Almaty Tour Package

Welcome to Kazakhstan, the ninth-largest country in the world! As you arrive in Almaty, your private driver guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to our hand-picked hotel downtown. You will have the rest of the day for relaxation and your personal plans.

Kazakhstan’s rich oil reserves and valuable minerals make it Central Asia’s most economically developed country; thus, its accommodation, catering and transportation are better than in other Central Asian countries. In Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, you can see wide boulevards, ubiquitous chic cafes, and magnificent shopping malls. Almaty’s surrounding area also has the most enchanting and diverse scenery in Kazakhstan, from forests, grasslands, and lakes to deserts and canyons, all of which are eye-catching.

► Money Tips in Kazakhstan                                                                           
After customs clearance at the airport, you will see currency exchange counters on the first and second floors, among which those on the second floor have better exchange rates. If you need to spend money today, you can exchange a small amount of tenge (1USD≈520KZT) because there is a money change shop with the almost best exchange rate in Almaty at the entrance of Green Bazaar to be visited tomorrow. Even without tenge, you can still use some small US dollar change to pay for fares, use paid toilets (many toilets at attractions and gas stations are charged), buy snacks and fruits on the street, etc.

► Which Local SIM Card to Choose
You can find the counters of local operators Kcell and Tele2 at the airport. Kcell’s 5,000 tenge package (about $10) is recommended, which includes 30G of data and 200 minutes of calling. If you embark on a cross-nations trip, Tele2’s 30-day 5,590 tenge (about $11), including 25G of data and 240 minutes of calling, is better since it supports international roaming. Both cards can convert call time into data on their apps, with 1G converted every 10 minutes and need to keep for at least 10 minutes.

Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

In the early morning, the driver guide will take you out of the city to Medeu Valley, where you can breathe in fresh air and visit the world’s highest ice skating rink - Medeu Ice Arena. However, less know that climbing the Medeu Dam along Health Stairs is popular among outdoor hiking enthusiasts, during which the 842 steps lead you gradually closer to the snow-capped peaks. Although tired, looking at the ice rink under your feet will make you feel accomplished.

Then, drive back to the largest comprehensive market in Almaty, Green Bazaar (Zeleny Bazar), where you can fully experience the lively daily life of the local residents. Passing by many open-air stalls selling daily necessities, pots and pans, clothing, bags, etc., and walking in the bazaar, there is too much food to see, including neatly arranged vegetable, fruit, and nut areas, standing with stall owners dressed in uniform. Especially the meat area is sorted according to different types of beef, horse meat, mutton, and chicken, without unpleasant odors. Such a unique bazaar scene in Central Asia will undoubtedly leave a deep impression on you.

After the lunch break, continue to visit Ascension Cathedral, also called Zenkov Cathedral, the most important Orthodox church in Almaty and the second-tallest existing wooden structure in the world. Admire its gorgeous altar paintings and murals, which resemble quintessential Russian icon paintings inheriting medieval Byzantine (395-1453) style. Also, as the only building in Almaty to survive the great earthquake of 1911, the cathedral is too legendary to be trumped.

Next, follow your driver guide to the Central Mosque of Almaty, the second-largest mosque in Kazakhstan, with a history of over 100 years. Walk barefoot on the Persian carpet in the main hall, eyes up to the 36-meter-high (120 feet) dome decorated with colorful mosaics, inlaid with verses from the Koran written by a famous Turkish calligrapher. When surrounded by intricately carved porches, snow-white walls, gold-woven carpets, and decorative columns under the radiate light from exquisite chandeliers, you will be immersed in the solemnity and beauty of the mosque.

