Expedition to Mangystau: Routes, Off-Road Vehicle Preparation, and a Gear Checklist

The main thing to understand before the trip: Mangystau is not just a desert — it is the exposed bottom of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Millions of years ago there was water here, and today you can walk across the steppe and literally kick history with your feet: fossilized teeth of megalodon sharks, whale vertebrae, and scatters of ammonites lie right underfoot, not behind museum glass.
The entire landscape of the region is the result of the work of three elements: water that retreated millions of years ago, the sun, and the wind. They formed the chinks — gigantic cliffs of the Ustyurt Plateau that resemble a layered pastry — and the outliers — solitary mountains of bizarre shapes, from spheres to castles.

Nature here does not forgive carelessness. Mangystau’s climate is sharply continental and extremely arid.

• Wind is the main master of these places. It blows almost constantly, carving stone and testing travelers’ endurance. When setting up camp, you must always consider the “wind rose,” otherwise the tent will simply be flattened.
• In summer (July–August), the temperature rises to +45°C in the shade (which does not exist), and the ground heats up to +70°C. Life comes to a standstill at this time. Winters here are harsh and snowless, with a piercing cold.
• Precipitation is rare but dangerous. A short downpour turns dry sors (salt flats) and takyrs into impassable muddy traps, blocking even prepared off-road vehicles for several days.

Mangystau is not only a natural reserve, but also one of the most powerful spiritual centers. Among Kazakhs there is a saying: “There are 366 saints in Turkestan, and 362 in Mangystau.” For centuries, this harsh land served as a refuge for Sufi hermits seeking solitude for prayer.

The cultural landscape of the region is unique. People here say, “The homes of the dead are more beautiful than the homes of the living.” Traveling across the steppe, you will often come across ancient necropolises — cities of the dead with carved kulpytas headstones and majestic mausoleums. A special place is held by underground mosques carved directly into the rock massifs. These are not merely historical monuments, but functioning shrines, each with its own legend and unique spiritual presence.

There are hundreds of sacred sites in the region, and it is impossible to describe them all in a single overview. For those who want to dive deeper into Sufism and history, we have prepared a detailed feature — Underground Mosques of Mangystau.

Below, we will tell you about the five most significant and revered shrines that have become true symbols of the region and are must-see sites.

Mangystau is no longer just a point on Kazakhstan’s map — today it is a magnet for a global community. People come here not for beach vacations, but for a visual shock that changes the way you see the planet.

Here you can meet European geologists studying the floor of the Tethys Ocean, and renowned film directors looking for science-fiction sets without computer graphics. Top travel bloggers come for footage that blows up social media, and exhausted мегаполис residents come for absolute, ringing silence that no longer exists in cities. This is an expedition for those who want to see Earth the way it was millions of years ago. Here is a list of places worth enduring the heat and the rough roads for:

A trip here is not an easy countryside drive, but a full-fledged автономная expedition. The moment you leave the asphalt toward Bozzhyra or Tuzbair, you are left face to face with the wilderness. The nearest car service, store, or fuel station may be 200–300 kilometers away, so vehicle reliability becomes the top priority.

The ideal vehicle for these places is a full-frame off-road SUV (Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero) with a low-range gearbox. Such a vehicle gives you freedom to choose routes. Crossovers (Duster, RAV4, Subaru) can also reach the main viewpoints, but only under one condition: perfectly dry weather. If it rains or you decide to descend to the bottom of a canyon, a city crossover becomes a liability. Sedans have nothing to do here: ground clearance under 20 cm practically guarantees torn bumpers within the first kilometers of a graded road.

The most common problem in Mangystau is not an engine failure, but punctured tires. The ground on the Ustyurt Plateau is covered with sharp stones that cut like blades. Highway tires are useless here: they are too soft and too thin. For an expedition, you need AT (All-Terrain) or MT (Mud-Terrain) tires with reinforced sidewalls. And forget about a “space-saver” spare. In the steppe you need a full-size spare wheel, and ideally two.

There is no internet in the steppe, so привычные Google Maps or Waze turn into a pumpkin here. What is more, they often show roads that have not existed for half a century, or lead you straight to a cliff. The only reliable way to navigate is offline maps (Organic Maps, OsmAnd, Gaia GPS) downloaded in advance. Never drive “by guesswork.” The Mangystau steppe is cut by thousands of parallel tracks, and it is very easy to take a false turn. Follow verified GPX tracks strictly.

