Tian Shan Wild Apple Forest

Almaty - Kazakhstan

No one can be sure but it cannot be denied that the Granny Smiths and Fujis apples originate from Kazakhstan. And the ancestor of apple species is the Malus sieversii apple, which grows wild in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan. Located in the Ile-Alatau National Park, about an hour's drive from Almaty city center, the Tian Shan wild apple groves are an extremely attractive place to visit and check-in that you should not miss. . Especially the fruit is walking around the apple forest on horseback, a real nomadic feeling and extremely memorable.

In the early 20th century, biologist Nikolai Vavilov first discovered the peculiarity when conducting genome analysis of an apple in a forest near Almaty. He happened to visit Almaty and was amazed to see apple trees growing wild, crisscrossed and unevenly spaced in a small town not far from Almaty, a very strange phenomenon not found anywhere else. In the world.

Scientists believe that the seeds of the Tian Shan apple were first transported out of Kazakhstan by birds and bears a long time ago to many territories around the world, and people began to cultivate this nutritious fruit. By the time humans began to grow and trade apples, the apple cultivar Malus sieversii had already taken shape and took root in Syria. The Romans discovered this apple there and began to spread the fruit around the world. When projects sequenced the genomes of apple species around the world, Almaty and the surrounding lands were officially recognized as the source of all apples.

The old name of the ancient capital Almaty was Alma-Ata, which means "father of apples". A fountain in the city center is also shaped like an apple, and the fruit is used as the main model at markets. During Soviet domination, many large apple trees were cut down for timber, and up to 80 percent of the wild apple forest was destroyed at that time. Today, sanctuaries across the Tian Shan Mountains have taken tough measures to keep the last wild apple groves growing safely. Scientific researchers say that wild apples have many different flavors, depending on how bees pollinate the flowers. There are apples that taste honey and berry, pineapples that are sour, apples that taste like licorice…

The apple forest now exists only in patches along the Tian Shan Mountains and is divided into several areas to facilitate conservation. Visitors can combine a visit to the Tian Shan wild apple forest when exploring Ile-Alatau National Park. You must register with the national park center so that they can arrange for you a local guide to take you to explore Kazakhstan's last beautiful wild apple forests, which are hard to find. The tour can be taken on horseback, allowing you to experience a part of nomadic life in an open and fresh green space.

Book tour Car rental Flight Visa Book Guide Gifts & Products

Nearby attractions

Big Almaty Lake (Big Almaty Lake)

Located 15km south of Almaty city center and at 2,511 meters above sea level, the Great Lake Almaty is the main source of water for Almaty residents. Like most lakes in the Tien Shan mountains, the lake was formed after natural earthquakes. Located not too far from Almaty city center, this natural lake gives visitors a very special feeling, far from urban life. The scenery here is beautiful, changing with the seasons of the year, which makes it one of the famous destinations of Kazakhstan.

Ile-Alatau National Park (Ile-Alatau National Park)

Established in 1996 with an area of 200,000 hectares, Ile-Alatau National Park is one of the top destinations for nature lovers. Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the majestic and vast natural landscape including forests, alpine meadows, rivers and lakes, including the great lake Almaty. In addition, Ile-Alatau National Park is also home to more than 300 species of birds and mammals, including many rare species such as snow leopards, Central Asian lynx, Tian Shan brown bears, bearded vultures, giants golden eagle, Himalayan snowbird, conifer, Eurasian owl and Eurasian three-toed woodpecker.

Kok Zhailau plateau (Kok Zhailau plateau)

Kok Zhailau (Kazakh means 'summer meadow as blue as the sky') is a plateau in the territory of Bang Ile-Alatau National Park located at an altitude of 2251.2 meters above sea level. Located between the Small and Large Almaty Gorges, 10km from the city of Almaty, this area was once a vast grassland for wildlife, today it has become an ideal destination for nature lovers. . From the plateau, you can enjoy views of famous sights such as the ski resort of Shymbulak, Medeu, and the great Almaty peak.

Shymbulak Ski Resort (Shymbulak Ski Resort)

Shymbulak is a ski resort near Almaty. It is the largest ski resort in Central Asia, about 25 km south of Almaty along Medeo Road. Located in the Medeu valley in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range, at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level, Shymbulak is famous for its mild climate, abundant number of sunny days and large amount of snow during winter (from November to November). to May). Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the scenery of majestic mountains with snow-covered slopes.