Top Almaty Day Trips

The tour was worth all the time on the road. Ayau managed our time well, even with 2 guests causing half an hour delay. The canyons and the lakes are all breathtaking and left me in awe. Want to mention that the driver made us feel safe such that we slept during the long drive. Cheers!

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.

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.