Things to do in Almaty
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Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes, Charyn Canyon tour from AlmatyA full-day tour from Almaty visiting Charyn Canyon, Moon Canyon, Black Canyon, Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lake with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup at 5 AM, and lunch at a local guesthouse in Saty village. The route covers roughly 15 hours and includes all national park entrance fees. Choose the private option if your group wants to set its own pace; the small-group version shares the van and the cost.Is it for me?The private option suits groups who want to linger at each stop without keeping others waiting. The small-group tour works if you're traveling solo or with one or two others and want to share the cost — the route and the lunch are the same either way.
Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes, Charyn Canyon: 2-Day Tour with Yurt StayYou’ll travel from Almaty through Moon & Black Canyons to Kolsai Lake, sleep in a yurt or room near mountain rivers, share local food by bonfire light, ride off-road vans to Kaindy Lake’s sunken forest, and hike Charyn Canyon’s wild trails with your guide. Expect laughter around campfires and moments of real quiet under Kazakh skies.
Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyon Day Tour AlmatyYou visit five distinct natural sites — two alpine lakes, three canyons — in one full day from Almaty, with park fees and a traditional lunch included. An English-speaking guide leads the group through walking stops at each location, and a modern van with AC handles all transport. The pace is steady and the itinerary is fixed, so you know exactly what the day holds and when you'll return.Is it for me?This tour works well if you want to see the major natural sites around Almaty in one day without arranging transport, park tickets, or timing the stops yourself — the fixed itinerary and included lunch are what make five different landscapes fit into a single departure.
Almaty: Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon VIP Car Day TripYou’ll cross wild roads from Almaty into deep pine forests at Kaindy Lake, eat hot lagman by Kolsai’s clear shore, and wander under Charyn Canyon’s red towers—all with a local guide who knows every shortcut. Expect real conversation, unexpected quiet moments, and plenty of time to just look around.
Almaty: Aktau Mountains & Singing Dunes 1-2 Day TourYou drive from Almaty into Altyn Emel National Park to hike the Aktau chalk mountains, explore the volcanic Katutau formations, and descend the Singing Dunes that hum beneath your feet. Lunch is included, and you can choose between returning the same day (16 hours total) or staying overnight in Basshi village with dinner and a campfire. The guide handles navigation and park logistics, so you just show up at pickup.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see Almaty's most unusual desert landscapes without arranging your own transport or park permits — the early pickup and long day (or overnight) mean you experience all three locations without the logistics falling on you.
Yurt canyon Kazakhstan: Soviet van to submerged forestYou’ll start early from Almaty, ride through wild canyons and lakes with a local guide, share Kazakh food in Saty village, sleep in a yurt or guesthouse, and rattle up to Kaindy Lake’s sunken forest by Soviet van before wandering Charyn Canyon’s trails. Expect laughter around the campfire and moments of real quiet under big skies.
Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyon day trip from AlmatyA full-day tour from Almaty visiting Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake and Charyn Canyon with a professional guide, round-trip transport and all park entry fees. The day combines hiking around two alpine lakes and walking through a canyon to the Charyn River, with a small gift for every guest. Moderate fitness is needed; the tour runs 16 hours and is not suitable for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries.Is it for me?The guide speaks the language you choose at checkout, so you follow the commentary without translation. Book this if you want to hike and walk at your own pace through three different landscapes in one day—the guide leads, but the stops and the walking are yours to control.
2-Day Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes & Charyn Canyon Tour from AlmatyA two-day guided tour from Almaty visiting Kolsai Lake, the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon—including Black Canyon and Moon Canyon—with accommodation and meals in Saty village. The itinerary covers roughly 100 kilometers of mountain terrain, with guides speaking English, Russian and Kazakh; all park entry fees and transport from the city are included.Is it for me?At two days, the tour fits into a long weekend without eating into a full week's itinerary, and the overnight in Saty village means you see both lakes and all three canyons without backtracking. If you have only a single day in Almaty, this won't work; if you have three or more days, you could add a separate trip to the Turgen Gorge or Big Almaty Lake instead.
Lake Issyk & Turgen Bear Waterfall: Day Trip from AlmatyYou’ll hike through Turgen Gorge to feel Bear Waterfall’s icy mist, then ride out to Lake Issyk where colors shift with every cloud. With a local guide leading you to photo spots (and sharing stories), expect time for lakeside wandering, fresh mountain air, and quiet moments that stick with you long after you’ve left.
Almaty: Medeu, Shymbulak & Kok-Tobe Day Trip with BazarYou’ll start your Almaty day trip shivering at Medeu’s high-altitude rink, ride up to Shymbulak for mountain air and tea, explore Panfilov Park’s wooden cathedral, and snack through Green Bazar with your guide translating flavors along the way. End at Kok-Tobe hill as dusk falls over the city—there’s something quietly unforgettable about watching Almaty light up beneath you.
