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 first take you to the Almaty Museum to learn about the development process of Almaty by viewing its exhibits, such as ancient manuscripts, weapons, and traditional customs. Besides, the holograms of rare artifacts and videos recorded during the Soviet era will provide a more immersive visiting experience. Then, take a leisure walk in the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and drop by at the majestic statue of the 28 soldiers who fell in the war to safeguard Moscow from the Nazis. At the center of the park stands the 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.

Afterward, let’s dive into 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.Leaving the bazaar, the driver guide will escort you to the Medeu Gorge, 15 km (9.5 mi) away from the city center, a summer resort for locals and tourists. Jump onto a cable car, and you’ll be intrigued by the dense fir forests-covered valley and the snow-topped Heavenly Mountains in the distance. As you ascend, the panoramic view of the gorge and the Shymbulak Ski Resort Area, one of the world’s highest skiing rinks, will unfold. Getting out of the cable car, you can explore around freely to breathe the fresh mountain air.

Then, drive back to the Kok-Tobe Hill located at the city edge 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. At the end of the day, the driver guide will transfer you back to the hotel. 

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, head to the 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.
► 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.

At dusk, the driver guide will send you back to the hotel in Basshi Village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Basshi Hotel

After breakfast, we will drive to Altyn Emel National Park again to explore the Aktau Mountains. Despite its name meaning the “white mountains”, the mountain features rock layers that transition from dark brown at the base to light grey on the summit, bringing you a feeling of being in the scene of a fantasy film. It is said that where the mountain stands was once a vast lake, so you can trace the evolution from the original land island to the desert mountain range with endemic species, highly praised by geologists and paleontologists. 

Leaving Altyn Emel, we’ll return to Basshi Village for lunch, and then head for 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’ll 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

Set off from the Saty Village in the morning, and we will drive to the Kolsai Lakes, famed as the Pearl of Northern Heaven Mountains with its crystal-clear and turquoise waters reflecting the snow-capped mountains and fir forests. We will focus on the Lower Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 1,800 meters (5,905 feet), where you can hike along the shore to encounter squirrels, shrubs, and flowers in the forest, such as various roses, cotoneasters with red berries, honeysuckle, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, and wild strawberries.

► More Information for You:
For adventurers, we can arrange a one-day mountain hike between the Lower and Middle Kolsai Lakes. The 14-km (9-mi) round trip takes merely 6 hours. 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). From the shore, you can see the peaks of the Ala-Tau Mountains. Have a boxed lunch here with the enchanting lake views, and return by the same way. If your physical strength is limited, you can rent a horse up the mountain, experiencing being a nomad. Horse renting is available from April to October, with a two-way fee of $30-40 per person.

Then, we will continue to 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.”

Finally, you’ll be escorted back to the guest house in Saty Village. 

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

Do you remember Charyn Canyon National Park, which we visited before? Today’s destination 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