Fascinating blue lake of Balayuk Cave in Mangistau

The caves of Kazakhstan, especially on the territory of Mangystau, are still not fully explored to this day. Unfortunately, until the 1970s, barely anything was known about them. In 1959, two researchers Petrov and Slusarev discovered the fascinating Balayuk Cave. Decades later, in 2012, an expedition left to explore the territory of Mangistau, and finally, people began to learn about the numerous caves in this region. The most popular of the hidden underground beauties of Kazakhstan is  Balayuk Cave with its blue lake.

How to reach the cave

The Balayuk Cave is located 350 km from Aktau city in Western Kazakhstan. Not every car can handle the road to this cave. The way to the Balayuk Cave is full of various obstacles such as loose lands, mud, and even swamps, so going there by yourself shouldn't be taken lightly. Even if you decide to go on a trip with a car, it's recommended to go as a part of an expedition of 2-3 vehicles, for support, in case anything unexpected happens on the road. The location of the Balayuk Cave is only 20 kilometers from the state border; therefore, all visitors are required to carry the identification documents with them, to avoid any misunderstanding. During a trip to the Balayuk Cave, tourists should carefully follow the route and road signs, as there is a chance to enter the territory of Turkmenistan unintentionally. Curiously, the Balayuk Cave is located right in the middle of the steppe, and the GPS is not very precise, so it is easy to get confused and wander away across the border of Kazakhstan.

Inside the cave

The Balayuk Cave starts with a small gallery, which very quickly goes down, expands, and leads to the first hall at a depth of 28 meters. Going further, you would discover another gallery and room at a depth of 75 meters. After that, there is a descent leading steeply down for a few meters and another gallery that runs into the third hall at a depth of 120 meters. In this room, there is a lake with beautiful blue water. The cave’s entrance is located in a karst funnel 50 meters long, 6-15 meters wide, and about 7 meters deep.

Interestingly, the descent into the Balayuk Cave takes 1-1.5 hours on average, but climbing up takes only 30 minutes. If you taste the water, it can be a little salty at first, and then you will feel a bitter aftertaste. Some brave tourists even jump to swim in this beautiful water. You can also see the white salt marks spread everywhere close to the water. 

Before going to the cave 

You should note that in the area where the Balayuk Cave is located, there is no mobile network, and it is an unpopulated area. It is worth remembering that this place is located right in the middle of the desert and the closest point of contact with the outside world is located 15 km from the cave, where the local hunters live. Before you go on a journey to this beautiful place in Mangistau, you need to thoroughly prepare for it. And, as soon as you are prepared, you can safely go on a journey to see with your own eyes the fascinating blue lake of the Balayuk Cave.

Balayuk Cave, Western Kazakhstan

Karakiya District, Kazakhstan