Our expert guides from Tian Shan Expeditions picked us up in a fleet of Toyota Landcruiser’s and we began our journey into the Kazak steppe and beyond. Our aim was to see as much of the south-east as possible in seven days and the challenge was covering the distance of this enormous country. Kazakhstan is the same length as Europe and the area we were exploring the same size as Scotland. And to add further perspective, the largest farm is the same size as Wales.
As we travelled deeper into the mountains towards the Kyrgyzstan border the landscape unfolded into lush green mountains with streams and waterfalls emerging from each valley. The grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see dotted with nomadic yurts and hundreds of horses roaming free across the steppe.