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Guides tours to Shopan ata and Beket ata.

Tour Experiences to Mangyshlak.

“In books I have traveled, not only to other worlds, but into my own” 

Anna Quindlen.

Short description of route an excursion trip to Beket ata mosque:

Aktau – Zhanaozen - tomb of the saint Kostam - necropolis anf underground mosque Shopan ata (XIII c.c.) - valley Oglandy - underground mosque Beket ata.

Distance of route: 277 km.
Season: from April 1, 30st till September.
 Best time for excursion: April, May, June, September.
 Advanced order: for 48 hours.
Durtaion of tour: 1 day.

Detailed program an excursion trip to Shopan ata mosque:

Eco Tour on Mangyshlak.

Aktau - depression Karagie - town of Zhanaozen - settlement Kyzylsai - necropolis Shopan ata (X - XIII c.c.) - valley Oglandy - underground mosque Beket ata (277 km).
Crossroads: Актау -  tomb of the saint Kostam (204 km). Departure at 7.00 from Актау. Our way lays on southeast through the deepest depression of Kazakhstan - Karagie, which on 132 meters below a sea level. Further ours way to small city of oilmen Zhanaozen.
After Zhanaozen, our way lays to settlement Kyzylsai after settlement asphalt comes to an end, we turn on the left on graded road. On this graded  road we shall go up to natural boundary Oglandy. Soon to the left of road parking for motor vehicles, here is mausoleum Kuy-Tam, visiting of the mausoleum, photographing. Further our way lays to underground mosque and necropolis Shopan ata - traditional place of pilgrims which go to mosque Beket ata.
Transfer: mausoleum Kuy-Tam - necropolis Shopan-ata in natural boundary Kyzylsu (2 km). Arrival on necropolis Shopan-ata. Walk to underground mosque Shopan-Ata, past mazars and necropolis Shopan-Ata. Photographing of necropolis and underground mosque, ritual walk by the top part of underground mosque.
Transfer: tomb of the saint Kostam mosque Shopan ata - valley Kamysty - height Golbomshe - valley Oglandy (73 km). After necropolis the road Shopan ata rises on height Golbonshe with which beautiful panoramas on the north and on the south open.
From height Golbonshe the magnificent kind on the south - on mountain Bokty which alone towers in the middle of huge cretaceous hollow opens. Before turn on northeast on the right there is a well-known valley Boszhira. Soon the road turns on the north and results us in natural boundary Oglandy. 
After visiting mausoleum Oglandya aта descent on steps, to underground mosque Beket ata. The distance from descent with cliff up to a underground mosque makes, approximately, 1 kilometer of 200 meters, on time it - from 25 till 30 minutes. Difference on height from edge cliff Ustyurt (breakage) up to mosque Beket ata about 50 meters.
Visiting of mosque Beket ata. Walk to the most ancient and known necropolis in the Western Kazakhstan which is below a mosque in 300 meters. Under legends, Beket ata veins in two cretaceous rooms which have been cut down in a stone slope.
A fine ornament of a trip to underground mosque Beket ata can be meetings with Corsican moufflon (Ovis ammon) which have chosen valley Oglandy, here they live and are made multiple copies under protection sacred Beket ata. Returning on steps to top mosque Beket ata (45 minutes - 1 hour). Transfer to Aktau (277 km).

Shopan-ata mosque.Shopan-ata mosque.Shopan-ata mosque.Shopan-ata mosque.Beket-ata mosque.Beket-ata mosque.Beket-ata mosque.Beket-ata mosque.

Note:
The author program is Alexander Petrov. Copying and introduction - only from the sanction of the author - petrovsra@mail.ru

Alexander Petrov
Photos.