Looking to experience the very best of Kazakhstan National Parks with virtually no other tourists in sight? Want to get way off the beaten track and be rewarded with unspoiled nature and beautiful glacial lakes? Zandy Marcus of Travel Oasis will tell you all about how to visit Sayram Ugam National Park and its the best hiking trails!
Sayram Ugam National Park is officially known as Sayram Ugam State National Natural Park and is also spelt Sairam-Ugam State National Park. Confused yet? Me too but hey, welcome to Central Asia!
This beautiful national park in southern Kazakhstan spans 150,000 hectares and includes more than 72 km of hiking trails. The park boasts abundant wildlife including bears, deer, wild horses, lynxes, wolves, foxes, eagles and even freakin snow leopards! And the real kicker is, the park features stunning alpine lakes, excellent camping sites and beautiful picnicking facilities. Sounds pretty cool, right?
Sayram Ugam National Park really packs a punch and is an excellent destination for intrepid travelers looking to explore some lesser-known parts of this beautiful country. Keen to know more about this hidden alpine gem? Read on to find out all you need to know about visiting Sayram Ugam National Park in Kazakhstan!
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Where is Sayram Ugam National Park located
Sayram Ugam National Park is located in southern Kazakhstan and lies in the Western Tian Shan Mountains on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border. The park is around 75 km south of the Kazakh city of Skymkent, the closest big city and a great place to base yourself to get organized for a visit.
Skymkent is located 131 km north of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent and 680 km west of Almaty. Therefore, it’s an excellent option for overland travellers looking to break up the journey between these two cities.
The best time to visit Sairam Ugam State National Park
The best time to visit Sairam Ugam State National Park is May to October when the cool mountain temperatures hover in the mid to upper 20s (Celsius). Even during this time of year, overnight lows can get down to the single digits, so it’s important that you come prepared with warm clothes and a good sleeping bag.
Snow is common outside of the summer months so it’s best to check the local forecast and to dress and prepare accordingly. Always seek local advice about current conditions if you’re planning on visiting outside of summer.
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park
Important: Note that if you input Sayram Ugam into Google Maps, it won’t direct you to the correct park entrance. Instead, use these GPS coordinates: 42.169252, 70.378106. This will guide you to the correct location.
From Shymkent, you can get to Sayram Ugam State National Park by taxi, rental car, or on an organized tour.
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park by public transportation
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to travel the entire distance to the park via public transportation.
If you’re really set on trying, your best bet is to take a marshrutka (shared minivan) to Lenger (the biggest town in the direction of the park) and then take a taxi from there. As Lenger is still quite small, there are not a lot of options and this could be quite challenging (and pricey).
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park by taxi
From Shymkent, by far the easiest way to get to Sairam-Ugam is to take a Yandex taxi (the ridesharing app common in Kazakhstan). Copy and paste the following GPS coordinates into the Yandex app: 42.169252, 70.378106. This will take you directly to the park’s entrance.
It should cost approximately cost 7000 KZT (without tip) and the drive takes 1.5 hours. Be observant as the last 15 minutes are particularly beautiful, especially if it is autumn and the leaves are changing colour.
Please be aware that if you travel via this option (as I did), you’ll most likely need to hitchhike back. This is because you’re unlikely to have mobile coverage in the park. Then, even if you do manage to get service, taxis may not want to make the trip to the secluded location.
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park by rental car
Of course, you can always rent a car in Shymkent and drive yourself to the park. The drive is 1.5 hours and you can follow these GPS coordinates.
There is ample space for car parking in the park. There are numerous car rental options in Shymkent, however, please note that communication might be a barrier here as many people do not speak English.
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park by hitchhiking
If you are up for it, hitchhiking out of the park is a realistic option. There is normally enough traffic into the park where catching a ride should be relatively straightforward.
As a note of confidence, during my visit, I managed to hitchhike back with a local guide. A friend of mine was also able to secure a ride back the previous day without any difficulties.
Due to the remote location, hitchhiking into the park is significantly more challenging.
