Overview
The 72 km track from Basshi to the Aktau Mountains takes 90–120 minutes in dry conditions. The track crosses open sandy steppe, then rounds a ridge to reveal the Aktau escarpment abruptly: a 30-km wall of layered sediment in white, red-orange, ochre, and blue-grey that rises from the flat valley floor. The colours come from the mineral content of lake and river sediments deposited in what was once a humid subtropical basin: white chalk and cream from calcite, red and orange from iron oxides, yellow from limonite, and pale blue-grey from volcanic ash layers. The first viewpoint is at the western end of the massif, where the full extent of the banded formation is visible in one sweep. Fossil bones and shell fragments are occasionally visible in exposed cliff faces — do not remove them; they are protected under national park regulations.
Open Aktau First Viewpoint in maps
Choose a map provider for this destination.
These links open only this place, not a full road-trip route. Links open in a new tab. 2GIS opens the map point; start navigation there.
Gallery
Jump to visit notes
Visit notes
Viewing visit notes for Aktau and Katutau Mountains
Aktau — First Viewpoint
Step 4 · 72 km from previous · 110 min drive
The 72 km track from Basshi to the Aktau Mountains takes 90–120 minutes in dry conditions. The track crosses open sandy steppe, then rounds a ridge to reveal the Aktau escarpment abruptly: a 30-km wall of layered sediment in white, red-orange, ochre, and blue-grey that rises from the flat valley floor. The colours come from the mineral content of lake and river sediments deposited in what was once a humid subtropical basin: white chalk and cream from calcite, red and orange from iron oxides, yellow from limonite, and pale blue-grey from volcanic ash layers. The first viewpoint is at the western end of the massif, where the full extent of the banded formation is visible in one sweep. Fossil bones and shell fragments are occasionally visible in exposed cliff faces — do not remove them; they are protected under national park regulations.