Top Almaty Day Trips
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Allicia_M, Oct 2026
Worth the trip! Stunning views!
I really enjoyed this tour! The scenery was absolutely stunning, and the entire experience was well worth it. My guide, Konti, was friendly, helpful, and attentive throughout the day. I also appreciated his responsible driving, especially given the distances and terrain involved.
Charyn Canyon was absolutely breathtaking but also incredibly cold, so I would definitely recommend dressing warmly and coming prepared.
Kolsai Lake was another highlight, with beautiful scenery and excellent food at the restaurant overlooking the lake. The traditional Kazakh tea was especially welcome and a wonderful way to warm up on such a chilly day.
As for Kaindy Lake, I had intentionally avoided looking at pictures beforehand because I wanted to be surprised. And wow, was I surprised! I was absolutely blown away by what I saw. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I'm so glad I got to see it without knowing what to expect. Definitely a place worth visiting!
Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kazakhstan!
Poonyaphop_S, Oct 2026
An Unforgettable 17-Hour Adventure in Kazakhstan!
What an incredible day exploring Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake!
We booked a private full-day tour, starting at 5 AM and finishing around 10 PM. It was a long 17-hour adventure, but absolutely worth every minute!
A special thanks to our wonderful guide, Ayau. She made the entire experience enjoyable and memorable. Having a private tour gave us the flexibility to explore these breathtaking places at our own pace.
From the dramatic landscapes of Charyn Canyon to the peaceful beauty of Kolsai Lake and the magical scenery of Kaindy Lake, every stop was unforgettable.
A long day, amazing landscapes, and memories that will last a lifetime. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kazakhstan!
Kenshu_N, Aug 2026
Amazing Experience, Beautiful Nature
Absolutely fantastic, it was an amazing experience. Below is some information for those considering booking, including some things I was wondering about before booking.
First, you depart from the parking lot in front of the circus at 5:00 AM. City buses and the metro aren't running yet, so it's best to get to the meeting point on foot or by using Yandex Go. In my case, boarding started at 5:00 AM and departure was around 5:10 AM, but I think it's better to be there by 4:30 AM just in case. You can't charge your devices on the bus, so I recommend bringing a portable charger. Also, you'll often have to pay in cash for toilet breaks, meals, and activities like horseback riding, so it's good to have some cash on hand. Additionally, it will possibly rain, so I recommend you to bring jacket and umbrella. As for Lake Kaindy, the bus will take you as far as you can walk to. Lunch is free if you bring it yourself, but you can also use the restaurants and cafes there. The tour ended around 10:30 PM, but apparently it can be as late as 11:00 PM depending on traffic.
Giovanni_B, Aug 2026
Wonderful places and service
Assy Plateau is a unique place, with a wonderful view on the immense grasslands without any presence of mass tourism. There were only some shepherd with yurts and grazing horses and cows. This place cannot be missed for an authentic experience of Kazakhstan.
The other places we visited, Lake Issyk and Turgen waterfall were very nice too. We especially appreciated how the guide managed the timing to let us avoid the crowds of tourists in these places.
Our guide, Zhanna, was very kind and explained us many interesting facts.
The vehicle was big and comfortable and the driver was experienced and fast.
Alfiya_P, Aug 2026
Pope Family trip to Almaty Kazakhstan
Absolutely fantastic experience! Everything was very well organized from start to finish. Our driver Yernar made the long trip comfortable and enjoyable, and the scenery at Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Black Canyon was incredible. A truly memorable day and one of the best experiences of our trip.
Harshit_V, Aug 2026
Very nice
Very nice tour! Loved the Aktau mountains and the singing dunes. The dunes can actually sing and the guide teaches you how to make them sing!
Food at the guesthouse was amazing.
Butter was a great guide throughout, very knowledgeable and always thoughtful of our experiences.
Christina_N, Jul 2026
This was a great tour to...
This was a great tour to book. The van was super comfortable and our guide Zhenis was great. He contacted us in the morning to make sure we would be at the pickup location when he arrived and helped us order at a local restaurant. The waterfall is about a ~25mins easy to moderate hike and the lake was around a 15 min walk downhill to be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Ashley_W, Jun 2026
Very comprehensive tour,...
Very comprehensive tour of canyon and lakes, a full day. Be prepared for long drives between Almaty and the attractions, plus some fairly strenuous walks, especially if the weather is hot.
Tour guide was very friendly and gave commentary at each attraction, plus some adhoc singalongs (not compulsory!)
Highlights were the Charyn Canyon and Kaindy Lake.
One thing to note; our driver was quite aggressive in driving style (this might be a general Kazakh thing), so do buckle up.
Lazy_G, May 2026
The tour start from our...
The tour start from our guide ordering taxi for us to the meeting point at 4:30 am. I like it as it saves our time and the cost is included.
This was a really long day and the scenery is stunning. Our guide is a very knowledgeable girl who speaks fluent English. She shared a lot culture of Kazakhstan with us. The tour ended in 8:30 pm and taxi picked us back to our separate hotels.
Will definitely recommend this tour if you don’t mind long travel distance and long walking is required but I assure you that the scenery worth the hassle.
Giulio_G, Mar 2026
Meeting is at 04:30 but...
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.
Robert_H, Mar 2026
An absolute must-do - fantastic tour
This tour was incredible! The canyons and lakes are stunning, and a must-see for anyone visiting Kazakhstan. The tour itself is brilliant - perfectly timed to fit everything in, with an amazing meal in a guest house and a very fun off-road ride in a Soviet UAZ truck that I’ll never forget. Our tour guide Serzh was informative and funny, giving us lots of interesting information about the region and Kazakhstan’s history. If you are travelling to Almaty, you should absolutely do this tour. It’s a long day (5:30am pickup, usually back by 8-10pm depending on the size of the group), but it is absolutely worth the early start. Thank you Serzh!
kathreen_s, Nov 2025
Amazing Almaty
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.
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