Two-Day Tours from Almaty

Two-day tours from Almaty are ready-made routes to the Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon, BAO, and Turgen Gorge with overnight stays in tents or guesthouses. toor organizes hiking, jeep, and horse tours with transfers, meals, equipment, and a certified guide. Groups of up to 8 people, season May–October.

Which two-day tour from Almaty to choose based on your level

The main question for a beginner is “Can I handle it?” Let’s break down which routes are suitable without experience and which require preparation, and how to assess your level before the trip.

Two-day tours from Almaty by toor are designed so that a beginner can manage without training, while an experienced traveler gets a suitable challenge.

Which routes are suitable for beginners with no hiking experience

For beginners with no hiking experience, we recommend a two-day tour to the Kolsai Lakes with an overnight stay in a guesthouse — a distance of 8-10 km per day, an elevation gain of about 400 m, and a warm overnight stay at +15-18°C. The route passes three lakes at altitudes from 1800 to 2800 m, and you can drive to the second lake by car, while the third level is just 2 km on foot one way. The program often includes the neighboring Charyn Canyon, up to 300 m deep, where you walk along the flat canyon floor without serious elevation gain. For a beginner, the distance is less important than the option to get into a support vehicle if tired — in combined tours, part of the route can be covered by jeep, saving energy for scenic sections.

Medium-difficulty routes for prepared tourists

For those who have already been on hikes, we offer the Big Almaty Lake — Turgen Gorge route with an elevation gain of up to 700 m per day and an overnight stay in a tent at temperatures as low as +5°C. The first day includes an ascent to BAO at 2511 m (10-12 km), the second day a pass crossing to the Turgen waterfalls and a descent to hot springs. The backpack with personal items weighs 5-8 kg; tents and stoves are provided at the start; the group size is up to 8 people with a certified emergency rescue guide. The main difference for experienced hikers is the tent overnight instead of a cabin: this gives full immersion in the mountains but requires a sleeping bag rated to 0°C.

How to assess your physical fitness before the hike

For a medium-difficulty hike, it is enough to walk 5 km without shortness of breath and climb to the 10th floor without stopping — this corresponds to a load of 8-12 km per day with a 5-8 kg backpack. Local routes feature an elevation gain of 400-700 m per day, which is comparable to climbing 30-50 floors but spread over 4-5 hours of walking with photo breaks. If you are unsure of your fitness, choose a route with the option to shorten the distance — jeep tours in UAZ or Land Cruiser allow you to cover difficult sections by car and only walk the scenic parts along the gorges.

Comparison of hiking, jeep, and horse two-day tours

Hiking, jeep tour, or horseback riding — two-day excursions from Almaty by toor, each format has its advantages. Let’s compare them by key parameters so you can choose according to your travel style.

Comparison of hiking, jeep, and horse tours: parameter table

A jeep tour allows you to see more locations in two days but offers less physical activity — choose it if you want to cover both Kolsai and Charyn in one weekend.

Hiking tour — for whom and why

Two-day hiking tours from Almaty by toor are routes along the Kolsai Lakes or BAO with full immersion in nature: you walk the trails, sleep in a tent, and cover every kilometer yourself. The elevation gain of 400–700 m per day over a distance of 8–12 km provides a noticeable cardio workout — your heart rate stays at 120–140 bpm, and viewpoints open only after the final climb. The group size is up to 8 people, the guide with an emergency rescue certificate brings up the rear, and insurance is included. This format offers maximum contact with the mountains but requires readiness for an overnight stay at +5°C — we provide sleeping bags and tents, but personal thermal clothing is mandatory.

Jeep tour — comfort and panoramas

Two-day jeep tours from Almaty by toor in UAZ or Land Cruiser allow you to see both Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes in two days — the most photogenic locations without strenuous hikes. The vehicle covers up to 60 km per day along mountain serpentines and steppe roads, and elevation gains of up to 300 meters happen inside the cabin — you simply step out at viewpoints that would take 3–4 hours to reach on foot. The route includes lunch stops by the river and an overnight stay in a guesthouse with hot showers. By jeep, you reach viewpoints that would take 3–4 hours to hike — this is the ideal format for those who want maximum views with minimal effort.

Horse tour — connection with nature

Horseback two-day tours with us take place in the foothills of the Ile-Alatau National Park with an instructor — a route of 10–15 km per day, suitable for beginners with basic skills. The local horses are accustomed to mountain trails and walk or trot; the elevation gain of 300–500 m is evenly distributed without steep climbs. The group size is up to 6 riders, and the instructor adjusts posture and monitors pace on descents. Horse rental is paid separately, but we provide riding equipment (helmet, saddle) — no need to buy anything extra.

