All Almaty Tours & Excursions in 2026

Simply stunning. Getting to the lakes takes a bit of work, But it is worth it. Pro Tip: Once you reach Kolsai, take the bus which drops you off nearly halfway and walk rest of the way to save time and make time for boating at the lake. Charyn canyon was also amazing but there wasn’t enough time to cover it in full and the trek wasn’t easy especially under the hot sun. Make sure to pack the right shoes. The only downside of the trip was the bus carrying us had an issue with its air conditioning

One day tour to Altyn Emel and Singing dunes was intense but very cool experience! The driver picked us up and drove to the gas station where we met our guide John and could buy some snacks/coffee. After arriving to the the reserve the guide did some historic introduction and shared fun facts about the nature and animals living in the reserve. Our group was small (7 people + guide + 2 drivers) and I really liked it! John turned out to be really cool and funny guy. We drove to the Altyn Emel and walked around beautiful desert and chatted with the guide and other tourmates. John explained how the mountains were formatted and took some cool pictures of us. Also our drivers was so nice to help some tourists with their car as it stopped driving in the middle of nowhere (driving there alone sounds really risky!). Then we drove to the lunch spot. Everything was homemade and really good! I really appreciate they have prepared vegetarian option of the soup and lagman for me. After that we drove to the Singing Dunes and unfortunately the weather got worse. The wind was getting stronger and stronger so the sand was everywhere! I recommend leaving your belongings in the car and wearing long pants, a hat/scarf and sunglasses (i had sand in my eyes anyway! would not wear contact lenses if I knew) and don’t reapply SPF before going to the dunes - the sand will stick to all of your skin and there is a long way back in the car ahead of you 😅 Sliding down the dunes was fun and we could really hear the vibrations! That was pretty long and instense day, but it was planned well and I really liked chill atmosphere and a small group. Definitely recommend!

I have a great day hiking with our guide Amir. We were in a small group of 3 travelers, the pickup was on time. Amir always making sure we were safe during the hike when passing through some steep sections of the trails. We reached the lake on time before it became cloudy. The scenery was spectacular and I would recommend the day trip if you want to experience the landscape without traveling too far from Almaty city.

Meeting is at 04:30 but bus doesn’t really leave until 05:00+, then gas station stop, so 05:30 by the time you really get going. The bus isn’t that comfortable. Besides this, probably one of the better day trips I’ve done. Super busy, fun, I met a lot of people, cool spots, the horse riding was really good, too. The old bus ride up to the lake was cool, in general it’s quite a well thought out day trip, Luba was lovely and knowledgeable.

Interesting visit to the Petroglyphs. About a 3 hour drive each way, and once there, a short museum visit and a hike around the petroglyph sites. Some parts required climbing, others could be seen from the paths. Our guide was knowledgeable and kind, stopping as much as we needed for snacks/lunch/bathroom breaks.

This is a solid one-day activity to experience the Kazakh outdoors. We went to 5 sites, including a ride on an old Soviet bus and a pony, with a delicious lunch at a local home. If you have more time, stretching it to a two-day trip with an overnight stay in a yurt would probably be better but if you only have a day to spare, do this. We had a pleasant guide, Naz, and driver and they managed a packed day without us feeling too rushed.

Lovely day. Big Almaty Lake is gorgeous. Turquoise water, blue sky, snow-capped peaks made for amazing views and photos. Yerkin was a wonderful guide and so helpful providing information and helping my wife who has mobility problems. He picked us up at our hotel and dropped everyone off anywhere in town he/she chose. Small group of enthusiastic travelers added to the experience. If you have health problems I would recommend the car option.

Tour review This is a great option if you’re looking for a flexible and personalized tour/itinerary. My flight was delayed coming into Almaty and they were able to accommodate that by adjusting the start time of the tour. (I would never have made it if I’d done a group tour!) I most wanted to see Kaindy Lake and we were able to do that first, followed by a lunch break and Charyn Canyon. It was a bit of a long day but Erasyl made it fun with lots of facts about the destinations as well as Kazakh life and culture as we rode. I learned so much! Bonus - Erasyl was a great personal photographer. Overall, given my short time in Almaty, it was great to have this flexible option and have everything completely customized to your priorities. Highly recommend!