Photo: Sane4o / CC BY-SA 4.0
Altyn-Emel National Park & the Singing Dunes
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026
A Dune That Hums, About 300km from Almaty by Road
Altyn-Emel National Park is best known for one thing: the Singing Dune, a ridge of sand about 3km long and 150 metres high that hums audibly when dry sand slides down its face. The park around it covers some 4,600 square kilometres of southeastern Kazakhstan and also holds the striped Aktau Mountains, the volcanic Katutau hills, the Saka burial mounds of Bes-Shatyr and herds of wild kulan.
The dune is not close to the city, whatever "Singing Dunes Almaty" tours might suggest: it is about 300km away by road, the last 50km of it on gravel, so one night in the village of Basshi makes for a much better trip. Altyn-Emel is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and part of the Cold Winter Deserts of Turan World Heritage site.
Where Are the Singing Dunes?
The Singing Dune is in Altyn-Emel National Park in Zhetysu Region, near the Ili River valley. Everything starts from Basshi, the village with the park office: from there it is about 50km on park tracks to the dune. Open Altyn-Emel on OpenStreetMap.
Why Do the Singing Dunes Sing?
The dune sings when dry sand moves, and scientists still do not fully agree on why. The sound is real and it surprises people: a low organ-like drone or distant propeller, loud enough to feel in your chest when a big enough slab of sand lets go. The usual explanation is that the grains are unusually uniform, rounded and dry, so when a layer avalanches down the slip face they shear past each other in step, and the moving sheet vibrates at one frequency. A firmer, damper layer below may then act as a resonator, the way a guitar body does.
Two conditions have to hold. The sand must be bone dry, so after rain the dune stays silent for a day or two. And enough sand has to move at once, which usually means a strong dry wind or people sliding down from the crest, though you can sometimes hear it under your feet as you climb. Late morning to mid-afternoon on a dry, breezy day is the reliable window; still, damp mornings are the usual reason visitors leave disappointed.
The dune sits between the Ulken and Kishi Kalkan ridges, and it has grown here over roughly 10,000–12,000 years. Winds funnelled between the two ranges rearrange its sand but hold it in place instead of letting it migrate. The climb to the crest needs no experience and takes 30–45 minutes, and the view from the top takes in the Ili valley.
How Do You Get an Altyn-Emel Permit?
Buy a pass at the national park office in Basshi, or remotely through the park's online cashier. The office is at Mametova Street 2 and is open daily from 08:00 to 17:30, closed 13:00–14:30. You do not need a pass to enter Basshi itself, and you do need your passport. There are no ATMs or card terminals in the village, so bring enough tenge.
The fee is charged per vehicle, not per person, and is set in monthly calculation index (MCI) units, so it rises each January. The 2026 rates are:
- Car: 0.9 MCI, about 3,893₸ a day
- Motorcycle or quad bike: 0.6 MCI, about 2,595₸ a day
- Minibus up to 16 seats: 3.5 MCI, about 15,138₸ a day
- Parking: 0.06 MCI, about 260₸ a day
The park is open every day of the year, but in daylight only. Entry starts at 08:00 if you already hold a pass, and you must leave before dark. The three tourist routes are not linked, so plan around them:
- Route 1, Singing Dune: a loop of about 100km from Basshi, via the Shygan and Mynbulak ranger posts, the Shokan Valikhanov spring and the Oshaktas standing stones.
- Route 3, Aktau and Katutau Mountains: also from Basshi, and combinable with Route 1 over two days. Entering from the Zharkent highway side is forbidden.
- Route 2, Bes-Shatyr and Tanbaly Tas: entered separately at Post 1 near Shengeldy. You cannot drive through from the Singing Dune.
Getting to the Singing Dunes from Almaty
You need your own vehicle, a hired driver or a tour, because no public transport reaches Basshi. Almaty to Basshi is about 250km on paved roads, including the Altyn-Emel Pass, and usually takes four to five hours. Fuel up before you leave the main road.
The road surface changes at the village. Inside the park the tracks are gravel washboard with stony sections, especially towards the Aktau and Katutau mountains, and only the 16km from Basshi to Nurym and Aktobe is paved. Saloon cars and low crossovers are not suitable, so hire a proper 4WD or leave your car in Basshi and take a local vehicle. Allow about an hour and a half each way between Basshi and the dune.
A day trip from Almaty takes 10–14 hours and leaves little time on the sand. Charyn Canyon is about 220km from Basshi by road and the Kolsai Lakes about 330km, so linking them adds a full day of driving. See our day trips from Almaty for how the options compare.
How Much Is a Driver or Guide in Basshi?
Off-road vehicles for up to four people cost 85,000–165,000₸ from Basshi, depending on the route. These are 2026 prices from a private operator's site, altynemel.kz, which is not the official park website:
- Singing Dune: 85,000₸ per vehicle
- Aktau Mountains: 103,000₸ per vehicle
- Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains: 165,000₸ per vehicle
Expect to pay for the whole vehicle, because the operator warns that sharing with strangers is rarely possible. Solo travellers can do better by joining a tour from Almaty. Private 4WD trips from the city are quoted at around 180,000–240,000₸ a day, and about 340,000₸ for two days, so ask whether park fees are included. Russian- and English-speaking guides can also be booked in Basshi; ask for a current price.
The Singing Dunes in Winter and December
Altyn-Emel stays open through winter, and a December visit works if you plan for short days. The park opens daily all year. The Aktau Mountains get so little precipitation that they usually stay almost snow-free with their colours showing, wind often scrubs the dune clean of footprints, and climbing it in the cold is far easier than in summer heat.
