Hike to T1 station

A hike to the glaciological station T-1, where changes in the Tuyuk-Su glacier in the Maloalmatinskiy Gorge are observed.

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More details about the Tuyuksu-1 station

hiking tour in Almaty mountains, Kazakhstan

COMPLEXITY

High
for experienced tourists only

DISTANCE

Hike: 17 km
Elevation gain: 1250 m

LANGUAGE

English, Czech, Spanish

BACKPACK

Light,
take only basic things and snacks

DURATION

about 10 hours

SEASON

Year-round

Timeline of the tour to the T-1 station

07:30– 08:00

Meeting point

We will meet in the city center or near your hotel to get to the starting point together with a guide

08:00– 08:30

Shymbulak

We will take eco-taxi from Medeo to Shymbulak, so the hiking part of the trip begins from Shymbulak. A long journey lies ahead!

08:30 – 09:00

Mountain Climber's Memorial

We will start at a good pace along the dirt road. In just 20-25 minutes, we will reach a unique place - the Memorial to alpinists died in the mountains. We stop to take in this place, where the memory of friends, comrades, renowned mountaineers is preserved

09:00 – 10:30

Mynzhylki dam

We take a short break for a snack and hot tea. The altitude is 3100 meters. Here is the meteorological station and the Mynzhylki dam.

11:00 – 13:30

Tuyuk-Su glaciological station (T-1)

After the Mynzhylky dam, the ascent becomes steeper, but what views these steep turns reveal to us! Around us are the majestic peaks of Ordzhonikidze and Partizan, and in the distance of the gorge, the Tuyuk-Su Needles, Tuyuk-Su Peak, and Pogrebetskiy Peak can be seen. The station itself is also an extremely interesting place - a symbol of the development of science during the USSR and the remnants of its grandeur. Now, the station consists of rather dilapidated buildings.

14:30 – 19:00

Back to the city

After lunch, we return to the city. The way back is as long as the way up, and the rocky road can be quite exhausting, but these are minor issues compared to the impressions we received this day!

List of essentials for hiking to the Tuyuksu-1 station

Essentials

Passport (border guard document check)
Some cash
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Personal first aid kit
Trekking poles
Seat mats (optional)

Food

Water 0.5l-1l
Thermos with tea
Lunch (sandwiches, pancakes, pies, etc.)

Clothes (summer)

Trekking shirt
Fleece jacket\Hoodie
Raincoat\Hardshell jacket
Trekking trousers
Sun hat and buff
Trekking shoes\boots

Clothes
(winter)

Long sleeve (thermal)
Fleece jacket\hoodie
Snow pants
Demi-season/winter boots
Jacket
Woolen beanie and gloves
Warm socks
Headlamp
Gaiters
Crampons

What is included in the price of the Tuyuksu-1 station tour?

Included

Hotel pickup/drop-off
Guide service
Basic first aid kit
Photo report
Consultation
Transportation (Almaty-Medeo-Shymbulak-Almaty)
Snacks

Not included

Porter service
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Lunch (sandwiches, pancakes, pies, etc.)
Trekking poles (available for rent)

Price for a day hiking tour to Tuyuksu-1 station

1 person

$180

2 persons

$200

$100/pp

3 persons

$250

$84/pp

4 persons

$280

$70/pp

5 persons

$300

$60/pp

over 5 people

calculated individually

Contact us

Request a call

What does glacier station T1 do?

The Tuyuk-Su glaciological station was founded in 1956 and is known to the entire scientific world for its continuous observations of the glacier's behavior lasting more than half a century. It is located in the basin of the Malaya Almatinka River surrounded by eternal ice. The mountain station is part of the global network, and fluctuations of the Tuyuk-Su glacier are used to determine the state of all glaciers in Central Asia, as it is the only station that continued its work after the collapse of the USSR. Observations are conducted year-round, making this glacier one of the most studied in the world.

How difficult is the trail to T-1 station?

TIME: The journey from Shymbulak to T-1 takes about 4-5.5 hours, depending on the physical fitness of the participants.
TERRAIN: Most of the route goes along a dirt road from Shymbulak, and only the last 10 minutes are on a trail.
PARTICIPANTS: The hike is considered difficult, although there are no super-steep climbs and the terrain is not challenging. But the path is very long, and it is important that all participants return before dark - this is a safety issue, so this tour is for experienced hikers who can manage their energy.

How to prepare for a hike to T-1?

First of all, refer to the information block with a list of essentials for this hike.
If you have any questions, write to us on WhatsApp. If you have any diseases that require regular medication, you shall take the medications with you, and also warn the guide in advance about any medical contraindications (especially heart disease, pressure drops).
It is forbidden to take alcohol and drugs on the hike.
Before hiking in the mountains, have a enough sleep, have a good breakfast in the morning and take at least 1 liter of water.
The sun is more intense in the mountains, so take a Panama hat, sunscreen and glasses.
Always take a raincoat or waterproof wind jacket - the weather in the mountains is unpredictable!
Remember that you are solely responsible for your health - be careful!
At altitudes above 2500 meters above sea level, mountain sickness may begin with the following symptoms: headache, weakness, and nausea. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately inform the guide, take a break, take out your water bottle, and drink as much water as possible in small sips.