Day Tours from Almaty: All 18 Trips in One Place
Every tour we run, from a three-hour cable car ride above the city to a fourteen-hour desert crossing. Hotel pickup, a local guide in English, Russian or Turkish, and a vehicle matched to the road. Group departures daily from two people; private tours any day of the year.
Ask us what fits your dates Request a quote by email- Rated 5.0 on Google (38 reviews)
- Local operator based in Almaty, not a reseller
- Hotel pickup included on every tour
- Change or cancel up to 72 hours before departure
Almaty is one of the few big cities where a glacier, a red sandstone canyon, a sunken forest and a Soviet-era market are all within a day's drive. Most of our guests base themselves in the city for three to seven nights and go out on a different trip each day. The pages below are the full list, grouped by what you will actually see.
Canyons and desert
East of Almaty, along the Charyn River and out towards the Ili valley. Long drives, big landscapes, almost no crowds outside the main Charyn viewpoint.
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Charyn Canyon TourThe Valley of Castles and the walk down to the river. -
3 Canyons TourCharyn, Black Canyon and Moon Canyon in one long day. -
Black Canyon TourDark volcanic cliffs above the river, and hardly anyone there. -
Altyn Emel National ParkThe Singing Dune and the striped Aktau hills.
Mountain lakes
Turquoise water at altitude, reached by mountain road and, for Kaindy, by 4x4. The most photographed part of the region.
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Kolsai LakesAlpine lakes in the Tian Shan, often paired with Kaindy. -
Kaindy LakeThe sunken spruce forest, reached by 4x4. -
Issyk LakeThe lake that vanished in 1963, plus the Golden Man museum. -
Big Almaty LakeThe closest mountain lake to the city, at 2,511 m.
Mountains, forest and snow
The Trans-Ili Alatau range starts where the city ends. These are the shortest drives of all, and the easiest to fit around a flight.
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Shymbulak Ski ResortGondola to 3,200 m; skiing in winter, hiking in summer. -
MedeoThe world's highest Olympic ice rink and the mudflow dam. -
Ile-Alatau National ParkForest trails, waterfalls and viewpoints over the valley. -
Turgen GorgeA chain of waterfalls in a deep forested valley. -
Alma Arasan Hot SpringsThermal water in a mountain gorge, good in any season.
City and culture
Short trips inside Almaty. These are what most guests do on their first or last day, and they combine easily with each other.
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Almaty City TourPanfilov Park, the Green Bazaar, Republic Square and Kok Tobe. -
Kok TobeCable car to the best panorama of the city. -
Green BazaarThe city's oldest market, with tastings as you walk. -
Central State MuseumFour halls of Kazakh history, including the Golden Man.
Adventure
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Tandem ParaglidingA flight over the foothills with a certified pilot.
Choose by how much time you have
| If you have | These tours fit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Half a day 3–6 hours | Kok Tobe · Medeo · Green Bazaar · Central State Museum · Big Almaty Lake · Shymbulak · Alma Arasan · Paragliding | All inside or just above the city. Two of these fit in one day. |
| A full day 8–10 hours | Almaty City Tour · Charyn Canyon · Black Canyon · Issyk Lake · Turgen Gorge · Ile-Alatau | Pickup around 09:00, back at your hotel in the early evening. |
| A long day 10–14 hours | 3 Canyons · Kolsai Lakes · Kaindy Lake · Altyn Emel | Early start, long drive each way. Worth it, but not for the day you fly out. |
Exact timings are on each tour page and shift a little with the season and the traffic out of the city.
How to combine them
Most people ask us the same question: what should I do with the days I have? These are the combinations that work best in practice.
Two days in Almaty
Day one: the city tour with Kok Tobe and the Green Bazaar. Day two: Charyn Canyon.
City first, then the big landscape. The order matters — the canyon means more once you have the context.
Three days
Add Big Almaty Lake or, in winter, Shymbulak and Medeo together.
Five days
City tour, Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, Altyn Emel, and a half day left free for the museum or the bazaar.
Kolsai and Kaindy can also be done as an overnight trip with a stay in Saty village — less driving, more time at the lakes. Ask us if that suits you better.
A week or more
We build the route around you, including trips beyond the Almaty region. See our 3, 5 and 7-day packages or send your dates for a custom plan.
What every tour includes
Always included
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or apartment in Almaty
- Air-conditioned vehicle: sedan, VIP car, minivan or 4x4, chosen for the road and the group
- Local guide speaking English, Russian or Turkish
- Bottled water
- National park and entrance fees where they apply
Group or private
Group tours run daily with a minimum of two travellers, at a fixed departure time and a lower price per person. No deposit in most cases.
Private tours run any day, at any hour, with your own guide and vehicle. You can change the route, add stops or start at sunrise.
Prices depend on the date, the group size and the vehicle, so we quote each request individually. Send us your dates and you will have an answer the same day.
Best time of year
| Season | What it is good for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| April – May | Canyons, city, waterfalls at full flow | Green steppe, mild days. Some high mountain roads still closed. |
| June – August | All mountain lakes, Kolsai, Kaindy, hiking | Every road open. Hot at midday in the canyons and at Altyn Emel. |
| September – October | Everything, and the best light of the year | Our favourite window. Clear air, autumn colour, fewer people. |
| November – March | Shymbulak, Medeo, Kok Tobe, city and museums | Snow in the mountains. Canyons still open and dramatic; lakes at altitude are harder to reach. |
Frequently asked questions
Which day trip from Almaty should I do if I only have one?
Charyn Canyon, without much hesitation. It is the landscape people come to Kazakhstan for, and it works as a full day with time for a proper walk. If you would rather stay close to the city, Big Almaty Lake gives you high mountains in half the driving time.
Do you run tours every day?
Group tours depart daily with a minimum of two travellers. Private tours run any day of the year, including public holidays. The Central State Museum is the one exception — it closes on Tuesdays.
Can I do two tours in one day?
Yes, if both are half-day trips. Kok Tobe with the Green Bazaar, or Medeo with Shymbulak, are the usual pairs and we build them as a single private day. A full-day or long-day tour fills the day on its own.
How much do the tours cost?
We do not publish fixed prices because the cost changes with the date, the number of travellers and the vehicle a route needs. Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp and we reply with an exact price, usually within a couple of hours.
Are the tours suitable for children and older travellers?
Most of them are. The city tours, Kok Tobe, Medeo, the museum and the Green Bazaar involve only light walking. Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy involve more walking and rougher ground; tell us who is in your group and we will say honestly what will and will not work.
Do you pick up from the airport or from outside Almaty?
Yes. Hotel and apartment pickup anywhere in Almaty is included. Airport pickup, and pickup from Kapchagay or other nearby towns, can be arranged — mention it when you write to us.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
Most tours run in any weather and we adjust the stops. If a mountain road closes or conditions make a viewpoint pointless, we tell you in advance and you can move to another date, switch to a different tour, or take a full refund.
How do I book and what is the cancellation policy?
Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp or through the contact form; we confirm within 24 hours. Group tours usually need no deposit and can be changed up to 24 hours before. Private tours are confirmed with a deposit and can be changed or cancelled up to 72 hours before departure.
Tell us your dates and we will build the plan
Send how many days you have and what you would like to see. We reply with a suggested route and an exact price the same day.
WhatsApp +7 707 717 71 01 info@almatytourkz.comAlmaty Tour KZ · 22 Zenkov Street, Medeu District, Almaty · Local tour operator
Get your price for this tour today
Tell us your dates and group size. We come back with availability and an exact price — usually within a couple of hours.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- Answer within 24 hours
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours
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