Best routes for two-day hikes: BAO, Kolsai, Charyn, Turgen

Four main routes for two-day hikes from Almaty — each with its own character. Let’s break down what you’ll see, how far you’ll walk, and where you’ll stay overnight.

Kolsai Lakes — three lakes at an altitude of 1800–2800 m

The route with us to the Kolsai Lakes is the most popular two-day tour: you’ll see three high-altitude lakes, walk 8-10 km per day with an elevation gain of 500 m, and spend the night in a guesthouse or tent by the second lake. The trail runs along the shores: from the first lake (1800 m) through the forest to the second (2200 m) with views of the Kungey Alatau ridge, then a climb to the third (2800 m) through alpine meadows with edelweiss in June. Groups depart at 7:00 AM and reach the first lake by lunchtime. In cabins with wood heating, the indoor temperature is +15°C when it’s +5°C outside; the equipped campsite has a toilet and shelter. Kolsai is an ideal first hike: the trail is marked, the elevation gain is gradual, and there are cabins at the second lake if you don’t want to pitch a tent.

Charyn Canyon — depth up to 300 m, length 154 km

The tour with us to Charyn Canyon includes a descent to the bottom (depth up to 300 m), a walk through the Valley of Castles, and an overnight stay with views of the cliffs — a total distance of about 10 km over two days. The route starts at the viewpoint, from where a serpentine road leads to the bottom through red-orange rocks aged 12 million years — “Kapchagai sandstone.” You walk 4 km along the Valley of Castles to the camp: in July, shade appears only after 4:00 PM, and the canyon walls rise 150-200 m. Overnight in tents at a site with a shelter and portable toilet. Charyn is the hottest route: daytime temperatures are 5-7°C higher than in the city, so bring light clothing and 2 liters of water per person.

Big Almaty Lake (BAO) — altitude 2511 m

Two-day tour Almaty nature — the toor route to BAO with an overnight stay at 2500 m, an elevation gain of 700 m per day, and a distance of 10-12 km — for those who want to challenge themselves with high altitude. The trail starts from the last bus stop (1800 m), goes through coniferous forest with views of Sovetov Peak (4317 m), then opens onto a slope leading to the dam — the turquoise water becomes visible within an hour. The group climbs to the camp on the eastern shore, tents are set up at 2511 m — at night you can hear the glaciers cracking. BAO is the coldest: temperatures drop to +2°C even in July, so a sleeping bag rated to 0°C is mandatory — we provide such bags.

Turgen Gorge — waterfalls and hot springs

The tour with us to Turgen Gorge features waterfalls up to 30 m high, a walk through the gorge, and an evening soak in hot springs, with a distance of 8-10 km per day. The route starts at the Medvezhy (Bear) Waterfall (28 m) — the most powerful in the gorge — then goes higher to the Devichy Slyozy (Maiden’s Tears) Waterfall (15 m) through aspen forest with raspberry thickets in August. After lunch, descend to the Arasan hot springs: three pools at +38–40°C, sulfate-calcium water without the smell of hydrogen sulfide. Overnight in a guesthouse with beds and a shower — the only route without a tent. Turgen is the only option where you can relax in thermal water after a day of hiking; the springs are open year-round.

What to bring on a two-day tour: complete gear checklist

Overnight in the mountains at +5°C is no problem if you pack properly. The checklist is divided into provided gear and personal items.

What toor provides: tent, sleeping bag, mat, stove, dishes

The cost of the toor tour includes a full set of equipment: a trekking tent, a sleeping bag rated to 0°C, a foam or inflatable mat, a gas stove, and camping dishes (cup, bowl, spoon). The tents are double-layer, like Naturehike Cloud Up, capable of withstanding winds up to 20 m/s at open campsites near BAO at 2500 m. The sleeping bags are synthetic, not down: they retain heat even when damp from morning condensation, while down requires 4-6 hours to dry after a wet night. Our sleeping bags are rated to 0°C, but if you tend to get cold, bring an extra fleece liner or thermal underwear — this adds 5-7°C of warmth.

