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Sayram-Ugam: jagged limestone ridge of the Sayram-Ugam park above green foothill meadows, May

Sayram-Ugam

Sayram-Ugam National Park covers mountains in the northern Western Tien Shan, in Turkestan Region, about 70 km from Shymkent. The main day route is a waymarked trail up the Sayramsu gorge, roughly 16 km there and back.

  • About 70 km from Shymkent
  • Sayram peak: 4,238 m
  • Sayramsu trail: 16 km
  • Area 149,037 ha
  • UNESCO site since 2016
  • No border permit needed
See photos · 6 When to go Plan the trip

Photo: Saken Kenzhebayev · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

Verified: 2026-09

Sayram-Ugam: why go

The Sayramsu Legends trail

About 16 km from the entrance and back, 6–8 hours with climbs and descents. Renewed in 2023 with viewpoints, signposts and info boards.

Sayram peak, 4,238 m

A Western Tien Shan summit inside the park, which spans seven natural belts from foothill steppe up to the high mountains.

Lakes Makpal and Susyngen

The park's mountain lakes: Makpal sits at about 2,100 m and Susyngen at about 1,700 m, according to Wikipedia.

Kyrykkyz rocks and petroglyphs

The Kyrykkyz rock massif and the rock carvings in the upper Sazanata gorge are worth seeing beyond the park's lakes and peaks.

Greig's tulip and Menzbier's marmot

59 mammal species, about 300 bird species and 1,635 plants, 240 of them in the Red Book. Menzbier's marmot is endemic to the Western Tien Shan.

Western Tien Shan, UNESCO

Since 2016 the park has been part of the transnational Western Tien Shan World Heritage site, together with Aksu-Zhabagly. It was founded in 2006.

Sayram-Ugam — state national natural park, Turkestan Region.

Botanical illustration: a branch of tree juniper (arsha) with its berry-like cones
Illustration Botanical illustration: a branch of tree juniper (arsha) with its berry-like cones

Key figures

Area149 037.1 ha
RegionTurkestan Region

Category

State national natural park

A national park is open to visitors: you may stay in the recreation zone after paying the tariff.

UNESCO: Западный Тянь-Шань (2016)

Entrance tariff

0.15 MCI per pedestrian, 0.4 MCI per car. In 2026 that is 648.8 ₸ and 1,730 ₸.

The tariff is set by appendix 15 to Order No. 232 of 2 October 2024.

The tariff is set in MCI units rather than tenge, so the amount changes with each January budget.

What to see

  • Sayramsu Lake
  • Ugam Ridge
  • juniper forests

What Sayram-Ugam is

Sayram-Ugam National Park covers mountains in the northern Western Tien Shan, in Turkestan Region, about 70 km from Shymkent. The main day route is a waymarked trail up the Sayramsu gorge, roughly 16 km there and back. No border-zone pass is needed, and you may walk in the tourist and recreation zones.

The park was created on 26 January 2006 and spans Kazygurt, Tolebi and Tulkubas districts. It takes in spurs of the Talas Alatau and the Ugam, Karzhantau and Boraldaytau massifs. Since 2016 it has been part of the transboundary UNESCO site Western Tien Shan, together with Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve; see UNESCO heritage in Kazakhstan.

What to see

FeatureHeight / what it is
Sayram peak4,238 m
Lake Makpalabout 2,100 m
Lake Susyngenabout 1,700 m
Kyrykkyz rocksrock formations
Upper Sazanata gorgerock carvings

Figures from Russian Wikipedia.

The park runs through seven natural belts, from foothill steppe to high mountains. Wikipedia lists 59 mammal species, including Menzbier’s marmot, endemic to the Western Tien Shan, about 300 bird species and 1,635 plant species, 240 of them in Kazakhstan’s Red Book. Greig’s tulip grows here.

Not verified yet The Wikipedia article on the park is flagged as unreviewed and lacks footnotes. We could not check its flora and fauna figures against data from the park administration.

The Sayramsu Legends trail

In June 2023, with UNDP support, the park reopened the Sayramsu anyzdary (Sayramsu Legends) trail. According to Informburo.kz:

  • length about 16 km from the entrance point and back;
  • 6 to 8 hours walking, with climbs and descents;
  • viewpoints, art objects, signposts and boards on local biodiversity along the way;
  • structures built from local natural materials.

Treat it as a full mountain day: hiking shoes, plenty of water and an early start. Our checklist is in what to check before visiting a national park.

Getting there from Shymkent

The park lies about 70 km from Shymkent. The sources we found describe no regular public transport to the entrance points, so the realistic options are your own car or an organised group.

Not verified yet We found no verifiable figures for the distance from Shymkent to specific entrance points (Sayramsu and other gorges), road conditions on the approach, or mobile coverage in the gorges.

Border zone and rules

The park borders Uzbekistan, but Resolution No. 356 lists the Sayram-Ugam national park (a 5 to 10 km strip in Tolebi, Tulkubas and Kazygurt districts) among places where no border-zone pass is required, even for foreigners. Carry your passport; details in border zone permits: where you need one and where you do not.

The park is divided into three zones: strictly protected (closed to visitors), tourist and recreational. Entry is paid; the MCI rate is in the card above and the fee calculator gives this year’s amount.

→ All national parks

Sayram-Ugam: when to go, month by month

  1. January: possible
  2. February: possible
  3. March: possible
  4. April: possible
  5. May: possible
  6. June: possible
  7. July: possible
  8. August: possible
  9. September: possible
  10. October: possible
  11. November: possible
  12. December: possible

The visitor and recreation zones are open; the Sayramsu trail, with its climbs and descents, takes 6–8 hours.

Sayram-Ugam: tips before you go

  1. The Sayramsu trail is a full mountain day: wear hiking boots, carry plenty of water and set off in the morning.
  2. No regular public transport to the entrances is documented, so plan on your own car or an organised group.
  3. Even foreigners need no border-zone permit here, but keep your passport or ID on you.
  4. You may walk in the visitor and recreation zones; the strictly protected zone is closed to visitors.
  5. Access road conditions and mobile coverage in the gorges are unverified, so check them before you go.

More to see nearby

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Sayram-Ugam National Park from Shymkent?
The park begins about 70 km from Shymkent. The sources we found describe no regular public transport, so people go by car or with an organised group.
Which trail is best for a day in Sayram-Ugam?
The best equipped is the Sayramsu Legends trail: about 16 km from the entrance and back, 6 to 8 hours with climbs and descents. It was upgraded in 2023 with viewpoints, signposts and information boards.
Do I need a border-zone pass for Sayram-Ugam?
No. Government Resolution No. 356 lists the Sayram-Ugam national park among places where no border-zone pass is required, including for foreigners. Carry your passport anyway.
Can I walk anywhere in the park?
No. The park has a strictly protected zone closed to visitors, a tourist zone and a recreation zone. You can walk in the last two after paying the fee.
What is there to see in Sayram-Ugam?
The Sayramsu gorge, Sayram peak at 4,238 m, the mountain lakes Makpal and Susyngen, the Kyrykkyz rocks, petroglyphs in the upper Sazanata gorge, and Greig’s tulips.

Sources

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