Tamgaly-Tas Petroglyphs & City of Nomads: Private Day Tour from Almaty

Two completely different windows into Kazakhstan's past — separated by nothing more than the width of the Ili River. On one bank, a 17th-century open-air Buddhist temple carved into cliff faces by Dzungarian rulers. On the other, a full-scale medieval fortress built for a film and now one of the most striking man-made landmarks on the Kazakh steppe.

Wildtour combines both sites into a single private day tour — no group schedules, no strangers, no minibus.

Tamgaly-Tas — An Open-Air Buddhist Sanctuary
Tamgaly-Tas translates from Kazakh as "written rocks" or "stones with signs" — and the name does the site justice. Spread across 15 separate rock faces on the eastern bank of the Ili River, approximately 120 kilometres north of Almaty, the site contains one of the most unusual collections of rock art in Central Asia: Buddhist deities and Tibetan mantras carved into polished cliff faces hundreds of years ago.

The petroglyphs were created in the 17th century under the direction of Galdan-Boshugtu Khan — the Dzungarian ruler and deeply religious man who commissioned the first carved "iconostasis" in 1677. The images depict three of Buddhism's most important figures: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (the deity of compassion), Buddha Shakyamuni, and Buddha Bhaisajyaguru. Tibetan inscriptions accompany the imagery — the texts are prayers and dedications, still legible to those who can read them. The last inscription was added in 1771 by Volga Kalmyk pilgrims returning from a failed westward migration.
Scale — the Buddha figures carved into the rock are large, highly detailed, and remarkably well preserved given their age and open-air exposure.
Historical context — the site was first formally documented by Kazakh scholar Chokan Valikhanov in 1875. It has been studied by archaeologists and Buddhist scholars for 150 years since.
Local legend — one tradition holds that the carvings were made after an earthquake caused massive boulders to fall from the cliffs into the river, creating a natural crossing. The pilgrims who witnessed it interpreted this as divine assistance and carved the images in gratitude.
Access — the final section of the road to Tamgaly-Tas is unpaved and requires genuine off-road capability. It is not accessible by standard vehicle in wet conditions.

City of Nomads — A Medieval Fortress on the Steppe
Directly across the Ili River from Tamgaly-Tas stands the City of Nomads — also known as Nomad Fortress. It was built in 2004 as a film set for the Kazakh historical epic Nomad (2005), and the production team's decision to build it properly rather than as a temporary structure created something that has outlasted the film itself.
The complex is a full-scale recreation of an 18th-century Eastern medieval city — fortress walls and watchtowers, narrow residential streets, a mosque with minarets, a caravanserai of the kind that lined the Silk Road trade routes, a dungeon, and a central well. The architecture is detailed enough that several additional film productions have used the location after the original, including scenes from the Russian blockbuster Night Watch and a music video by Kazakh artist Jah Khalib.
Visual impact — emerging from the flat steppe to find a full medieval fortress on the Ili riverbank is genuinely surprising. The contrast between the scale of the structure and the emptiness of the surrounding landscape is striking from every angle.
Photography — the narrow streets, fortress walls, and panoramic views from the battlements toward the river make this one of the most photogenic locations in the Almaty region. The golden-hour light on the steppe walls is exceptional.
Atmosphere — walking through the gates and into the streets of the fortress creates a genuinely immersive sense of another era — the kind of place that rewards slow exploration rather than a quick pass-through.

Why These Two Sites Work Together
The combination of Tamgaly-Tas and the City of Nomads is more than logistical convenience — the two sites are thematically linked by the Ili River and the history it carries.
The Ili was one of the great arteries of the Silk Road — caravans moving between China, Central Asia, and Persia passed along these banks for centuries. The Buddhist pilgrims who carved Tamgaly-Tas were part of that world. The medieval fortress on the opposite bank, though reconstructed, places you visually and physically inside the same landscape those travellers moved through.
Your guide ties the two together — not just as separate stops, but as a coherent story about the civilisations, trade routes, and belief systems that shaped this stretch of the Ili River.

The Route & Vehicle
Both sites are located in the steppe north of Kapchagay Reservoir, approximately 90–120 kilometres from Almaty. The main highway is paved; the final approach to Tamgaly-Tas crosses unpaved steppe track that becomes impassable for standard vehicles after rain.
Wildtour uses Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, or Land Rover on every departure — capable of handling the off-road section to the petroglyphs comfortably in any season.
Every tour is private — 1 to 5 guests (or more), your guide, your pace. More time at the rock carvings, longer exploration of the fortress, or an extended stop for lunch on the riverbank — the itinerary is yours to shape.

Starlink on the Steppe
Mobile coverage north of Kapchagay is patchy and unreliable near the petroglyphs. Wildtour carries Starlink on every departure — high-speed satellite internet wherever the day takes you. Share photos as you take them, stay connected if you need to, or simply use the steppe as a reason to be unreachable for a few hours.

Seasonal Guide — When to Visit
March–May — the best season. The steppe turns green after winter, temperatures are comfortable, and the petroglyphs and fortress are at their most photogenic. Fewest visitors of the year.
June–August — peak summer. Steppe temperatures can exceed 40°C. We depart early and pace the day accordingly. Not the most comfortable season but manageable with preparation.
September–October — excellent conditions. Cooler temperatures, golden steppe light, almost no other visitors. The most atmospheric time of year for both sites.
November–February — both sites remain accessible in winter, but steppe conditions and short days make this a challenging season. Not recommended.

What's Included
Private luxury 4x4 (Land Cruiser, Sequoia, or Land Rover)
Personal English-speaking guide
Campfire lunch on the Ili River
Starlink satellite internet throughout
All fuel and route logistics
Flexible itinerary — your pace, your priorities