Top Almaty Day Trips

It was a wonderful sunny day for us. The trek up to Bear Waterfall was reasonably easy, but one still needs to have some fitness I reckon. But the view at the waterfall was well worth the trek. I get to enjoy the morning with my son. The lunch at Annushka in the Issyk Town was delicious. We had the best waitress too :-) and of course Issyk Lake was a gem. It was sunny, the temperature was nice, the lake looked turquoise and the sky deep blue. Such an enjoyable time. We had the most wonderful guides too. Thank you Serz and Nez for taking good care of us. This is a trip for relaxing and healing :-)

The Almaty hiking tour was amazing, and Ote is an incredible guide. He does a great job catering the tour to your interest and ability level. The hike itself was challenging and very rewarding. Although we didn’t make it to the alpine lake, we enjoyed the views along the way. Weather in the Almaty mountains can be a bit unpredictable, so be prepared for rainstorms/hailstorms. Ote was incredibly supportive and ensured that we got down the mountain safely despite the inclement weather. This tour is a great way to see some of Almaty’s natural beauty, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.

I had an incredible day trip to Altyn-Emel that ran like clockwork from the 5:30 a.m. hotel pickup to our return in the evening. Our guide, Bek, was outstanding—friendly, encouraging, and amazingly attentive. He learned everyone’s name within minutes, explained the plan clearly, and kept our group motivated through the heat (around 100°F). After a smooth drive from Almaty, we switched to 4x4s and hiked a dry riverbed into the Aktau (Chalk) Mountains. The layered colors were surreal, and when the climb got steep, Bek’s encouragement helped me push to a fantastic viewpoint. We made a quick stop at the volcanic Katutau formations, then enjoyed a delicious family-style lunch at a local guesthouse—plenty of cold water, which was very welcome. The highlight was the Singing Dune: with Bek’s guidance, our group slid in unison and the dune let out a deep, organ-like hum you could hear and feel. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced. Transportation was comfortable, the air conditioning worked well, and the whole day felt safe and well organized. Pro tips: bring 2–3 liters of water, sunscreen, a hat that clips on (it’s windy), sturdy shoes, and be ready for squat toilets in places. I highly recommend this tour—and especially Bek—for anyone looking to see the best of Altyn-Emel in one day.