What to bring yourself: clothing and footwear for the hike

• Trekking boots: high ankle support stabilizes the ankle on rocky trails of Charyn and scree of Kolsai — sneakers won’t work; a sprain on a descent with a 10-12 kg backpack is guaranteed.
• Thermal underwear: synthetic or merino wool, worn under fleece at camp and at night — cotton absorbs sweat and at +5°C draws heat from the body in 20 minutes.
• Fleece jacket: density 150-200 g/m², works as a mid-layer for walking in wind and as an outer layer at rest stops — a down jacket gets wet from rain and sweat in an hour.
• Waterproof jacket: membrane or rain poncho — summer mountain showers start in 10 minutes; wet clothes at +5°C lead to hypothermia in 40 minutes.
• Trekking pants: quick-drying synthetic with wind protection — jeans after rain weigh twice as much and take a day to dry.
• Warm socks (2 pairs): one for walking, one dry for sleeping (wool or fleece) — wet feet in a sleeping bag guarantee a sleepless night and risk of frostbite even at 0°C.

Personal items and first aid kit: what to put in your backpack

• Headlamp: mandatory even in June — it gets dark in the mountains at 8:30 PM; without light, you can’t set up a tent or find firewood; spare batteries are a must.
• Sunglasses and SPF 50+ sunscreen: at altitudes above 2000 m, UV is 30% more intense than in the city — corneal burns are possible after an hour of walking on open terrain.
• Lip balm: in wind and sun, lips crack within half a day, especially at BAO near the water where the wind blows constantly.
• Personal first aid kit: blister plasters (blisters form in the first 5 km), painkiller (ibuprofen 400 mg), antihistamine (cetirizine) — unfamiliar plants bloom in the mountains, and a reaction is possible even without allergies in the city.
• Earplugs: in a tent camp, snoring or stream noise reduces sleep depth — earplugs add 1-2 hours of quality rest when waking up early at 6:30 AM.

Meals on the hike: what we cook and how it’s organized

In toor tours, meals are included: lunch on the first day, dinner, breakfast and lunch on the second day — hot meals cooked on a stove, plus snacks (nuts, bars, tea, coffee). Lunch is usually soup or buckwheat with stew, dinner is pasta with meat sauce, breakfast is porridge or sandwiches with tea; water is boiled from streams with mandatory disinfection using chlorine tablets — guides check the water source a day before the hike. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, inform the guide 2 days before the tour: we can replace products, but the standard menu is not vegetarian (meat dishes are included).

Seasonality of two-day tours: when to go and what to expect by month

Two-day tours Almaty 2026 — the season for trips from Almaty is May–October, but weather and trail traffic vary greatly by month. Let’s break down the monthly picture and booking logistics.

Seasonality by month: weather, traffic, available routes

July and August are peak season: groups fill up in 2-3 days; book at least a week in advance, especially for Kolsai and Charyn.

When is the best time to go on specific routes

For the Kolsai Lakes, the best time is June–September — all three lakes are open, trails are dry, and water warms up to +12°C. Charyn Canyon is most comfortable in May or September with daytime temperatures of +20-25°C, whereas in July the canyon floor reaches +35°C even in the shade. BAO is best planned for July–August: in May, there is snow on the approaches, and in October, nighttime frosts down to -5°C block the road. Turgen Gorge is the most flexible route: waterfalls are full-flowing from May to October, and hot springs work in any weather. With us, September bookings for Kolsai sell out in 3-4 days, although traffic is already lower than peak.

What to do if the weather turns bad during the hike

If the weather worsens, the guide makes one of three decisions: wait out the rain in a shelter (tent or rock overhang), shorten the route to 6-8 km instead of the planned 12, or evacuate by vehicle — all routes are within cellular coverage or near dirt roads where a UAZ can pass. In jeep tours, the vehicle is always with the group, so weather changes are not critical — just drive out of the canyon uphill. In our tours, there is always a backup plan: if a downpour catches you on the trail, the guide turns the group towards the nearest guesthouse or calls for transport — no extra charge.

Safety in the mountains: rules, insurance, and guide actions

The fear of a cold night and lack of communication is the main barrier for beginners. Let’s look at how safety is ensured on two-day tours from Almaty and why tent camping is safe.

Guide certification: Emergency Rescue Service and first aid

All toor guides have Emergency Rescue Service (MChS) certificates in mountain training and first aid training — this is a mandatory requirement, not an option; each guide undergoes annual certification. Certification includes a practical exam on evacuating a casualty from a steep slope, a test on symptoms of altitude sickness (pulmonary edema, cerebral edema), and skills in applying splints and tourniquets for fractures. On the trail, the guide carries a first aid kit equipped for scenarios encountered in the Almaty mountains: hypothermia, snake bites (blunt-nosed viper, Levantine viper), food poisoning. MChS certification means the guide knows how to act in cases of altitude sickness, fractures, hypothermia, and snake bites — the first aid kit is stocked for these scenarios.

