Tours and excursions from Almaty and across Kazakhstan — with local guides

Tours and excursions from Almaty — туристы с местным гидом
Almaty tours
Mountains, turquoise lakes and canyons of Almaty — with a local guide and a fair price per person with no extra charges.
0 ₸ prepayment
Free cancellation
Rating 4.9 ★
1300+ Tourist Reviews
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Popular

Popular Tours from Almaty

Choose by direction, duration, and season — the price is per person

Why choose our tours from Almaty

Local guides, fixed price per person, and care on every route. — everything for a relaxing vacation.

Local guides, not just drivers

Routes led by licensed guides from Almaty with 6–15 years of experience. They share the history of each place, not just drive you there.

Price per person — fixed upfront

We lock in the cost before departure: transport, national park entrance fees, and guiding are all included. No extra charges on the spot.

Small groups up to 14 people

We travel in comfortable minibuses with air conditioning. Plenty of room, time for photos, and personal attention from the guide.

We depart as planned in any weather

We know the pass schedules and have backup spots. If a pass is closed, we offer an alternative in advance, not cancel on the day.

Operating since 2014

Over 150 successful departures each season and thousands of happy travelers from Kazakhstan and abroad.

Care on the trail

First aid kit, hot tea with baursaks at rest stops, and help with photos. All you need to do is enjoy the views.

How it works

How to book a tour from Almaty — 6 steps

Step 1

Request via WhatsApp

Send us your preferred destination and dates — no forms, registrations, or calls. The guide is available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and responds within minutes: they'll advise on the best places to visit this season and which routes are currently open.

Request via WhatsApp — tour booking stage from Almaty
Step 2

Route and price selection

We'll find a tour that fits your group and budget, sending a detailed hourly itinerary and the exact price per person. We'll clearly state what's included — transport, national park entry fees, guide accompaniment, and meals — so there are no hidden costs.

Route and price selection — tour booking stage from Almaty
Step 3

Booking and prepayment

We secure your dates and spots after a 20–30% deposit — easily via Kaspi, card, or cash at our office. In return, we send booking confirmation, guide contacts, and a detailed packing list.

Booking and prepayment — tour booking stage from Almaty
Step 4

Preparation for departure

A day before the tour, we remind you of the meeting time and point, check the weather forecast, and adjust the route if needed. We help you get ready: advise on clothing, footwear, and gear, and provide some equipment on-site.

Preparation for departure — tour booking stage from Almaty
Step 5

Tour day — heading to the mountains

In the morning, we pick you up from central Almaty in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. The guide accompanies you throughout the trip, sharing local history, stopping for photos, and ensuring the group relaxes without getting too tired.

Tour day — heading to the mountains — tour booking stage from Almaty
Step 6

Return and post-trip care

We bring you back to the city in the evening. After the trip, we share group photos, and for reviews and referrals, we offer a discount on your next tour — that's why most travelers return to us.

Return and post-trip care — tour booking stage from Almaty

Team

Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty

Routes are led by practicing guides and instructors. These same people respond in. WhatsApp and accompany groups on the tour.

Aidos Serikov — Senior guide, mountain routes4.9

Aidos Serikov

Senior guide, mountain routes

187 reviews · experience 14 years

Dinara Kassymova — Guide-lecturer in Almaty5

Dinara Kassymova

Guide-lecturer in Almaty

142 review · experience 11 years

Marat Zhunussov — Trekking instructor4.8

Marat Zhunussov

Trekking instructor

96 reviews · experience 9 years

Oleg Kim — Driver-guide, jeep tours4.9

Oleg Kim

Driver-guide, jeep tours

164 review · experience 13 years

Zhanna Abenova — Tour manager4.8

Zhanna Abenova

Tour manager

78 reviews · experience 7 years

Timur Beketov — Multi-day tour guide4.9

Timur Beketov

Multi-day tour guide

118 reviews · experience 10 years

Aliya Nurlan — Group coordinator5

Aliya Nurlan

Group coordinator

64 review · experience 6 years

Sergey Volkov — Instructor, ski tours4.8

Sergey Volkov

Instructor, ski tours

103 review · experience 12 years

Useful

Tours from Almaty 2026: prices, seasons, how to choose

AS
Author: Aidos Serikov
Senior Mountain Route Guide, 'Alatau Tour'
Published: Updated: 12 min read

Why You Should Book Tours from Almaty in 2026

Almaty — the Perfect Starting Point for Traveling Across Kazakhstan

We at Alatau Tour have been operating since 2014 and we know: Almaty is the gateway to unique natural attractions. In just 1–2 hours, you can find yourself in the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau, on the shores of the Kapchagay Reservoir, or in the desert canyons of Charyn. Over the years, we’ve seen that tours from Almaty let you see the most in a short vacation. For example, in one day you can visit Charyn Canyon and be back in the city for dinner.

