Top Almaty Day Trips

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!

The locations we went to were great - not too rushed and not too lax. Aigerim, our guide was a gem. She managed our group well gave us information in a timely manner and was a lot of fun. I/ we got lucky with a great group with a similar vibe - which really made the full day trip all the more special

I recently had the pleasure of spending the day with my tour guide / driver, Ayan. He is a very friendly and affable guy, and turned out to be great company on this unforgettable day-trip. Ayan gave me information about each attraction during the stops, and always offered to take pictures of me. We were able to cover the full itinerary as advertised, and even made a short stop at the Black Canyon when returning to Almaty. The landscape at Charyn Canyon was out of this world, plus I found Kaindy Lake surreal to look at with my own eyes. The total amount of time it took was just under 12 hours (from the minute we left my hotel to the minute we got back), which I think was the perfect amount of time. Thank you for a brilliant day, Ayan! Good luck with your studies and future.

The whole experience was 10/10. We had a wonderful time. Rustam, our guide was very helpful. The places we went were out of this world. Crazy beautiful. One that I will remember for the rest of my life. Panda Travel made it even more memorable. Definitely worth it.

The tour was amazing — we covered all the main places, and our guide, Luba, was excellent and very informative. The only drawback was the car’s speed on the way there; even though the road was empty, the driver was going very slowly, and many cars and trucks were passing us. However, on the way back, he drove much better. Overall, this tour is highly recommended. One tip: if anyone has back or knee pain, I would advise skipping the horse ride at Kandy Lake

We were very fortunate to have Erasyl as our private guide in Almaty. From early morning pickup to our return to the hotel, he took excellent care of us with his professional approach and advanced English. Erasyl impressed us with his deep knowledge of Kazakhstan's history, science, business, culture, and even politics. He shared fascinating information throughout our journey while always being respectful and mindful of cultural boundaries during our conversations. Erasyl went above and beyond during our visits to Lake Kaindy and Lake Kolsay. When I struggled with walking in these areas, he provided helpful assistance that made me feel comfortable and supported. His hard work, helpful nature, and genuine care made our experience truly special. Erasyl is a wonderful ambassador for his beautiful country Kazakhstan, and we hope he continues to share his knowledge and passion with more visitors in the future.

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.