Accident insurance: what it covers

Accident insurance is included in the cost of every toor tour — it covers injuries, animal bites, poisoning, and evacuation from the route up to 500,000 KZT. The policy lists specific risks: fractures, dislocations, burns, frostbite, snake and insect bites, acute allergic reactions. Evacuation covers transportation of the injured person from the route to the nearest medical facility or city hospital — by SUV, and if necessary, by air ambulance helicopter. Insurance is valid only on the route and during tour hours — if you decide to stay in the mountains independently after the tour, it does not cover that period.

Mountain safety rules: what is prohibited and why

• Leaving the group without notifying the guide: in the mountains, it’s easy to lose your bearings within 50 meters due to fog or terrain, and searching in twilight takes hours.
• Building campfires outside designated areas: in dry grass, a spark from a fire instantly causes a ground fire; the fine for violation is up to 200 MRP (monthly calculation index).
• Leaving food in the tent: the smell attracts bears and wild boars — all food is stored in a dry bag and hung on a tree 50 meters from the camp.
• Drinking water from streams without treatment: even a clean-looking mountain stream may contain bacteria and parasite eggs — the guide boils water or provides purification tablets.
• Camping in a tent is safer than it seems: the tent protects from wind and precipitation, and the guide chooses a campsite away from cliffs, dead trees, and potential mudflow paths.

Guide actions in an emergency: algorithm

In an emergency, the toor guide follows an algorithm: assess the casualty’s condition, provide first aid, contact the base (satellite phone), and if necessary, evacuate to the nearest aid station or call a helicopter. On each tour, the guide records the GPS coordinates of the emergency point, transmits them to the base, and stays with the group until help arrives — according to MChS instructions, they are not allowed to leave a casualty alone. On jeep tours, the route runs along roads, so evacuation takes 30–60 minutes; on hiking routes far from roads, it takes 2–4 hours. All routes have areas of cellular coverage at altitude — the guide knows where the signal is available and informs the group of the emergency communication plan at the start of the tour.

Prices for two-day tours from Almaty: what’s included and how to save

Let’s break down the cost of weekend tours from Almaty, what’s included in the basic package, and how you can save without compromising quality.

Cost of toor two-day tours: from 45,000 to 120,000 KZT

What is not included in the price and what you need to pay separately

• Personal drinks and souvenirs: energy drinks, chocolate, extra drinking water beyond what is provided, magnets and ceramics at stops — you pay for these yourself.
• Trekking pole rental: 500 KZT per day if you don’t bring your own — on descents with 400-700 m elevation gain, the load on knees without poles increases by 30%.
• Warm jacket rental: 1000 KZT per day for those without a windproof jacket — at night by the tent at +5°C, it’s cold even in a sleeping bag without it.

How to save on a two-day tour: 3 ways

• Group booking of 4 or more people: 10% discount for each participant — with a tour price of 55,000 KZT, the saving is 5,500 KZT per person.
• Choose a hiking tour instead of a horse tour: the difference between a hiking trip to BAO (55,000 KZT) and a horse tour to Turgen Gorge (120,000 KZT) can be as much as 65,000 KZT for similar duration and elevation gain.
• Early booking 2 weeks in advance: fix the price without seasonal increases — in July–August, the cost of trips on popular dates can rise by 10-15%, and early purchase protects against this spike.

Conclusion

A two-day tour from Almaty is the optimal format to see the mountains without rush and with comfort. Here are the main points to remember before purchasing.

Key takeaways

• Choose a route according to your level: for beginners — a hiking trip to Kok-Zhaylyau with an overnight stay in a guesthouse; for experienced hikers — a horse tour to Turgen Gorge with a tent.
• Pack your backpack according to the checklist: a warm fleece jacket, waterproof raincoat, headlamp, and hiking first aid kit are the bare minimum for comfort at +5°C at night.
• Don’t be afraid of tent camping: modern three-season sleeping bags and foam mats available for rent from guides make sleeping in the mountains safe and warm even in rain.
• Plan your budget in advance: the tour cost usually includes transfer, meals, and basic gear rental — only personal expenses and rental of binoculars or trekking poles are paid separately.
• Book 2-3 weeks in advance: early booking and group discounts for 4 or more people can save you up to 10-15% of the full price.