Standard — up to 4 travellers
- A sedan or minivan for you alone
- Depart at any time you like
- Stops wherever you ask
- Flexible route — we adjust as we go
Tamgaly-Tas tour
Rocks above the Ili river where, centuries ago, travellers cut figures of Buddha and Tibetan script into the stone. Two hours from Almaty and you are standing in front of them, on an empty bank.
Price agreed in advanceYou get the full figure in the chat before the trip, and it does not change en route.
Contract and documentsWe work under a contract; companies get an invoice and closing documents.
Dispatcher around the clockWe answer on WhatsApp at any hour, night arrivals included.
Private, never sharedThe car is yours alone — no strangers on board, and the driver stays reachable the whole way.
We speak English, Russian, Kazakh, Arabic and Malay — so nothing gets lost in translation.
Tamgaly-Tas in photographs
The carvings make more sense up close — the relief reads best in morning and evening light.
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How the tour runs
Door to door for the whole day — nothing to find and nowhere to get to on your own.
Total time: about 5 hours
- 01The car arrives at your address
- 02We drive along the Ili river — about 2 hours
- 03The rock carvings above the river, around 1.5 hours
- 04Optionally, a stop at the Kapchagay reservoir
- 05We drive you back to Almaty
Rates
Pick a format — we confirm the exact figure for your date and group in the chat.
Group — 5 travellers and up
- A minibus for your whole party
- Private too — no strangers on board
- Room for the whole group’s luggage
What you will see
Tamgaly-Tas translates roughly as “stones with marks”. The site lies on the right bank of the Ili, where the river cuts through a rocky ridge. Figures of Buddha are carved into the sheer slabs, with inscriptions in Tibetan script beside them.
The impression comes from the contrast: dry steppe and an empty river all around, and on the stone, carefully worked images left by people who passed through here centuries ago. There is no infrastructure nearby, which adds to the sense of authenticity.
The rocks stand directly above the water, so the trip is often combined with a stop by the river or at the Kapchagay reservoir on the way back.
The drive and time on site
The drive
About two hours, with an unpaved final stretch.
On site
Walking the carved rocks and going down to the riverbank.
Optional
A stop at the reservoir on the way back, if you would like one.
What is included
The vehicle, fuel and driver for the whole trip. Meals and any on-site fees are separate. The trip fits comfortably into half a day, so guests often take it on an arrival or departure day.
What our guests say
Short video reviews our guests filmed on their trips.
About us
Baqtaq Travel is not just a travel agency — it is a community of guides who speak English, Malay and Arabic. We put together memorable tours across Almaty and the Almaty region — a land where alpine lakes of the Tian Shan, Charyn Canyon, singing dunes and mountain meadows all lie within a day of the city.
These lands are rich in the history of the early Turkic peoples, and the sheer range of natural scenery surprises even seasoned travellers — as does the hearty, one-of-a-kind local cooking. We will show you the most beautiful places, and the customs and culture of the people who live here.
Discover the heart of the Eurasian continent with Baqtaq Travel.
Book this trip
Tell us the date and how many of you there are — we reply with a firm price for this trip.
Frequently asked
What is Tamgaly-Tas?
A site on the right bank of the Ili river where figures of Buddha and Tibetan inscriptions are carved into the riverside rocks. They are attributed to Buddhist travellers and monks, with the best-known carvings usually dated to the late medieval period.
Is this the same as the UNESCO-listed Tamgaly petroglyphs?
No — these are two different places and they are often confused. The UNESCO site is Tamgaly, about 170 km north-west of Almaty, with Bronze Age petroglyphs. Tamgaly-Tas is the Buddhist rock art by the Ili river. Our trip goes to Tamgaly-Tas; we can discuss a trip to Tamgaly separately if you want it.
How long is the drive?
Around two hours from Almaty, roughly 120 kilometres north. The final stretch is an unpaved track.
How much time is needed on site?
An hour to an hour and a half is enough to walk the main rocks and go down to the river. Many guests combine the trip with a stop at the Kapchagay reservoir.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn. In summer the exposed rocks get very hot, so we set out early in the morning or towards evening.
Other destinations
Where else we go from Almaty.
