Top Almaty How to Get Around in 2026 - page 3

Escape the crowds and enjoy a private tour of Almaty with hotel pickup and drop-off. See the exquisite natural landscapes of Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, surrounded by forest and mountains. Take in the unique scenery with plenty of time to stop and take photographs. Visit the incredible Charyn Canyon, with dramatic and unique rock formations.

This extended day tour takes you to two of Almaty’s most popular natural attractions—Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon—so you don’t need to plan anything. Your guide takes care of the logistics, including finding the most scenic photo spots, and the tour includes a filling local lunch, entrance fees, hotel pickup, and air-conditioned minibus travel. Get personalized attention and have all your questions answered, too, on a small-group tour.

Get to know Almaty better on a private, half-day guided tour of the city. This tour is ideal for first-time visitors who have just arrived. Avoid the risk of getting lost or struggling with public transport in a different language, as taking a tour makes sightseeing easy. Visit Almaty highlights such as the Central Mosque and Kok-Tobe Hill, from where you can admire the views.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure to Big Almaty Lake, the crown jewel of Almaty's natural wonders. Nestled amidst the magnificent Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, this turquoise oasis at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level is a sight to behold. Discover the captivating beauty of this stunning lake formed by the forces of nature. While the road might be temporarily closed, fear not. An exclusive solution allows you to reach Big Almaty Lake by car.

Explore the wilderness of Kungey Alatau mountains in one of our most authentic and adventure mixed horseback riding and hiking trips to Kolsay Lakes. You will explore wild and unknown trails avoiding crowded and touristic places, get an unusual experience of traveling by horse and feet in wild environment among the beauties of pristine untouched nature, enjoy the simple camping life, try the lifestyle of Nomads and feel the spirit of discovery.

You might already know that Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon are the top must-visit places in case you are travelling to Almaty. We suggest you private tour and full service but at the same time good price and flexibility. We will make our best so that you can enjoy the natural and cultural beauty of Kazakhstan!

Discover the dramatic canyon landscapes of Kazakhstan in one action-packed day from Almaty. Your journey takes you through three stunning canyons, each with its own distinct character. Charyn Canyon — towering red rock formations stretching 154 km, often called the Grand Canyon of Central Asia. Walk the lower trail through the legendary Valley of Castles, then climb to the upper rim for a panoramic view of the entire canyon. Continue to the mysterious Black Canyon, where dark volcanic walls create a striking contrast, and finish at the surreal Moon Canyon — pale, crumbling formations that look like a lunar landscape. A hot homemade lunch is included mid-tour at a local café. Private Tour: Same route, your group only — flexible pace and personalized attention. English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup from 7 AM. All national park entrance fees included. Maximum 10 people per group.

Unique Tour of Almaty: Kolsay Lakes, Kaindy Lake, and the Charyn Canyon Immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of Almaty! Our tour includes visits to three incredible locations: Kolsay Lake - picturesque waters surrounded by mountains, perfect for relaxation and photos. Kaindy Lake - a unique lake with poplars growing right in the water. Charyn Canyon - vibrant cliffs and breathtaking views that will leave you in awe. With us, you'll discover the best natural spots, enjoy comfort, and create unforgettable memories! As a nice bonus, every guest will receive a small gift during the tour -- a thoughtful touch to make your trip even more special.

Want to experience the true beauty of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains and recharge with fresh mountain energy? Join us on a scenic tour to Big Almaty Lake, along with the picturesque Alma-Arasan and Ayusai gorges, located just a short drive from Almaty. What awaits you: • Visit the famous Big Almaty Lake — a stunning alpine reservoir surrounded by towering peaks, famous for its turquoise color and breathtaking panoramic views; • Walk through pine forests filled with fresh mountain air and crystal-clear rivers; • Relax at the natural hot springs of Alma-Arasan (if accessible), known for their calming and rejuvenating properties; • Waterfalls and panoramic views of the Alma-Arasan and Ayusay gorges; • Visit a Falconry Center and enjoy an impressive show with eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey — a unique insight into the region’s nomadic traditions (only from April to October).

