7 July - 13 July. Caspian sunsets, Mangystau cliffs and desert geology.
Flying to Aktau and then moving inland for the Mangystau highlights
Two inland nights for canyon, plateau, and desert expeditions
High temperatures and low humidity; Expected temperatures between 30-40°C
Check in, rest, and if you have energy, take a short walk along the Aktau waterfront or nearby coast.
Use the evening for a relaxed shoreline walk, coffee, and a slow reset after the flight.
Explore the seafront promenade, central squares, local cafes, and the main parts of the city.
Add the lighthouse area, rocky shoreline, and any museum or market stops your guide recommends.
Valley of stone spheres
Colourful purple gorge
Sphinx of Mangystau
Valley of Castle-Shaped Mounts
Towering formation
Chalk cliffs and red desert tones
Visting the famous Bozjyra Fangs Formation
An isolated and fortress-like formation that rises from the steppe
Layered mountains in vibrant red, yellow and orange hues
Midnight flight: Head to the airport on the night of 12 July.
798Km on road ~ 150km Off-road
Download maps, save coordinates, and mark the main stops before you leave Aktau. Assume signal will be inconsistent outside the city.
3 nights at a hotel
Prepare facial and body wipes
Lens: 16-35mm; 100-400mm
For desert scenes, keep shutter speed high enough to avoid vibration from wind and hand movement.
White balance can stay warm for sunrise and a little cooler for the coast and blue hour.
Direction: S–SW · 180°–205°
Composition: fixed position; castle-like rocks as foreground; keep the southern low horizon open.
For panoramas: overlap by 30–50%.
For star trails (30 mins): M mode · f/2.8 · Shutter 8 sec · ISO 6400–8000 · Interval 10 sec · WB 4000K
Holy Grail Timelapse:
Part A · Blue hour to stars appearing [22:05–23:00]
Av mode · f/2.8 or f/4 · Auto ISO 100–3200 · Interval 10 sec · Exposure compensation -1/3 EV · WB 4300K
Part B · Milky Way appearing [23:00–01:30]
M mode · f/2.8 · Shutter 8 sec · ISO 6400–8000 · Interval 10 sec · WB 4000K
For panoramas: overlap by 30–50%.
For star trails (30 mins): M mode · f/2.8 · Shutter 8 sec · ISO 6400–8000 · Interval 10 sec · WB 4000K
Holy Grail Timelapse:
Part A · Milky Way [02:15–03:30]
Direction S–SW · 210°–235° · M mode · f/2.8 · Shutter 8 sec · ISO 6400 · Interval 10 sec · WB 4000K
Part B · Milky Way fading into dawn [03:30–04:45]
Direction unchanged · M mode · f/2.8 · Interval 8–10 sec · WB 4000K
Exposure ramp: ISO 3200 → 1600 → 800 → 400; shutter 8 sec → 6 sec → 4 sec → 2 sec
Part C · Sunrise [05:10–06:20]
Direction NE 58° · Av mode · f/5.6 · Auto ISO 100–400 · Interval 5 sec · Exposure compensation -1/3 EV · WB 5200K · MF on distant mountain / horizon
| Category | Estimate (HKD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local tour, 3 days | 5k-7k | 4x4 is preferable for Mangystau road conditions; Meal, tickets, fuel included |
| Accommodation in city | 1.2k | 3 nights; Close to the main attractions. |
| Food | Flexible | Plan for city meals |
| Extras | 300-400 | Water, transportation and souvenirs. |
Total excluding flights: ~HK$8,700
35-40 Degree in Summer