The 10 Best Walking Tours in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Highlights: • Informative, friendly and professional guide • Great option if you have one full day for sightseeing • Lunch is included ​ What you can expect: ​ Hotel pick up. Meet your English-speaking friendly guide, who will tell you a lot of interesting facts and stories about Almaty and Kazakhstan during your trip. Driving to Charyn Canyon will take around 2.5 hours, on the way you will see how landscapes change from blooming gardens into flat steppes without any tree on a horizon. After drive it is time to get out from the car and discover one of the most beautiful canyons in Central Asia! We will walk down into the depths of the Valley of Castles and have a nice picnic on Charyn river bank.  Our next destination is Moon Valley. See the hidden canyon that not many other travelers know about. Enjoy gorgeous view from the best point! On the way back to the city enjoy the view of Bartogai lake - majestic artificial lake that is an ambitious Soviet project that still works and helps farmers to irrigate their crops every year. In the end of our long interesting day we will drop you off at the hotel.  

Inclusions: All fees & tickets , Food - picnic, Tour-guide, Transportation, Water 1l per person

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks, Snacks , Gratuities

Enjoy an exciting 2 days-trip in Charyn Canyon and Hot Springs area! Visit one of the most beautiful places of Almaty region on a comfortable SUV with air conditioning. During the tour you will enjoy the amazing panoramas of the Charyn canyon, Moon Canyon, Charyn River and the Kazakh steppe. Will try traditional Kazakh food. Will shopping at the road market in Baiseit village. Will walk deep into the canyon, depth reach 300 meters, after all these activities, you will relax and enjoy the hot water under the open starry sky in the hot springs. This two-day tour will give you new strength for a long time. The tour is only for you and your friends. Your guide will show you the most beautiful places for a great photo. If you respect a safely driving, comfort, and love the nature and relax, this tour for you.

Inclusions: National Park fees, Bottled water 1.5L per person per day, Meals (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch), Overnight twin accommodation in a hotel, Professional guide/driver, Transport by air-conditioned private SUV or minivan, Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located accommodations)

Exclusions: Surcharge for single accommodation, if required, Alcoholic Beverages, Food and drinks, unless specified

One-day trip to the Charyn Canyon - the most popular tour from Almaty, which takes you to the heart of wildlife. The scale of the canyon and the landscapes surrounding it make the trip to the Charyn Canyon unforgettable. During the tour We'll visit the "Moon" Canyon and the Bartogai Reservoir.

Inclusions: National Park fees, 1.5L of bottled water, Lunch, Professional guide/driver, Transport by air-conditioned private SUV or minivan, Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located accommodations)

Exclusions: Alcoholic Beverages, Food and drinks, unless specified

This tour is for those travelers who do not like long multi-day trips by car away from civilization, but at the same time want to see the main natural sights of the Almaty region.

Inclusions: Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, All Fees and Taxes, Accomodation in a guesthouse of village, Air-conditioned vehicle, Raincoat, Use of trekking sticks, Water 1.5L per day

Exclusions: Soft & hard drinks, Horse-riding, Boating

Hello! My name is Tau, I am 33 years old. I am a local who is fond of travelling and would love to share and experience it with you. I will be your guide and driver at the same time. My driving experience is more than 15 years on many types of cars and roads. I have a comfortable 4x4 wheel SUV .The car is ready for off-road and highway trips. Installed an additional place for extra large luggage . I enjoy my job and I am happy to introduce you to Kazakhstan!

Inclusions: Lunch, local food ( local pasta, risotto, leg of lamb)

Exclusions:

Hello! My name is Gaukhar, I am a co-owner and guide of small local company based in Almaty. We as a team do what we really love: meet new people and share with them the best what Kazakhstan has to offer such as astounded nature, finger-licking cuisine and, of course, people - the most valuable part of any trip. During my own travels (mostly US & Europe) I understood that the long-lasting memories are created not by sights you visited, but by personal connections you make. I live and work in Kazakhstan all my life and still get excited by new places, new stories and new routes I can show to travellers! We look forward meeting you here! Highlights: - Open the mystery of Singing Dunes; hike the fantastic “lunar” Aktau mountains; - Enjoy a breathtaking scenery and take spectacular photographs while hiking around the lakes; visit a sunken forest of Kaindy lake; experience Kazakh cuisine and culture in a carefully selected homestay family; - See Charyn Canyon National Park

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dinner, Dinner, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Air-conditioned vehicle, Accomodation, Bottled water, Local guide, National Paks fees and tickets

