One-day trip from Aktau
The Mysterious Torysh Valley of Stone Balls
A journey across the Mangystau region is an adventure among majestic landscapes and natural wonders: the Torysh Valley of Stone Balls with its giant boulders, the medieval…
Duration: 11 h08:00 — 19:00Hotel pick-up included
from$325per vehicle (up to 4 pax)Why the price is per vehicleThis is the charter price of the 4x4 for a group of up to 4 people. A fourth passenger costs an extra —.
Book a dateRoute locations
- Torysh Valley of Stone Balls
- Kok-Kala
- Mount Sherkala
- The Airakty Valley of Castles
4 locations on the programme
Day programme
- 08:00Group meet-up in Aktau
- 10:00Torysh Valley of Stone Balls: trek to the famous round boulder, upper viewpoint, walk through the valley
- 13:00Arrive at Kok-Kala (lunch), walk around the area, hike to the summit
- 16:00Arrive at Mount Sherkala: view it from the 'Lion' side, climb to the caves, drive around to the 'Yurt of the Gods' view, photo stop
- 18:00Arrive at the Airakty Valley of Castles: view the chalk rock with 300-year-old petroglyphs, climb the hill overlooking Airakty and the Dragon Ridge
- 19:00Return to Aktau
Route map
The route runs hundreds of kilometres from Aktau — with no fuel stations, no mobile coverage and no recovery services.
Distance: ≈ 300 kmstops on the route: 4Start and finish — Aktau
A route diagram: the stops are at real coordinates, and the distance is calculated from them with an allowance for dirt roads.
What is included
- Comfortable 4x4 SUV
- Driver-guide
- Table and chairs
- Snacks
- Drinking water throughout the tour
- Nature reserve entrance fees
Not included
- Personal hygiene items
- Prescription or specialised medication
- Hotel accommodation in Aktau
What to bring
A hat, sunscreen, a windproof jacket and comfortable shoes. Everything else is on us.
Available dates in the coming weeks
Departures every day subject to vehicle availability. We confirm your booking within an hour.
Book a datePaid separately
- Drone filming: 20,000 KZT
- If bad weather rules out overnighting at the tent camp, a stay in an ethno-village is charged separately.
Good to know
- Luggage limited to one 30-litre backpack
- The tour is booked with a 10% deposit
- In hazardous weather the guide reroutes to a safer option — the priority is always people's safety and the vehicles' condition.
- Tips are not included in the price and are left to the guest.
What it looks like
Photos taken on this route
Frequently asked questions
Answered before you book, not after.
Visa rules depend on your citizenship: many nationalities enter Kazakhstan visa-free — the current list is published by the Kazakh migration service, so check it before you travel. We do not issue invitation letters. If a consulate needs a document confirming the purpose of the trip, we provide a contract for guide services. We do not assist with registration on arrival.
We start forming the crew for your date as soon as you book and confirm the final format 3 days before departure. If the group is not filled, the choice is yours: travel on your date privately, paying the full price of the vehicle, or move the trip to a date where a crew is already forming — there the shared-tour price applies. We never cancel a departure or change its format without your agreement.
A booking is secured by a 10% deposit; the balance is paid before departure. If the group is filled, the tour runs as a shared trip. If it is not, the deposit is never lost: it goes towards a private trip on your date, transfers in full to another date, or becomes a travel voucher for the whole amount plus a 5% bonus. The voucher is valid for 12 months and can be passed to someone else.
Yes, but the routes cross desert and off-road terrain: long drives in a 4x4, stony ground, climbs and descents. Children under 5 are not accepted on every route, so tell us the child's age before booking. On easy driving routes children are admitted after we agree it with you; on demanding hikes, long off-road sections and nights in remote areas participation of small children may be limited. Each case is decided individually — by age, route difficulty, weather and how the child is feeling.
There is no cellular network on the plateau. The guide keeps a satellite link with base, and the vehicles of the group hold a constant radio channel between them. Satellite internet for guests is not fitted to every vehicle: if you need it, tell us when booking.
The guide passes the coordinates to base over satellite and fixes common faults on the spot. If a repair is impossible, the vehicle is replaced: another one leaves the base and arrives within 3 to 6 hours depending on where you are on the route.
Request this expedition
We reply within one business day: confirm the dates, the group and send a detailed plan.