7:00 AM — departure from your hotel by jeep/SUV. Drive 80 km (about 2 hours). First stop — Issyk Lake (1,760 meters above sea level). Time for a walk and photos. Next — a 1-hour hike to Bear Waterfall. The trail is suitable for both children and seniors. Time to relax, take photos, and swim if you’d like. Hike back to the car — about 1 hour. Drive to a trout farm — около 1 hour. Fishing is optional (extra charge). Your catch can be cooked on site. Lunch. Return to Almaty — about 2 hours. Hotel drop-off around 6:00 PM. Feel free to ask your guide to take photos throughout the day!

Are you ready to discover why Almaty is the undisputed culinary capital of Central Asia? Too many travelers visit Almaty and only experience the surface of our food scene, missing the incredible layers of history hidden right beneath the surface. This isn’t just a food tour, it’s an exclusive, insider journey through time, culture, and the nomadic soul of Kazakhstan, told through five distinct culinary eras. Over the course of 4,5 hours, you will step off the generic tourist trails and walk the vibrant streets of Almaty with a passionate, local English-speaking guide (lived and studied in the US). Together, we will unlock the city's secrets by eating exactly where and how locals do.

Embark on a private, 4 hours guided tour of Almaty, perfect for first-time visitors seeking a seamless introduction to the city. You'll explore iconic sites like the Central Mosque, Kok-Tobe Hill with its stunning panoramic views, and the vibrant Green Bazaar. This tour is designed to eliminate the stress of navigating Almaty on your own, offering a hassle-free experience as you uncover the city's cultural gems. Ideal for adventure seekers and cultural enthusiasts, this tour provides insider knowledge and memorable encounters with Almaty's rich traditions.

05:00 Pick-up and Depature from Almaty 07:00 shortstop for coffee/WC 8:40 Arrival at Charyn Canyon "Valley of the Castles" Visiting sereral spots,walking Along canyon Black Canyon,Viewing spot Photographing 12:00 Arrival at Saty village, transfer to Kaindy Lake In Kaiyndy lake car goes until parking point. From parking until the lake 2km of walk. You can use horses or taxi insead of walking. 14:30 transfer to saty 14:30 Lunch in the guesthouse 16:00 Transfer to the Lower Kolsai Lake from Saty 17:00 Leaving Kolsai Lakes National Park 20:30 Shortstop for coffee/WC 22:00 Drop-off in Almaty

At 10:00 AM, hotel pick-up by comfortable jeep or SUV. Drive to Huns Ethno Village takes about 1 hour. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM: cultural program including the traditional “Shashu” ceremony, baursak-making masterclass with tea, introduction to nomadic life, “Besikke Salu” ceremony, equestrian show, and photos with horses (short queues possible). Buffet lunch with traditional Kazakh dishes, followed by an archery masterclass. Then transfer to Issyk Lake (about 1 hour). Walk along the shore and optional light trekking. Return to Almaty (about 2 hours). Arrival at the hotel around 7:00 PM. All entrance fees and activities included — no hidden costs. Feel free to ask your guide to take photos. Guides speak English, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish — please indicate your preferred language when booking. Customized tours across Kazakhstan available upon request.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Almaty and spend the day immersed in nature on this tour to Charyn Canyon. With a private guide, depart the city and head to Charyn Canyon National Park where you first explore the Valley of Castles. Then, enjoy hikes through the canyon to get better views of the surrounding areas.

