Kazakhstan · HIKING & TREKKING

The 11 Best Hiking Tours in Kazakhstan

11 tours  ·  from $50 a head

Trails start at 1,500 m and go up fast, so the numbers that matter are ascent and altitude rather than distance. The 11 below cover the walks above Big Almaty Lake, the Kim Asar valley and the peaks behind Shymbulak, with times and difficulty.

Big Almaty Lake Tour with Optional Hike - Choosing the 12-kilometer hike
Almaty Tours, Big Almaty Lake Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Almaty Lake Tour with Optional Hike

1.Big Almaty Lake Tour with Optional Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 109 reviews · from $69Our pick

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Almaty Lake tour private or group by car or hiking - The 6-kilometer uphill hike
Almaty Tours, Big Almaty Lake Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Almaty Lake tour private or group by car or hiking

2.Big Almaty Lake tour private or group by car or hiking

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · from $69

Review of the Big Almaty Lake tour from Almaty, with hiking and car options, guide details, pricing, timing, practical tips, and drawbacks.

“Dimitri was the perfect person to visit the lake with. He is happy to answer all your questions and it was great learning more about the country and region from him. He also knows the best spots to see the lake from. The lake itself was incredible and felt like a different world despite being so close to the city.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Day Trips, Full-Day, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Almaty: Charyn Canyon Full-Day Guided Tour with Hike

5.Charyn Canyon Full-Day Guided Tour with Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 21 reviews · 1 day · from $170

Explore Charyn Canyon from Almaty on a small-group day tour with a 2.5-kilometer hike, Castle Valley views, and hotel pickup.

“Danir (I think that's his name?) the owner of the tour company is an EXCELLENT guide, every American who comes to KZ should book a tour with him. - Marco Boggio”

Check availability →Read our full review

3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay - Day three: from Middle Kolsay to the Lower Lake
3-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Horses, Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay

6.3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $1,900

Ride and hike through Kazakhstan’s Kungey Alatau to Kolsay Lakes, with remote trails, mountain camping, local food, guides, horses, and private transport.

“A big thank you to Darya and Gulnaz for this fabulous experience – we will keep wonderful memories of these 6 days in the Almaty region. Everything was perfect. Darya is a caring person, always making sure that tourists feel comfortable anRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hiking to the magical Big Almaty Lake - Leaving Almaty for Ile-Alatau National Park
Big Almaty Lake Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Tour Reviews

Hiking to the magical Big Almaty Lake

7.Hiking to the magical Big Almaty Lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 8 hours · from $162

Hike through Tian Shan forests to colorful Big Almaty Lake, with hotel pickup, a private guide, mountain views, and a demanding route.

“It was an amazing hike, and I was greeted with a beautiful view of the lake. Had a great lunch break enjoying the nature, quiet and peaceful. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and I had a good time throughout the hike!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Shymbulak to Bogbanovisch Glacier and Oktabriskaya Hike - What makes Bogdanovich Glacier special
Almaty Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Medeu & Shymbulak Mountain Trips, Tour Reviews

Shymbulak to Bogbanovisch Glacier and Oktabriskaya Hike

Almaty: Advanced Hiking - Four Peaks Hike - Furmanov Peak at 3,050 meters
Almaty Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Tour Reviews

Almaty: Advanced Hiking – Four Peaks Hike

10.Almaty: Advanced Hiking – Four Peaks Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 10 hours · from $210

Take on Almaty's Four Peaks Hike, a private 15 km mountain challenge with 2,000 m of ascent, expert guides, and superb Tien Shan views.

“Breathtaking view throughout the whole hike. The guide (Victor) was amazing and he makes sure you feel safe during the hike. Will definitely hike with this team again if I ever plan to hike in kazakhstan again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Big Almaty Lake Hiking Tour with alternatgive Pipeline - Four hours around Big Almaty Lake
Almaty Tours, Big Almaty Lake Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Big Almaty Lake Hiking Tour with alternatgive Pipeline

11.Private Big Almaty Lake Hiking Tour with alternatgive Pipeline

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $70

Review of Almaty’s private Big Almaty Lake tour, with mountain hikes, Alma-Arasan and Ayusai gorges, guide, cost, and practical tips.

“Really fantastic tour! Our tour guide, Erasyl, was incredibly kind and really made sure we enjoyed our experience. He catered to the whole tour based on our needs and made us feel very comfortable. We are 3 young girls travelling so the Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Keep browsing

Medeu & Shymbulak Mountain TripsBig Almaty Lake ToursAlmaty Tours
Scroll to Top

Explore Kazakhstan by road

Pick a canyon, a lake or a mountain road.

The big days out

Charyn CanyonKolsai & KaindyAltyn EmelIssyk & TurgenOne-Day Tours

Above Almaty

Medeu & ShymbulakBig Almaty LakeHikingHorse Riding

In the cities

Almaty City ToursAstanaWalking ToursHistory Tours

How you travel

Private ToursGuided ToursTwo-Day ToursTours with LunchHalf-Day Tours