The famous petroglyphs fields ‘Saymaluu Tash’ are not easy to reach. You can reach them from two directions; via Kazarman (1,5 day) or via Kalma-Kirchin (2 days). Via Kazarman you can choose between horseback riding or walking. The route via Kalam-Kirchin can only be done by walking. This UNESCO Heritage is a marvelous gallery of more than 10,000 painted stones of 4,000 year old. It is unspoiled and the location is very serene, you are surrounded by gorgeous mountains. It’s is definitely worth all your efforts!
Via Kazarman
Duration: 1,5 days
Level of Difficulty: medium — difficult
Best season: July — August
Accommodation: Tent
Group size: best size from 1 to 10
Requirements: Hiking experience, good hiking shoes, sunscreen, sun glasses, a hat, a raincoat or poncho, warm sweater, extra set of dry socks, sleeping bag and walking sticks
Day 1:
Around 14:00 we will leave Jalal-Abad and drive around 5 hours to the village Kazarman. This is a beautiful mountain road.
Around 19:00 we will have diner in Kazarman and drive to the camp near the river ‘Kok-Art’ where we set up our tents near to a friendly farmer family.
Day 2:
We will wake up at 07:00 and have a breakfast with hot tea from the farmer family.
At 08:00 we start our 5-6 hours walk (or 3 hours horse back). We climb 1.200 meter up to Saimaluu Tash.
We have lunch between the ancient petroglyphs and enough time to stroll around and discover new rock paintings and the beautiful small mountain lake.
Around 15:00 we go back down by feet or horse. Walking will take 3-4 hours, by horse 2-3 hours.
At our starting point the car is waiting for us to drive us home to Jalal-abad. Snacks and small sandwich are provided on the way.
Via Kalma Kirchin
Duration: 2 days
Level of Difficulty: medium — difficult
Best season: July — August
Accommodation: Tent
Group size: best size from 1 to 10
Requirements: Hiking experience, good hiking shoes, sunscreen, sun glasses, a hat, a raincoat or poncho, warm sweater, extra set of dry socks, sleeping bag and walking sticks
Day 1:
Around 08:00 you will be picked up by car from your hotel, hostel or CBT homestay. We leave with the car to our starting point close to Karma Kirchin, a village 100 kilometres from Jalal-Abad. Our starting point is at 1.700 meter.
Around 10:30 we will arrive and start our walking tour. You walk with a big backpack, because we need to take tents, sleeping bag and food with us. After 2,5 hours walking we will eat a picnic lunch. Then we walk another 4 hours and cross a pass at 3.250 meters. We will continue walking for another 1,5 hour and you will be near to the petroglyphs.
We will set up our tent there and prepare dinner. If we are lucky we can see a beautiful sunset high in the mountains. But also if it is clouded this mysterious place will let us phantasize about ancient times.
Day 2:
Breakfast at 09:00. You will have enough time to look around at the very large petroglyph field and the small mountain lake. If you feel strong we can go up to the second petroglyph field. This will request around 150 meters climbing and also descending. This is optional.
We eat lunch around 12:00. Than we go down for 4 hours and will be back on our starting point at around 17:00.
We will take a car back home to Jalal-Abad. Around 19:00 you are back in Jalal-Abad, where you can have dinner.