Private Full Day Almaty City Tour: Mountains, Markets & LandmarksA private full-day Almaty city tour covers the mountains, historical sites and local food that define the city. You visit Medeu skating rink and ride the cable car to Shymbulak ski resort in the Chyn-Ala-Tau range, take in the view from Kok-Tobe park at 1,130 meters, walk through Panfilov Park and the wooden Ascension Cathedral, browse the local market, and eat lunch at a Kazakh national restaurant. A guide in English or Russian, hotel pickup, entrance fees and transportation are included.Is it for me?Book this if you want mountains, history, and local markets covered in one full day with meals and transport included—choose it when you prefer a structured itinerary over piecing together your own route.
Almaty: Charyn Canyon tour with guide & village lunchYou’ll set out from Almaty with a local guide toward Charyn Canyon’s wild cliffs and hidden river bends. Walk among surreal rock formations, share stories over lunch in a real Kazakh village (yes, you’ll try horse milk), and catch glimpses of nomad life along the way—little moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
1-Day Backcountry Ski Tour from Almaty: Guided Freeride AdventureIf you want to get off the crowded pistes and explore real mountain terrain near Almaty, this backcountry ski tour is your ticket. You'll ride untouched powder with an expert guide, discover secret spots only locals know, and sharpen your freeride skills—all with transfers and safety gear sorted for you.
Almaty City Tour: Cathedral, Bazaar & Street Art HighlightsThe Almaty Original City Tour is a guided walking tour through the city's historical, cultural and traditional landmarks, led by a professional English-speaking guide. You move at a steady pace through five stops—the Holy Ascension Cathedral in the oldest park, the Green Bazar market, Arbat Street's shops and fountains, Panfilov Street's Soviet architecture and street performers, and the Abai Theater—covering the route in one to two hours. The guide adjusts the route if you request it.Is it for me?The tour moves at a walking pace through the city center, so it suits travelers who are comfortable on foot for an hour or two and want a guide to explain the history and architecture rather than navigate on their own. If you prefer a vehicle-based tour or need to cover ground quickly without stopping, a different option may work better.
Almaty city tour: Shymbulak, Koktobe & Green MarketThis six-hour city tour covers Almaty's most visited sites: the mountain resort of Shymbulak, the Koktobe panoramic viewpoint, the central Green Bazaar, and Park 28 Panfilov's Guardsmen with its cathedral. A guide in English or Russian leads the route; pickup from your hotel is included, and you choose when to eat lunch. The cable car to Shymbulak is optional at checkout.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Almaty without a car or unfamiliar with the city layout—the guide handles the route and timing, so the four main sights fit into a single morning without you arranging transport or deciding which stops to skip.
Charyn Canyon Private Tour from Almaty with Lunch & Bartogai LakeYou’ll hike through Charyn Canyon’s wild landscapes with an expert local guide, enjoy homemade Kazakh food outdoors, and sip tea by Bartogai Lake—all in one day away from city crowds.
Almaty city tour: parks, mosque and mountain viewsA 4-hour guided city tour of Almaty covering the oldest park in the city center, the central mosque built in 1999, the Medeu ice skating rink at 1,691 meters elevation, and Kok-Tyube mountain at 1,130 meters. Hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English, French, German, Arabic and one additional language. Minimum age is 15.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a structured introduction to how Almaty's neighborhoods connect—the old center, sacred sites, and mountain views in one guided sequence rather than piecing it together yourself.
Private Almaty City Tour: Build Your Own DayA private full-day tour of Almaty where you build the itinerary with your guide instead of following a fixed schedule. Professional guides speak English, German, Hindi, Arabic and other languages; pickup is included. The tour runs 2 to 10 hours depending on what you want to see and how long you want to stay at each stop.Is it for me?If you're staying in Almaty without a car, pickup from your hotel means you don't need to navigate to a meeting point or arrange your own transport between stops. Because you build the route with the guide instead of following a fixed schedule, the tour stretches or contracts to match what actually interests you — a 2-hour focused visit or a full 10-hour day exploring neighborhoods and stops you choose as you go.
Almaty City Tour: Independence Square, Metro & Zenkov CathedralA 3-hour walking tour of Almaty with a live English-speaking guide covers Independence Square, the city's deepest metro station, Panfilov Street, Zenkov Cathedral and Panfilov Park, with metro ticket and lunch at a café included. The tour skips Mondays at Green Bazaar. Minimum age is 16; service animals are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're new to Almaty and want the main landmarks explained by someone who knows the city—the guide handles the route and the history, so you're not reading a map or guessing which street to turn down. The fixed 3-hour frame means you can plan the rest of your day around it, and the metro ticket saves you a separate transaction at the station.
Private Almaty tour: city landmarks and Shymbulak mountain resortA private guided tour of Almaty covering the city's key landmarks — Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, the Memorial of Glory, and three central squares — followed by a visit to Medeu Valley and a gondola ascent at Shymbulak Resort to 3,163 meters. The guide speaks English or Russian; pickup is included, and the tour runs seven hours with free time at the mountain resort.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Almaty without a car or prefer not to drive mountain roads yourself — pickup is included, and the guide handles all the stops and timing, so the day unfolds without navigation or planning on your end.
