty well before dark, with a last chance to enjoy the vast open landscapes of southeastern Kazakhstan.
By evening, we arrive in Almaty, where a festive farewell dinner awaits us: a chance to relax, share stories from the road, and celebrate the adventure together.
9. Departure from Almaty
ITINERARY
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