Exclusions: Gratuities, Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Highlights: • Enjoy a 4-day trip to the best natural parks around Almaty; • Open the mystery of Singing Dunes; hike the fantastic “lunar” Aktau mountains – 70 millions year ago it was a bottom of an ancient  Tethys Ocean; • Enjoy a breathtaking scenery and take spectacular photographs while hiking around the lakes; visit a sunken forest of Kaindy lake; experience Kazakh cuisine and culture in a carefully selected homestay family; • See Charyn Canyon, one of Kazakhstan's natural treasures. ​ What you can expect: ​ Day 1st: ​Get picked up from your hotel by air-conditioned  4WD vehicle with an experienced driver and meet your guide. Along the scenic drive you will pass the little villages and farmers’ markets, artificial lake and Kapchagai town – one of two places in Kazakhstan where gambling is officially allowed. • It usually takes 3-4 hours to reach a hotel at Bashi village that is located on the territory of Altyn Emel National Park, here we stop for a lunch and rest break. • Departure to Katutau & Aktau mountains • Arriving to Katutau mountains formed by lava and some associated volcanic rocks. Time, water and the sun have created intricate rock rarities here. Snap photos as your guide explains the origin of such a fanciful landscape, and then continue the trip to see Aktau mountains. Arriving to Aktau mountains - the museum of the earth's distant past. Fantastically-shaped natural sculptures rise from the bottom of an ancient sea in all the colors of the rainbow, from the pale blue "Lunar landscape" to the "red mountains". These mountains are 30 km long, 800 m high - and 400 million years old.  • Leaving Aktau mountans, road back to the hotel will take around 1-1.5 hour • Dinner. Don't forget to enjoy starry night sky above Bashi village - it is so bright away from the city lights! ​ Day 2nd: ​Breakfast at hotel’s café • Departure to Singing Dune • Its time to see next miracle of our trip – Singing Dunes, rising about 150 meters and stretching for a distance of approximately 2-3 km. Learn how is it possible that sand dunes are appeared in steppe vast area and, with luck, listen to the organ-like song of Singing Dunes. Never have climbed a dune before? Here we will have a lot of time for hiking, taking magnificent photos and enjoy amazing panoramic view! • It’s time to go back to the hotel at Bashi village for a lunch before heading to Charyn Canyon • Lunch at Bashi village  • Leaving the hotel, our next destination is Charyn Canyon. • Charyn Canyon National Park – time to explore this magnificent natural wonder! Marvel at dramatic rock formations shaped by the elements and time, and keep your camera handy for amazing photos. There's time at leisure for exploring on your own at your own pace.  • Leave for the Satty village, which is the closest place to Kolsay & Kaindy lakes.  • Arrival to the village, homestay with a local family (very basic conditions), dinner. • Overnight in Satty village.   ​ Day 3rd: ​Breakfast at Satty village. • We drive to the first Kolsai lake and start hiking to the second lake. It is 16 km (around 16 miles) both ways, with the highest point 2700 metres (1.7 miles), it takes around 3-4 hours to reach the second lake. Important: please take an actual passport (not a copy) for hiking, cause the border line with Kyrgyzstan is located in around 10 km from second Kolsai lake and you can be asked to show passport by the border guards. • Picnic at the shore of the second Kolsai lake. • Coming back to the first Kolsay lake, time to take the last photos and drive back to Satty village. • Arrival to the village, homestay with a local family, dinner, Russian banya. • Overnight in Satty village ​ Day 4th: ​Breakfast • Departure to Kaindy Lake. Unusual and mysterious Kaindy Lake (Birch lake) is located at the altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. Kaindy lake was formed as the result of a huge landslide after the powerful earthquake in 1911. The landslide blocked the river and the water has flooded the valley. That is how appeared the lake with Tien Shan fir trees in the middle. The water of the lake is very cold, that is why the needles of the flooded trees are well preserved and clearly visible through the transparent surface of the water, and dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake – it is necessary to go there and see everything with own eyes. • Leaving to the city - there is a long way back to Almaty - around 5 hours, on the way we will stop  for a lunch in one of the village cafes.   • Arrival to the city. 

Inclusions: Accommodation (hotel in Altyn Emel and Chundzha - shower & toilet inside of the room, homestay in Satty village - very basic conditions, no shower, toilet is outside of the home, Russian Banya), Lunch, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, All fees & tickets , Food - 4 lunches, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners., Tour-guide, Transportation - 4WD air-conditioned car, Water - 1L per person per day

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks, Snacks , Gratuities

Hello! My name is Gaukhar, I am a co-owner and guide of small local company based in Almaty. We as a team do what we really love: meet new people and share with them the best what Kazakhstan has to offer such as astounded nature, finger-licking cuisine and, of course, people - the most valuable part of any trip. During my own travels (mostly US & Europe) I understood that the long-lasting memories are created not by sights you visited, but by personal connections you make. I live and work in Kazakhstan all my life and still get excited by new places, new stories and new routes I can show to travellers! We look forward meeting you here! Highlights: - Visiting Valley of Castles at Charyn canyon - Enjoy a breathtaking scenery and take spectacular photographs while hiking around the lakes - Visit a sunken forest of Kaindy lake - Experience Kazakh cuisine and culture in a carefully selected homestay family - Best option if you have only two days

Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Air-conditioned vehicle, Accomodation, Bottled water, Local guide, National Parks fees and tickets

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Gratuities

1. This tour specifically designed to cover most important Historical, Cultural, & Traditional parts of Almaty. 2. Professional English speaking guide 3. Flexible routes upon the request 4. Full Destinations Management Service can me provided in needed.

Inclusions: Professional English-speaking guide

Exclusions: Lunch, Coffee and/or Tea

Charyn Canyon National Park is the most famous natural sight of Kazakhstan. We will visit its WELL-known part among the tourists called Valley of Castles because of its unordinary shape. Within the tour, you will observe “the Martian” views of the Charyn Canyon. The Castle Valley is also called a “small brother” of Grand Canyon in Colorado because of its similarity, although it is much smaller. On the way to Charyn Canyon we will visit road market in Baiseiyt village. After the short walk in road market, we will have a stop at the Enormous Soviet project, which is still successfully operating, Bartogai artificial lake.

Inclusions: Lunch, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: