Mangystau (Mangyshlak)

The city of Aktau makes for a convenient base to explore Mangystau’s natural wonders. About 130 kilometers from Aktau on the Tupkaragan Plateau lies the chalk canyon Kapamsay. Sheer cliffs up to 70 meters high line the former riverbed, where scattered boulders impede swift travel. Nearby, the Shakpak-Ata underground mosque from the 10th–13th centuries awaits exploration, carved directly into chalky cliffs. Centuries ago, Zoroastrian fire-worshippers gathered here, and today, visitors might still observe modern fire rituals within the cave.

Next, venture to Sherkala Mountain, resembling a 300-meter white-and-ochre nomadic tent from one angle, and a reclining lion from another. Adjacent lies the mysterious Valley of Balls, or Torysh, with its terrain strewn with spherical mineral formations ranging from 10 centimeters to 4 meters in diameter. Scientists have yet to agree on their origins, but the formations are believed to be around 120 million years old.

From Sherkala, you can reach Tuzbair, a striking cluster of white hills at the base of a vast salt flat. Here, limestone slopes carved by erosion drop sharply, and below them stretches a salty pan that reflects the sky and sunset in mesmerizing colors.

Another must-see is Boszhira, a fantastic location on the Ustyurt Plateau. Millennia ago, ancient seas covered this area, and now towering chalk formations rise toward the sky, changing in appearance with the light. Fossilized algae, shells, and Mesozoic shark teeth are scattered throughout, while some rock spires reach heights of 200 meters. Camp at the foot of one for the best views of the sunrise and sunset, with their dramatic play of colors.

A short trip from Boszhira brings you to the multicolored Boqty Mountain, about 20 kilometers away. This 160-meter formation rises like a giant, layered cake, with horizontal strata shifting from blue and red to yellow and brown. Its strikingly symmetrical shape, standing alone on the salt flat, resembles an unusual ship stranded in the steppe—a sight famously captured on the 1000-tenge banknote. You may even see camels roaming nearby.

Where there are camels, there are also deserts: the Senek Sands, with dunes up to 25 meters high, lie 20 kilometers from Boqty Mountain. Here, you’ll find true desert landscapes with the intricate dance of wind and sand, lizard tracks, and looming mountains on the horizon.

Beyond these well-known attractions, Mangystau offers other remarkable sites: the porous Ybykty Gorge, the colossal Zhygyldan sinkhole, the red-and-white Kyzylkup Hills, and much more. Alongside natural marvels, Mangystau’s historical sites, such as the underground mosques of Beket-Ata, Karaman-Ata, and Shakpak-Ata, hold spiritual significance and draw pilgrims from all over Kazakhstan.

To fully explore Mangystau’s top attractions, you’ll need at least a week, covering over 1,000 kilometers and often camping along the way. For a shorter adventure, a 3–4 day tour is feasible if you skip some of the more remote locations. Certain sites can even be reached via day trips from Aktau, allowing for comfortable stays in local hotels.

Though most routes are paved, you’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach many of the actual sites, navigating 10 to 100 kilometers on dirt roads. We offer a range of reliable Mangystau tours, from short day trips out of Aktau to immersive multi-day journeys into this spectacular and otherworldly region.