Why 2026 Is a Great Time to Travel

In 2026, new hotels are opening in Almaty, the ski infrastructure at Shymbulak is expanding, and prices for tours from Almaty remain affordable. At Alatau Tour, we design routes so you can catch the tulip bloom in spring, mountain trekking in summer, and skiing in winter. Excursion prices start from 6,900 tenge for a city tour — cheaper than renting a car for a day.

How to Choose a Tour from Almaty by Season

ParameterNearby destinations (1.5–3 hours)Remote destinations (flight/train)
ExamplesCharyn, BAO, Kok-Zhaylyau, MedeuTurkestan, Mangystau, Altai, Baikonur
Tour duration1 day (5–12 hours)3–5 days
What to seeCanyons, lakes, mountains, cable carAncient cities, chalk canyons, cosmodrome
Price from8,900 KZT/person120,000 KZT/person
Preparation neededNo, suitable for beginnersYes, physical endurance

Spring Tours from Almaty (March–May)

In spring, nature awakens, and the best option is to head to gorges with waterfalls. We recommend the Kok-Zhaylau tour (8,900 tenge) — there it’s already green in April, with snow still on the peaks. Or Charyn Canyon (14,900 tenge): no heat in May, perfect for walking through the Valley of Castles. In my opinion, spring is the most photogenic time: the contrast of greenery and rocks.

Summer Tours from Almaty (June–August)

In summer, the top hit is trips to high-mountain lakes. The one-day tour from Alatau Tour to Kolsay (21,900 tenge) lets you swim in turquoise water and breathe mountain air. If you have two days, take Kolsay+Kaindy (39,900 tenge) — overnight at a base and a walk through the submerged forest. For thrill-seekers, there’s BAO by jeep (24,900 tenge): a road with elevation changes and a picnic by the dam.

Prices for Tours from Almaty 2026: Full Price List

DestinationDurationPrice from (KZT/person)Tour type
Kok-Zhaylyau trekking6 hours8,900Hiking, group
Medeu and Shymbulak (cable car)5 hours9,900Group, bus
Big Almaty Lake (BAO)6–7 hours11,900Group, bus
Charyn Canyon (Valley of Castles)12 hours14,900Group, bus
Sunken forest of Lake Kaindy14 hours23,900Group, bus
BAO + space station by jeep8 hours24,900Individual, jeep
Borovoe (Burabay) + deer farm14 hours28,000Group, bus
Charyn by jeep individually12 hours28,700Individual, jeep
Assy Plateau and Turgen Waterfall8–11 hours34,695Group, bus
DestinationDurationPrice from (KZT/person)What’s included
Kolsai Lakes + Kaindy2 days / 1 night39,900Transfer, guide, accommodation, meals, tickets
Jeep tour Altyn-Emel (Singing Dune)3 days / 2 nights54,900Transfer, guide, jeep, accommodation, meals
Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) by bus4 days / 3 nights64,900Transfer, guide, accommodation, meals
Lake Alakol (therapeutic beaches)5 days / 4 nights72,900Transfer, guide, accommodation, meals
Bektau-Ata (Balkhash region)3 days119,900Transfer, guide, accommodation, meals
Golden Ring of Turkestan3 days / 2 nights120,000Flight, guide, accommodation, meals, tickets
Baikonur: cosmodrome and museum3 days / 2 nights180,000Flight, guide, accommodation, meals, tickets
Altai: Bukhtarma and Sibin lakes5 days / 4 nights180,000Flight, guide, accommodation, meals
Mangystau: Caspian and chalk canyons5 days / 4 nights185,000Flight, guide, accommodation, meals

One-Day Excursions from Almaty

  • Sightseeing Tour of Almaty — 6,900 tenge per person. Includes the center, Panfilov Park, Green Bazaar.
  • Medeu and Shymbulak — 9,900 tenge. Cable car ride, views of the glacier.
  • Kok-Zhaylau — 8,900 tenge. Trekking on the plateau, lunch in nature.
  • Big Almaty Lake (BAO) — 11,900 tenge. Turquoise lake in the mountains.
  • Charyn Canyon — 14,900 tenge. Valley of Castles, picnic.
  • Kolsay Lakes in 1 day — 21,900 tenge.
  • Kolsay + Kaindy (2 days) — 39,900 tenge.
  • BAO by jeep — 24,900 tenge.