We will admire the unbelievable vast landscapes of the Great Steppes – the cradle of the nomadic civilization. We will get to know the peculiarities of the nomadic way of life, who and how invented the Steppe Calendar and what are the main values of the Kazakh shepherds. We will speak about the religions of The Great Steppe and how dogs were transformed from the sacred animals to the devil servants. We will find out about the main product of local farmers of the USSR time. At the end of our journey through the steppes we will reach the kingdom of canyons that created mysterious castles and towers, home for the witches and magic red wolfs, – the heroes of Charyn canyon legends that kept in fear local people for centuries. Our guide will help you to separate the truth from the myths and we will try to guess how and why the legends were born. The visit of the canyons that are millions years old with their mysterious stories will not leave anyone indifferent!

In one day you can visit the most beautiful places with Spectacular nature Charyn Canyon "little brother of Grand Canyon", Kolsay lake- pearl of Tyan Shan mountain and Kaindy lake- flooded forest. Incredible view,the most unusual, mysterious and inexplicable natural phenomena won't leave you indifferent. Inspire yourself with the beauty of Kazakhstan nature.

Our tour programme is really unique, during one day guests visit 6 interesting, different locations in the canyons of Charyn River. In addition to walking inside the popular Castle Valley Canyon (Location # 1), we offer guests a visit to the observation deck, the view from the top of Castle Valley Canyon is a breathtaking view of the entire canyon (Location # 2). Next we visit Moon Canyon with a truly lunar, ethereal scale, the ground turns from a burgundy colour to a yellow hue (Location # 3). The next stop on the route is "Stone Shelf", a place with volcanic activity a million years ago (Location # 4). The "Napoleon" location includes an unforgettable view of the main canyon of the Charyn River and a huge amount of free space (Location # 5). The last point of the route is the "Austrian View" - the turns of the Charyn River take shape in the form of a giant snake, bordered by the green edge of an ancient tree - turanga (Location # 6).

We will explore the pure nature and historical architectures of Almaty city during the whole day. The only thing we guarantee is that you have chosen the best option for your Almaty city tour.

Visit two of Kazakhstan’s most impressive natural sites on an easy private day tour from Almaty. After an early morning pickup from your hotel, head to ancient Charyn Canyon, where you can admire the views and take a short (1.8-mile/3-kilometer) hike. In the afternoon, head to Kolsai Lake, which has beautiful reflective views of the Tien Shan Mountains. This is a must-do tour for nature lovers.

Our Team Do a Special tours, as we show the location - breathtaking spots, which few people know about, professional Staff - prepares you a lunch, an expert guide organizes a fascinating trip, tells a lot of interesting historical facts. We do the best tours have ever you had. 07-30 Departure from your hotel/hostel/ apartments Almaty 09-30 Stop at the road bazaar at Baiseit village 11-30 Arrival to Charyn Canyon-National Park hike 2-3hr and Yummy Canyon Lunch 14:30 Overview Canyon on Panorama (Breathtaking sight, trembling in the Knees) 15-30 Departure from Charyn Canyon to Bartogai reservoir 17-00 Arrival to Bartogai reservoir, overview, Barista-guide happy to cook Coffee from or Tea (Khan tea, Tashkent tea, fruit tea) 17-30 Departure from Bartogai Lake to Almaty City 20-00 Arrival to Almaty.

Take a guided climb in the mountains around Almaty. Depending on your needs and ability level we can choose you an easy climb or more challenging adventure. First day is an approach day. Depending on your objective we’ll head to the mountains to spend night in tent or in cozy dormitory of Tuyuk-Su alpine camp. In the morning of the second day we will wake up early to go even higher and do some climbing either it’s easy scrambling to the nearest peak, or more challenging route to the one above 4000m.

Walking Tour around Almaty gives you amazing opportunity to get acquaint with the atmosphere in a city and experience of local lifestyle. Listening to the stories, walking through the streets, feel yourself alive in this journey!

Visit Kazakstan’s Charyn Canyon hassle-free by booking this private tour from Almaty, where all the logistics are planned for you. After your drive from Almaty, stretch your legs and hike through the canyon. In addition to this, visit a local village, try some local Kazakh food, and take some time to reflect while sitting along the Charyn River. Enjoy this tour at your own pace, since this is a private tour for your group.