Mangystau is a region of sharp temperature contrasts. Even if you are suffering in forty-degree heat during the day, nights in the steppe can be genuinely cold. Wind blowing from the Caspian Sea or the plateau chills you to the bone, so you should pack using the “cabbage principle”: many layers that are easy to take off and put on.

Clothing and footwear: Choosing footwear is probably the most critical part of packing. Forget your favorite light sneakers, and especially sandals. The ground here is hard and rocky and is full of thorns that easily pierce a thin sole. You will need quality trekking boots with high ankle support. They protect your foot from sprains on loose slopes, prevent cuts from sharp limestone, and serve as a barrier in case of an accidental encounter with a scorpion. For clothing, choose lightweight, breathable fabrics in light colors with long sleeves. The sun here is harsh, and you can get burned in half an hour, without even feeling it because of the wind. In the evening, you will definitely need a thick fleece jacket and a windbreaker (a membrane shell) that protects you from constant drafts on the edges of the chinks.

Hygiene and water: On an expedition through Mangystau, you will not have a normal shower for several days. There are few springs in the steppe, and the water in them is often salty or bitter. So you need to carry your entire water supply with you. Plan for at least 5 liters per person per day — enough for drinking, cooking, and minimal hygiene. The main бытовая problem here is the ubiquitous chalk dust. It settles on skin, hair, and clothing. Without water, wet wipes (bring large packs) and dry shampoo become your спасение. For families with children, we recommend moisturizing eye drops (“artificial tears”) and seawater nasal sprays: the dry, dusty air quickly dries out mucous membranes.

Besides gear, it is important to think through “food safety.” In hot conditions, food spoils instantly. If you do not have a car refrigerator, skip dairy products and cooked sausage in favor of canned stews, freeze-dried meals, and grains. And remember the main environmental rule of everyday life in Mangystau: “Bring it in — take it out.” In the desert, trash does not decompose for decades. Even organic waste (watermelon rinds, bones) does not break down here; it mummifies, turning a campsite into a dump. All waste, including wet wipes, must be packed into durable bags and taken to trash bins in the city.

The climate knows no “golden middle” here: it is either scorching heat or a piercing wind. For both photographers and travelers, the trip date determines which Mangystau they will see — lush and high-contrast, or burned out and dusty.

Fear of venomous wildlife is the most common myth that scares tourists away. The reality is that in Mangystau it is far more dangerous to miss a cliff edge in the dark or suffer heatstroke than to be bitten by a snake. Local animals are not aggressive and attack only in self-defense. The main survival rule here is attentiveness.

The most frequent visitors to tourist camps are solifuges (camel spiders) and scorpions. They are not hunting you — they are simply looking for shade and moisture, which your tent or backpack provides. Snakes (the pit viper and the arrow snake) are encountered less often, usually in rocky crevices, and when a person approaches they try to slither away. To avoid conflict with nature, it is enough to follow simple rules: do not walk across the steppe in flip-flops, do not put your hands into burrows or under rocks, and always zip your tent closed, even if you step away for a minute.

The otherworldly textures, scale, and geometry here make you want to shoot nonstop. But for equipment, this is a harsh environment. Dust, vibration, and heat can destroy a camera in a single trip if you do not understand the region’s specifics.

The region’s popularity is growing rapidly, which неизбежно increases the pressure on wildlife. The key feature of Mangystau landscapes (whether Kyzylkup, Bozzhyra, or Airakty) is their soft sedimentary rock. Geologically, this is a very fragile area: there is no granite “reserve of strength” here to withstand active physical impact.

The surface of most locations is compressed chalk and clay, which деформируются easily. In an arid climate, a tire track or a deep rut left on a slope does not grow over with grass and is not washed away by rain. It is literally stamped into the vivid relief and remains there for decades. One thoughtless drive across a pristine slope permanently ruins the view, turning a natural masterpiece into a scratched-up road.

Many locations are famous for their geometry — perfectly straight lines and sharp peaks. However, the pursuit of spectacular shots causes enormous damage. The ridgelines of the hills are very brittle. When tourists climb to the very tops for photos, the sharp edge crumbles under a person’s weight, turning into a shapeless pile of earth. A unique pattern created by nature over millions of years is erased in a single season.

We urge you to follow the principles of responsible tourism. When in Mangystau, it is important to be an observer and to interfere with the natural environment as little as possible.