Anyone travelled around Ugam region?

[aknight]

I have a couple of nights spare after Shymkent before my flight home and thinking of visiting the Ugam national park/area to stay in a homestay. Has anyone done this before? Any recommendations? I was hoping to say somewhere for 2 nights so could spend the day doing some short hikes/exploring. I don't want to have to pay for a guide so hoping to find somewhere to stay that I could just walk to nice places from. Can't find much information online about the area!

thanks

[steven]

Langar is the gateway town - really friendly people there in our experience. See if the NGO Ugam still exists - Yubilejnaya street 22, Langar - Alikhan Abdeshev can set you up if he is still there.

There are homestays near to the park in the villages of Kaskasu and Dikhankol.

I highly recommend visiting: it's a great part of Kazakhstan, and not so often visited by foreigners.

Let us know if you make it out; I'd love to read what is new/what your experience was like.

[aknight]

Oh great- this is good to hear. I think I’m in touch via email with this guy you mention so will see what I can arrange and report back.