How to get to Sayram Ugam National Park by tour
It’s also possible to visit Sairam Ugam State National Park as part of a tour.
Ontustik.Alpinism is a local company that takes tourists to outdoor locations around the Shymkent region. It’s run by a woman named Ladiya and her husband. I actually met her whilst I was hiking and can vouch that she is very lovely and speaks some English.
This is a straightforward way to visit Sairam Ugam and is a good option if you don’t want the hassle of planning the logistics yourself or are nervous about finding a way back. If you’re interested in arranging a tour, they can be contacted on +8 707 3499919 or on Instagram. via @ontustik.alpinism.
Sayram-Ugam National Park Entrance Fee
It costs approximately 500 KZT (1 USD) per day to visit Sairam-Ugam State National Park.
You pay for this at the gate when you enter the park. Your ticket is not checked after this, so if you stay longer than one day, you will most likely not be charged for it.
Things to do in Sayram Ugam State National Park
Hiking in Sayram Ugam National Park
Sairam-Ugam State National Park is excellent for hiking. With more than 72 km of trails within the park, the options are unlimited. Here are the two best overnight hikes.
1. Hike to Nizhnee Silbili and Verkhnee Silbili
- Distance: 16 km there and back
- Duration: approximately 6 hours return
- Level: moderate
- Trailhead: GPS coordinates: 42.16735, 70.381128
The Nizhnee Silbili and Verkhnee Silbili trek is a 16 km there-and-back hike with approximately 1200m of elevation gain.
It is a moderate trail, with some steep and challenging sections. It features alpine lakes, a ridgeline walk and stunning views of the surrounding Western Tian Shan Mountains.
The hike starts at the top of the park’s main parking lot and begins by wandering up the park’s eastern river valley through an apple orchard. After crossing the river, the trail abruptly turns to the left as it makes its way up a steep ridgeline before flattening out to reach a pair of twin lakes at the end.
While the lakes are not particularly dramatic, the surrounding landscape is exceptionally beautiful. This more than makes the trip worth it.
The water level in the lakes will depend on the time of the year. In the spring and early summer, they will be full as the snow melts. In autumn, they will be quite low but still should provide enough clear water to drink (once treated).
Hikers can choose to camp at either the top lake or the bottom lake. Both spots are gorgeous, but I find the view of the mountains from the lower lake more dramatic.
As Sayram Ugam State National Park has so much wildlife, don’t be surprised if you are visited by some friendly local critters during your stay at the lake.
When I arrived at the lakes, I was greeted by a group of curious wild horses who were unusually friendly. I also had a beautiful white fox visit my campsite at night.
Do note that the campsite sits at 2700m, so it can get very cold at night, even in the summer. When I was there in October, part of the lake froze overnight. Do make sure you’re well prepared if you’re spending the night outside of the summer months, including bringing a sleeping bag rated to at least -5C.
2. Hike to Nizhnee Sairam-Su and Verknee Sairam-Su Lakes
- Distance: 22 km there and back (split into two sections)
- Duration: approximately 5 hours there and 4 hours back
- Level: section 1 – easy to moderate; section 2 – moderate to difficult
- Trailhead: GPS coordinates: 42.167916, 70.378778
The Nizhnee Sairam-Su and Verknee Sairam-Su trek is a 22 km there-and-back hike with approximately 950m of elevation gain. The first section follows an easy-to-moderate trail and the second section is pretty challenging. It features two beautiful alpine lakes, forest scenery and plenty of shaded spots to take a rest along the Sayram-Ugam River.
The Nizhnee Sairam-Su and Verkenee Sairam-Su Lakes hike is best split into two sections, done over two days. If you’re really pressed for time, it is possible to hike to the two lakes and back again in one big day trip from Shymkent. However, bear in mind that it will be a very long day and only really possible if you have your own transportation.
The first section is 8 km one-way, with 650m of elevation gain and is rated as easy to moderate.
Start the hike by crossing the Sayram-Ugam River from the western side of the parking lot. The bridge to cross the river is slightly difficult to find, so I have included the GPS coordinates here: 42.167916, 70.378778.