Now, it’s time to view the sunset at Kok-Tobe Hill. Arriving at the foothill before dusk, take Kok-Tobe’s electric bus to the mountain in the ever-changing sunlight, watch the sun refracting on the window, and enjoy the romantic moment. Reaching the hilltop, gain a bird’s eye view of the city and take memorable photos with the landmark TV Tower, the Beatles sculpture, and the Kok-Tobe photo frame. Going downhill by cable car, feel the gentle moment of being embraced by the snow-capped mountains in the dusk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Today, we will set out to Basshi Village by driving for 3.5 hours. After hotel check-in and lunch break, the driver guide will take you to Altyn Emel National Park, the vastest nature reserve in Kazakhstan, which has a semi-desert climate and different landscapes from desert Gobi to mountain rock terrain, grasslands, and streams. Beyond these, you may also encounter rare goitered gazelles, argali, and wild donkeys living freely on this land, especially in summer and early autumn.

First, explore the Aktau Mountains, where you can trace the evolution from the original land island to the desert mountain range with endemic species, highly praised by geologists and paleontologists. Then, head west to Katutau Mountains, the most extensive volcanic range in Altyn-Emel, with the highest point being 1,720 meters (5,640 feet) above sea level. When the volcano erupted, violent avalanches and hot clouds laden with debris covered large areas; thus, volcanic ash, lava flows, and other coverings mixed and solidified, carved into strange shapes by rivers, wind, and sand for a long time. Finally, watch a 700-year-old willow in an oasis on the returning trail to the entrance, and the driver guide will send you back to the hotel in Basshi Village.

► Wearing Tips
Since it’s hot, windy, and without shade in the park, you’d better wear long-sleeved tops and pants to protect against the sun. Also, please wear comfortable shoes and bring water and wet wipes for a relatively long hike.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Basshi Hotel

After breakfast, we will drive to Altyn Emel National Park again to climb Singing Dune. In dry and windy weather, when the wind blows over the dune, the sand grains rub against each other and make a long and low sound, similar to the melody of an organ or the roar of a jet plane, which can be heard several kilometers away. Therefore, it was once a beacon for caravans on the ancient Silk Road because the louder the sound of the dune, the more unpredictable the weather would be as customary; they would decide whether to move forward or not according to the sounds of the dune.

Leaving Altyn Emel for Zharkent along the highway, we will stop shortly for you to watch the stretching foothills of the Katutau Mountains, called Tiger Mountains, thanks not to big tabby cats but the characteristic striped color of their clays. Arrive at Zharkent after a 1.5-hour drive and visit Zharkent Mosque, designed by a Chinese architect in the 1870s and built by artisans from many countries, perfectly blending Central Asian and Chinese architectural styles. The first thing that comes into view is a bright-colored Chinese-style double-story attic building with raised hexagonal eaves, accompanied by an Islamic rectangular gate and a four-centered arch. Entering the spacious and bright hall, you can see Chinese decorative patterns of flowers, birds, landscapes, and Islamic elements everywhere, and even Tibetan Buddhist elements on the adhan throne, all reflecting the integration of religion and culture.

In the end, the driver guide will transfer you for two hours to the Chunja Hot Springs resort, a famous spring complex near Almaty with mineral-rich water. Relax in the hotel’s hot springs, and rest well tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kara Dala Hot Springs Resort or similar

Drive for 1.5 hours and reach Charyn Canyon National Park this morning. Nicknamed the Grand Canyon Colorado of Central Asia and famed for its outstanding rock formations and rich geological history, Charyn Canyon will not disappoint you. Eons of wind, water, and sand erosions have carved the red sandstone out of a canyon stretching 154 km (95 miles) long and up to 300 meters (985 feet) deep, forming jagged rocks with wonderful tones ranging from dark orange to light brown. Walking in this endless crack deeply carved into the Kazakh steppe, walled in the unique desolation of Central Asia.

First, we will stop at the off-the-beaten-track Temirlik Canyon, where you can observe precipitous red-hued cliffs alongside rare ash woods, accompanied by the singing of nightingales and the gurgling of Temirlik River. Near it is Bestamak Canyon, a treasure trove of ancient fossils and remains of past plants, so you may stumble upon traces of extinct animals and prehistoric plant species. After having a packed lunch here, continue to visit Moon Canyon (Uzunbulak Canyon), named for its extraordinary rock formations resembling a lunar landscape, also known as the “Yellow Canyon” because of the yellow clay in its rocks. Then, follow your driver guide to the main canyon of Charyn Canyon to watch the sunset, when the red rocks at this time appear orange under the afterglow, creating a romantic and spectacular atmosphere.