Multi-Day Tours from Almaty

  • Alakol — 72,900 tenge (3 days, lake with pink flamingos, swimming).
  • Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) — 64,900 tenge (4 days, transfer, accommodation, excursions).

How We Organize Tours from Almaty: A Guide’s Experience

What’s Included in a Tour from Alatau Tour

Each tour includes transfer in a comfortable vehicle, guide-driver services, entrance tickets, insurance, and lunch (for one-day tours). The Alatau Tour guide is a local who knows every trail. In our experience, there have been cases where tourists wanted to change the route along the way — we always accommodate. For example, at Charyn you can stop at a viewpoint not listed in the program.

Safety and Comfort in the Mountains

We use only proven jeeps and minibuses with air conditioning. At Alatau Tour, we take groups of up to 10 people so everyone is comfortable. Before the trip, we check the weather and warn about the route’s difficulty. Over the years, we’ve never had a breakdown due to equipment — that’s our pride.

Tour from Almaty with a Guide or Independently: Which Is More Profitable

Advantages of a Guided Tour

With a guide, you don’t waste time finding the road, you’re not afraid of getting lost, and you get local tips. For example, at Kolsay the guide knows where to take the best photos without crowds. At Alatau Tour, we often hear from guests: ‘Without you, we wouldn’t have found this place.’ Saving time is the main bonus: in one day you can see 2–3 locations, whereas on your own you’d see one.

When an Independent Trip Is Justified

If you’re an experienced traveler with an SUV and want complete freedom, you can go on your own. But keep in mind: at BAO there’s often no signal, and the road to Kolsay requires a permit for the national park. In our experience, tourists who went on their own sometimes returned empty-handed due to a closed gate. A tour from Alatau Tour eliminates all these risks.

What to Remember Before Your Trip

Key Rules for Tourists in Almaty

We’ve covered the main points to make your trip comfortable. First, dress according to the weather: even in summer, it can be cold in the mountains, so bring a windbreaker. Second, drink plenty of water — altitude puts strain on the body. Third, respect nature: don’t leave trash, don’t pick flowers. And finally, book tours in advance, especially during the season (May–September), to guarantee a spot. Have a great trip!

Reviews

Tourist reviews of tours from Almaty

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
ДС
Даурен С.
Our website ·

Kolsay, Kaindy, Burabai? net tolko Kolsay. Ocher krasivo, no doroga dlinnaya. Mne ponravilos, rekomenduyu

Verified review · Order #10439
ГМ
Галина М.
Our website ·

Экскурсия на Charyn, виды Awesome.. Гид Динара показала необычные формы. Единственное — в каньоне ветер, одевайтесь теплее.

Verified review · Order #10432
АР
Александр Р.
Yandex ·

I really liked the tour to Altyn-Emel. The dunes, mountains, yurt. Aidos told legends. But it was cold in the yurt at night.

Verified review · Order #10425
АТ
Айнагуль Т.
Our website ·

We went to BAO, the water is blue. A wonderful vacation. Everything was good, only one drawback: there was little food.

Verified review · Order #10418
ВК
Владимир К.
Our website ·

Shymbulak, катались на лыжах. Трассы хорошие, канатка быстрая. Спасибо Олегу за советы. Минус — дорога от cityа долгая.

Verified review · Order #10411
ЗШ
Зарина Ш.
Google ·

Tour to the mountains, took the kids. Everything was fine, but the departure was at 7 am, the kids were cranky. But the views were excellent.

Verified review · Order #10404
МГ
Максим Г.
Yandex ·

Kolsay ozera — eto prosto kosmos. Voda lazorevaya, gory ogromnye. Gid TImur molodec, no my opazdyvali na avtobus

Verified review · Order #10397
ИВ
Ирина В.
Google ·

Excursion to Charyn Canyon. Beautiful, but dusty. The driver was cheerful. I recommend bringing water.

