Almaty, Kazakhstan
Tours in Almaty & Kazakhstan
Mountains, canyons, lakes and the city, with a private guide who speaks your language.
Almaty
Almaty City Tour
Green boulevards, the wooden Ascension Cathedral, the Green Bazaar and Kok Tobe hill in one relaxed day.
Almaty region
Medeu & Shymbulak
From the highest skating rink in the world to a 3,200 m ridge, without leaving the city behind for more than an hour.
Almaty region
Charyn Canyon & Kolsai Lakes
The two places travellers ask for most, in one trip: the red Valley of Castles and the turquoise mountain lakes, with a night in between.
Yenbekshikazakh
Issyk Lake
A turquoise lake held between spruce slopes an hour east of the city, with the ancient Issyk burial mounds on the way.
Almaty region
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise reservoir at 2,500 metres. Cars cannot reach it at the moment, so the last stretch is ridden on an electric bike or a quad — which turns the approach into the best part of the day.
Almaty
Almaty Family Tour
A day built around children: the mountain gondola, the aquarium, a park picnic and an early finish.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Nature Tour
Three days across canyon, lake and steppe, with two nights in comfortable mountain guesthouses.
Almaty
Private Almaty Tour
A full day, your itinerary, one vehicle and one guide for your group alone. Priced per group, not per seat.
Almaty
Almarasan Gorge and the Ayusay Waterfall
The nearest mountains to the city: a spruce gorge with a loud river, the trail up to Gorelnik, and the waterfall in the next valley.
Yenbekshikazakh
Turgen Gorge & the Waterfalls
Seven waterfalls, a trout farm, hot springs and high meadows where horses graze along the river.
Where the tours go
Places worth the drive
The canyons, lakes and gorges around Almaty: what each one is, how long the drive takes, and which of our tours goes there.
Almaty region, 200 km east
Charyn Canyon
Red rock towers above a river that is still cutting them.
Almaty region, 70 km east
Issyk Lake
Green-blue water at 1,760 metres, an hour from the city.
Almaty, 28 km south
Big Almaty Lake
Turquoise water at 2,511 metres, straight above the city.
Almaty, in the city
Kok Tobe
The hill the whole city is laid out beneath.
Almaty, 15 km south
Medeu and Shymbulak
From the city to three thousand metres in under an hour.
Almaty region, 90 km east
Turgen Gorge
Seven waterfalls, hot springs and horses on the river meadows.
Almaty, at the edge of the city
Almarasan and Ayusay
Where the city stops and the mountains start walking distance away.
Almaty region, 80 km east
Oi-Qaragai
A pine forest resort built for families with nothing to prove.
How a day with us works
Every tour on this page is one full day with a private guide-driver-translator and a minivan. The price covers the whole group, not each seat: the person driving is also your guide and your interpreter, fuel and parking are included, and you are collected from your hotel or apartment in the morning and brought back in the evening. You decide when to set off, where to stop for photographs and how long to stay.
What you pay separately
Your hotel or apartment is booked and paid separately, and we are glad to suggest one and plan the tour days around it. Entrance fees are paid on the spot by each traveller: the Medeu and Shymbulak cable cars, the Charyn and Kolsai national parks and other protected areas. Meals are your own choice, and our guides know where to find halal food on every route.
Choosing the right season
From June to August the city is warm and the mountains are pleasantly cool. September and October are the clearest months and the best for photographs. From December to March there is snow and skiing above Almaty. Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes are at their best from May to October, while the mountain days close to the city work all year round.
Questions travellers ask us
What is included in the price of a day?
One full day with a guide-driver-translator, a private minivan, fuel, parking and pick-up from your hotel or apartment. The price is for the whole group, not per person.
Do we pay for entrance tickets ourselves?
Yes. Cable cars, national parks and protected areas are paid on the spot by each traveller. Your guide tells you the current prices before you set off, so there are no surprises.
How many people fit in one vehicle?
The minivan comfortably takes five or six passengers with their luggage. For a larger group we use a Toyota Hiace, a Hyundai Starex or a bigger vehicle, and we quote that day individually.
Which languages do your guides speak?
Arabic and English. The same person is your guide, your driver and your interpreter, so you have one familiar face with you the whole day.
Is the hotel included in the tour price?
No. The hotel or apartment is booked and paid separately. Send us your dates and we will suggest options we know personally and plan the tour days around wherever you stay.
Can we see Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes in one trip?
Yes, as a two-day trip with an overnight stay near the lakes, priced at 300 US dollars for the group. The cabin or guesthouse by the lake is rented by you separately.