The trade-offs are real:
- Short days: in late December the sun sets soon after 4pm, and you must be out of the park before dark. A same-day return from Almaty is not realistic, so sleep in Basshi and start as early as you can.
- Ice on the tracks: park roads can be icy, and conditions change after snow. Check the forecast and ask at the office before you set off.
- A quieter dune: snow or damp sand silences the sound. A dry, windy day is still your best chance, but do not count on hearing it.
- Holidays: the last week of December runs into Kazakhstan's New Year break, so confirm that your guesthouse and driver are working before you travel.
Daytime temperatures are typically around -10 to 5°C. If the dune's sound is the whole point of the trip, April–May or September–October are better bets.
Where to Stay Near the Singing Dunes
Most visitors sleep in Basshi, which has guesthouses, yurts and a caravan campsite. Guesthouse rates with dinner and breakfast are quoted at around 15,000–25,000₸ per person. There is also accommodation at the Shygan ranger post, 6km from the village.
Camping is allowed only at designated sites, such as the one in the Aktau Mountains, and you must say you are staying overnight when you buy your pass. Camping at the Singing Dune is strictly forbidden. See our accommodation guide for what to expect from village guesthouses.
What Else to See in Altyn-Emel
Aktau Mountains
Layered white, red and orange clay hills formed on the bed of an ancient body of water, possibly the Tethys Ocean. They contain fossils and photograph best in low side light. They are not the same place as the city of Aktau on the Caspian.
Katutau Mountains
The park's largest range, where hardened lava from a Permian-age volcano has weathered into strange shapes. They are much older than the Aktau hills and see fewer visitors.
Bes-Shatyr Burial Mounds
A Saka royal necropolis of 31 mounds from the first millennium BCE. The largest is about 17 metres high and more than 100 metres across. Visit it separately on Route 2.
Tanbaly Tas Petroglyphs
Rock art from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval period, close to the Bes-Shatyr mounds on the same route.
Kosbastau Oasis
A green oasis fed by warm springs, known for its giant old trees, including a willow often said to be around 700 years old.
Oshaktas Standing Stones
Stone menhirs on the Singing Dune loop, a short drive from the Shokan Valikhanov spring. They make an easy stop on the way back to Basshi.
Wildlife and Nature
Kulan and Gazelles
The park is home to kulan (Asiatic wild ass), goitred gazelles and argali. In all it records about 70 mammal species and 260 bird species. Spring and autumn are best, and binoculars help.
Przewalski's Horses
These stocky wild horses have been reintroduced to the park, but they are few in number and a sighting is far from guaranteed.
Desert Plants
More than 850 plant species grow here, from saxaul and tamarisk to turanga poplars. Spring brings the desert into brief flower.
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (April–May): wildflowers and pleasant days of 15–25°C
- Autumn (September–October): clear skies and comfortable walking
- Summer (June–August): very hot, often 35–45°C, so start early
- Winter (November–March): cold, quiet and possible, with shorter days
Essential Tips
- Water: at least 2 litres per person, 3–4 litres in summer
- Cash: bring tenge, as Basshi has no ATMs or card terminals
- Passport: carry it for the checkpoints
- Food: pack lunch, as there is nothing to buy inside the park
- Navigation: download offline maps, as signal is limited
- Rubbish: take everything back out with you
Singing Dunes: Questions Travellers Ask
Where are the Singing Dunes in Kazakhstan?
In Altyn-Emel National Park in Zhetysu Region, in the southeast of the country, between the Ulken and Kishi Kalkan ridges near the Ili River valley. The access village is Basshi, where the park office is.
How far are the Singing Dunes from Almaty?
About 300km by road. It is around 250km on paved roads from Almaty to Basshi, usually four to five hours, then about 50km on gravel tracks inside the park, which takes roughly another hour and a half.
Can you visit the Singing Dunes as a day trip from Almaty?
It is possible but long, at 10–14 hours, and most people stay a night in Basshi instead. An overnight stay also lets you add the Aktau Mountains, which are a separate route from the village.
How much does Altyn-Emel National Park cost in 2026?
The pass is charged per vehicle, per day: about 3,893₸ for a car (0.9 MCI), 2,595₸ for a motorcycle and 15,138₸ for a minibus of up to 16 seats, plus about 260₸ a day for parking. You can buy it at the park office in Basshi or remotely online.
How much does a driver cost in Basshi?
A private operator lists off-road vehicles from Basshi at 85,000₸ for the Singing Dune, 103,000₸ for the Aktau Mountains and 165,000₸ for both, per vehicle of up to four seats. Vehicles from Almaty are quoted at around 180,000–240,000₸ a day.
Can you visit the Singing Dunes in December?
Yes. The park is open every day of the year and the sand stays mostly clear, but expect cold, ice on the tracks and a sunset soon after 4pm. Plan to sleep in Basshi, check road conditions when you arrive, and remember the dune stays silent if the sand is damp or snow-covered.
Do you need a permit or guide for Altyn-Emel?
You need a pass for your vehicle, and a guide is optional. Russian- and English-speaking guides can be booked in Basshi. Bring your passport, because staff check documents, and ask when you buy the pass whether a ranger needs to go with you.
Can you camp at the Singing Dunes?
No. Camping at the Singing Dune is strictly forbidden. Overnight stays in the park are only allowed at designated campsites, such as the one in the Aktau Mountains, and you must tell the staff when you buy your pass.