Once you’ve crossed the river, the trail follows the Sayram River Valley alongside a fenced-off complex. The complex was set up for eagle hunting packaged tours and is off-limits for all other purposes.
Follow a dirt road along the river for around 3 km. The road then ends and the trail continues along to the right. From here the trail gently (with the exception of two steep sections) makes its way up to the first lake, Nizhnee Sairam-Su.
Nizhnee Sairam-Su is a great place to camp for the first night and there are plenty of flat sections to pitch a tent around the middle-right area of the lake. Here are the coordinates for one particularly good spot: 42.10935, 70.399862.
Again, don’t be surprised if you have some friends visiting you. During my visit, I awoke to a family of deer grazing beside my tent as the sun rose over the lake. Can you think of a more magical way to wake up? I can’t.
The next day, begin the second section of the hike. This goes to the second lake, Verknee Sairam-Su.
This section is approximately 3 km in each direction with 300m of elevation gain. There are no suitable spots for camping at Verkenee Sairam-Su, so this is best done as a day hike. Leave your stuff at Nizhnee Sairam-Su for this leg and collect it on the way down.
The section is rated moderate/hard as the trail can be difficult to find at times and there are many steep sections.
The trail to Verknee Sairam-Su begins with a steep ascent past the northern tip of the lake. Along the way, hikers are treated to excellent aerial views of Nizhnee Sairam-Su.
This section is slightly more challenging to follow as its entirety isn’t on maps.me. Fortunately, there is a relatively clear trail to follow which takes you up to the right of the escarpment before coming down onto the second lake. As the trail moves in this direction (to the right), keep your eyes out for rock pyramids (rock cairns) dotted throughout. These will help guide you in the right direction.
Upon reaching Verknee Sairam-Su, hikers are welcomed by the lake’s rich teal colours which are punctuated by the dramatic and gnarly Tien Shan Mountains.
The teal colours of Verknee Sairam-Su Lakes are stunning and the surrounding mountains are exceptionally dramatic. Being here reminded me of the equally mesmerizing Katora Lake in Pakistan.
After taking in the views of the second lake, make your way down to the first lake, grab a snack, gather your belongings and head back to the parking lot.
Camping
There are loads of excellent camping sites in Sayram-Ugam State National Park. While the most scenic locations require you to walk in with your gear, there are still some good drive-in options too.
Here are the coordinates for two camping locations that I found particularly beautiful: 42.16572, 70.381412 and 42.147716, 70.411022
Picknicking
Sairam-Ugam State National Park is a very popular picnicking destination. This is due to its proximity to Shymkent, its good facilities (particularly along the river) and its exceptionally beautiful fall colors.
Tips for visiting Sairam-Ugam State National Park
- If you’re pressed for time and can only fit in one hike, then I suggest visiting the Nizhnee Sairam-Su and Verknee Sairam-Su Lakes as these lakes are the most beautiful.
- Download maps.me. Both of these trails can be found there and this will help you navigate around the park.
- There are no facilities in the park other than a few picnic platforms, so ensure that you pack enough supplies to be self-sufficient for the duration of your time.
- Pack out your rubbish, folks! There are not many trash cans around, so make sure to bring a bag to collect your garbage and take it out with you. Please, please do not throw your rubbish out on the trail or on the meadows.
- Water can be collected from the river and the lakes, but be sure to treat it before drinking.
I hope this guide gave you all the inspiration and information you need to visit Sayram-Ugam, one of the most beautiful national parks in Kazakhstan! You’re always welcome to share your questions, experiences and updates of your visit in the comments below!
About the author
Zandy Marcus is one half of Travel Oasis, a worldwide travel blog focused on outdoor adventures and cultural travels in both common and uncommon destinations. When we’re not hanging out in fun cities like Almaty or Istanbul, we love seeking out lesser-known places in the world. You can often find us camping in our little orange tent and embarking on adventurous multi-day hikes in places as diverse as Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
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Hey! Do you know of any official campsites, or is it wild camping only?
Hi Jonah, it’s currently only wild camping.