Verified review · Order #10390
АЖ
Айдос Ж.
2GIS ·

Altyn-Emel, a wonderful place. Rich in legends. Marat told a lot along the way, only it was hot.

Verified review · Order #10383
ЕП
Елена П.
Our website ·

Tour to BAO, liked it. The nature is beautiful. But they asked for warm clothes, and I didn't take any, I got cold. Aliya warned me, but I didn't listen.

Verified review · Order #10376
РА
Рахметолла А.
Our website ·

Kolsai zhane Kaindy, ozder ote korkem. Gid Bolat zhaksy, birak zhol tassady. Birak bagadarlama boldy.

Verified review · Order #10369
ДК
Динара К.
Google ·

Trip to Kolsay and Kaindy. The water is blue, ice on Kaindy. Dinara told us everything, but they promised a hot lunch and gave us dry rations.

Verified review · Order #10362
ТФ
Тимур Ф.
2GIS ·

Брали экскурсию на Charyn. Каньон шикарен. Оргаlowerция четкая, но в автобусе было тесновато. Жанна — профессионал.

Verified review · Order #10355
МС
Мария С.
Google ·

Tour to Shymbulak and Medeo. Everything was cool, but the cable car was crowded. Aidos helped with the queue, thank you.

Verified review · Order #10348
АБ
Аслан Б.
Google ·

We went to Altyn-Emel and saw the sand. We liked it very much. The guide Sergey told good legends. Only the road was long.

Verified review · Order #10341
НЗ
Наталья З.
Yandex ·

I really liked the tour to the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau. We took tons of photos. Oleg was a great guide, he knows the places.

Verified review · Order #10334
ЕТ
Ержан Т.
Yandex ·

Yehat na Charyn, kanon super. Gid Timur vse rasskazal, no vyzd zaderzhali. V itoge hotelos by bolshe vremeni

Verified review · Order #10327
АН
Алия Н.
Our website ·

Tour to BAO, excellent route. The water is turquoise, the forest is beautiful. Only the cable car was slow, we stood for 20 minutes.

Verified review · Order #10320
СВ
Сергей В.
Yandex ·

Поездка на Kolsai — восторг. Lakes как в сказке. Водитель был experienceный, но в дороге чуть не отстали от группы.

Verified review · Order #10313
ГА
Гульнар А.
Google ·

We were at Altyn-Emel, stayed overnight in a yurt. Starry sky, baursaks for breakfast. Organization was a 5, but breakfast was skimpy.

Verified review · Order #10306
ВШ
Виктор Ш.
Yandex ·

Tour to Shymbulak. We skied and took photos. The prices are steep, but the experience was super. Marat helped with equipment rental.

Verified review · Order #10299
АД
Асель Д.
Our website ·

Kolsay lakes are very beautiful, the mountains are interesting. Our guide was Zhanna, she told us a lot. The downside: the wind was blowing along the way.

Verified review · Order #10292
РП
Руслан П.
Google ·

We went to Charyn, the canyon is impressive. The organization was good, they fed us baursaks. Only the road was bumpy, I got motion sick.

Verified review · Order #10285
ОЛ
Ольга Л.
Yandex ·

I really liked the tour to BAO. The water is blue, the air is clean. Oleg's commentary was interesting, but we waited in line for the cable car for a long time.

Verified review · Order #10278

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    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about tours from Almaty

    We've gathered what tourists ask most often. Didn't find an answer. — write to us, the guide will tell you in a couple of minutes.

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    The price per person already includes transfer from the city and back, guide accompaniment, and entrance tickets to national parks. Meals and accommodation for multi-day tours are listed separately in the program.

    For sightseeing and day trips (Charyn, BAO, Medeu), no preparation is needed—anyone can handle it. For trekking at Kok-Zhaylau or Kolsai, basic stamina is required; most tourists without experience can manage the route.

    It is cooler in the mountains than in the city, so take a windbreaker and comfortable shoes even in summer. The guide will send a specific packing list for your tour via WhatsApp after booking.

    Yes, we take children with parents on sightseeing excursions and day trips. For mountain trekking, we recommend age 10 and up—we will suggest a suitable route.

    We monitor road and pass conditions in advance. If the departure is impossible as planned, we will offer an alternative direction on the same date or reschedule the booking without losing the prepayment.

    Write to us on WhatsApp—we will select a tour, send the program and price. The booking is confirmed after prepayment via Kaspi or card; the remaining amount is paid before departure.

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