Kazakhstan · ALMATY TOURS
Almaty is where nearly every Kazakh itinerary starts and most of them never really leave. These 15 run from a two-hour walk through the old bazaar to a 700-kilometre day at the lakes, priced and timed so you can tell them apart.
See Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, Kolsai, and Kaindy Lakes on a long but memorable Almaty day trip for $58.
“I had a wonderful experience with Karina as our tour guide. She was well informed, organized, and very approachable. She took great care of the group and shared interesting details about each place. Her positive attitude made the tour truly enjoyable. Thank you, Karina.”
See Charyn Canyon, Kaindy Lake, and Kolsai Lake from Almaty on a long, value-packed small-group day with local lunch and mountain views.
“It was a great day trip. Lunch was delicious. The guide Dinara was also great thanks a lot for everything :)”
See Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes from Almaty on a long, affordable guided day with mountain views, walks, and optional rides.
“I had an amazing winter adventure on the Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake, Charyn Canyon, and Black Canyon tour! The snow-dusted mountains around Kolsay Lake looked magical, Kaindy Lake’s frozen waters and sunken trees created a surreal, fairy-tale landscape, and Charyn Canyon in winter was truly majestic with its icy cliffs and serene beauty. The tour was perfectly organized, cozy, and offered a peaceful way to experience Kazakhstan’s stunning winter scenery, absolutely unforgettable!”
See Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, and Moon Canyon on a long, lively Almaty day trip for $43.
“The trip was flawless, a seamless blend of perfect moments. Our guide was exceptional, turning every stone to reveal hidden gems and sharing insights that enriched the experience. The ride itself was smooth, allowing us to soak in the scenery without a single bump in the road. It was, in every sense, an ideal journey.”
Explore Kolsai, Kaindy, Charyn, Black, and Moon Canyons from Almaty with Kazakh meals, a yurt stay, and an English-speaking guide.
“everything is on time and the tour guide always very helpful”
Explore Kolsai, Kaindy, and Charyn Canyon from Almaty on a two-day tour with yurts, local meals, bonfires, and mountain scenery.
“Well organised & extremely well guided. Thank you to our guide Luba who is both fun & professional. Thanks too to our driver who kept us safe on the long drives.”
Explore Charyn Canyon, Moon Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes on a long, scenic Almaty day tour with lunch and off-road transport.
“It was a very long tour. We left the hotel at 6am and were dropped back at 10.30pm. Jenis the tour guide was amazing in handling the group and making sure that the group adhered to the timeline. We were able to cover 5 spots in the day and they were quite distant from each other. The food was amazing at lunch. Highly recommend this if you want to cover all places in just one day. But if you are a slow traveller then go for a 2 day tour as it lets you explore more as you have a little extra time at hand.”
Review of Almaty’s Turgen Waterfall and Issyk Lake day trip, with hiking tips, trout farm lunch advice, transport details, and value analysis.
“the guide was excellent... the places visited were beautiful”
See Charyn, Black and Moon Canyons plus Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes on a demanding 17-hour Almaty day tour with local lunch.
“I am satisfied because I visited famous places even though it was a short time.”
Review of Almaty’s 2-day tour to Kolsai, Kaindy, and Charyn Canyon, with UAZ rides, village lodging, meals, and practical tips.
“I loved everything about this tour, from seeing the lakes and the canyon to trying authentic Kazakh food, and getting to meet great people.”
See Kolsai and Kaindy lakes and Charyn Canyon on a 17-hour Almaty day trip with transport, park fees, guides, and optional horse riding.
“I’m solo traveller Our guide is Ice Sultan and K…(somethings sorry 🙏) Both of them are very nice and kind Information and Introduction of each spot are perfect. They also entertain with easy Kazakh song and some speeches. Don’t miss to ride a horse with Kaindy lake view I’ll recommend to other exactly !”
See Almaty’s mountains, markets, monuments, Shymbulak cable cars, and Kok-Tobe on an 11-hour guided day tour for $49.
“one of the best tour I experienced, everything goes smoothly. thank you! 🥰”
See turquoise Lake Issyk and Bear Waterfall on a 9-hour Almaty day tour with guides, mountain walks, lunch, and comfortable minibus transport.
“The tour trip was amazing, and the guide really kind and helpful, we even had some snow near the lake, thank you again for this beautiful day :)”
Big Almaty Lake tour from Almaty with mountain views, guide, transfers, and eco taxi access, ideal for a scenic half-day without hiking.
“Thank you Akmos for the wonderful trip! We had a great time”
Review of the Big Almaty Lake tour, with car or hiking options, guide details, costs, timing, scenery, and practical booking advice.
“Dmitriy is an extremely knowledgeable guide, giving us in depth history of Kazakhstan on the journey to the mountains. He also explained how the mountain lakes etc were formed which was very interesting. The hike itself was amazing. It was challenging, but that made the view at the Big Almaty Lake even better. It truly is a stunning lake and the mountain views all through the hike are breathtaking. I would fully recommend this to anyone who is capable. Make sure to wear shoes with good grip👍 One of the best experiences of my life.”
Pick a canyon, a lake or a mountain road.