Finish all visits, and you will be transferred to Saty Village in 1.5 hours. Rest up for tomorrow’s mountain hiking.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box, Dinner
Accommodation: Saty Village Guest House

Today, you will challenge one of Almaty’s most unforgettable hikes between Kolsai Lakes, composed of three alpine lakes at different altitudes. Each lake is crystal-clear and turquoise, reflecting the snow-capped mountains and fir forests, famed as the Pearl of Northern Heaven Mountains.

We will drive to Lower Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 1,800 meters (5,905 feet), where the 7-km (4.5 miles) hike starts. Following the slightly inclining path on the lake’s right side that extends to the valley, the first leg with lake views is easy. Approaching the Middle Kolsai Lake, the altitude gradually rises to about 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), and you may encounter squirrels, shrubs, and flowers in the forest, such as various roses, cotoneasters with red berries, honeysuckle, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, and wild strawberries by streams, which forms a series of small waterfalls as the slope steepens. It may take three to four hours to reach Middle Kolsai Lake, at 2,250 meters (7,380 feet) above sea level. From the shore, you can see the peaks of the Ala-Tau Mountains. Have a boxed lunch here with the enchanting lake views, and we will return by the same way.

► If your physical strength is limited, you can ride a horse up the mountain at your own expense, experiencing being a nomad on horseback. Horse renting is available from April to October, with a two-way fee of $30-40 per person.

After a six-hour hike during the day, you must be exhausted. Therefore, after returning to Saty Village, a sauna awaits you to help relax your muscles.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box, Dinner
Accommodation: Saty Village Guest House

This morning, we will venture deep into Heaven Mountains again to admire another bewitching alpine lake, Kaindy Lake, a barrier lake formed by the 1911 earthquake. Its bottom is deposited with limestone that collapsed during the quake, making the water appear blue-green. Meanwhile, the trunks of the submerged spruce forest have been preserved, forming a unique landscape called the “Sunken Forest” by the locals.
► Photography Tips
It’s suitable for photographing reflections in the morning with a calm lake surface and soft light. You can shoot close to the lake to highlight the underwater tree trunks and the transparency of the water, or climb the hill by the lake to take a panoramic view of the “Sunken Forest.”

Do you remember Charyn Canyon National Park, which we visited before? The next stop is Charyn Canyon's most popular part, Valley of Castles, named after the castle-like cliffs. We will spend two hours hiking through the entire valley, but don’t worry - the path here is wide and flat, as easy as strolling in a park. Moreover, the turbulent Charyn River flows at the end of the valley, flanked by rare ash trees, a rare scene in the arid area. Ultimately, the driver guide will transfer you to the hotel in Almaty by driving for 3.5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Renion Park Hotel, Almaty (3 stars) or similar

Farewell to our 8-day Almaty tours! The driver guide will escort you to Almaty Airport, which will take about half an hour. We hope you’re satisfied with the journey from Almaty’s human landscape to fascinating natural scenery. If you want to continue exploring other cities in Kazakhstan, such as the capital Astana, the ancient city of Taraz, Turkestan, or expand your Central Asian trip to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, please feel free to contact our travel consultants to customize more itineraries!

► Places Worth Visiting in Your Free Time
Two-minute walk south of the hotel will lead you to 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park. We have been here before when we visited the Ascension Cathedral, but the park is also worth visiting in addition to the church. Strolling along the lush boulevard, you can see many monuments and buildings from the Soviet era, as well as a military museum (free) where you can browse military relics from different periods in Kazakhstan, and a musical instrument museum (1,500 tenge/person), displaying multiple Kazakh musical instruments.

Meals: Breakfast