★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
tours to Astana from Almaty · excursion
Tour to Borovoye from Almaty starting in Astana: in one day you will see the pearl of Kazakhstan. Visit a deer farm, relax on the beach and enjoy mountain views. The day's programme is included in the price.
Program
The group meets at 06:00, so arrive the day before and stay overnight in Astana. Tickets are not included in the tour price.
We meet in central Astana, board a comfortable bus, and head to Borovoye. Along the way, a short coffee break.
First stop — the observation deck on Mount Bolektau. It offers a panoramic view of Lake Borovoye and the surroundings.
We go to the deer farm, where we will see noble deer — marals. Learn about breeding and antler farming, and feed the animals.
Lunch at a national cuisine cafe (beshbarmak, kumis). Then free time on the sandy beach of Lake Borovoye — swimming, walks.
A walking tour to the shore overlooking the famous Zhumbaktas Rock ("Mysterious Stone"), which stands right in the lake. Photos against the backdrop of whimsical rocks and pine forest.
We board the bus and return to Astana. On the way, a stop at souvenir stalls.
Arrival in Astana. Drop-off at the meeting point. Farewell to the group.
What's included
Already included in the tour price
Optional, on site
To make the day comfortable
Team
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
★4.52Alexander Пашкин
Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу
★4.74Andrey Шевелёв
Driver-guide
★4.27Анжелика Чвыкова
Гид-фотограф
★4.27Ильяс Дарбеков
Гид-переводчик
★4.55Мадина Данина
Организатор туров
★4.49Сергей Бабичев
Personal guide-водитель
Reviews
Loved feeding the deer. Beautiful views, but the weather let us down.
We took this tour spontaneously, just wanted to get out of the city for a day. No regrets! First we climbed Bolektau mountain — from there a view of the lake opens up, just breathtaking. Then we went to the maral farm, the deer there are so beautiful, they allowed us to feed them. Lunch was tasty, home cooking. After lunch we swam at the beach, the water is cool but refreshing. We also managed to go to Zhumbaktas rock, the photos turned out magnificent. The guide organized everything clearly, no delays. We returned home tired but with a bunch of impressions. I recommend it!
We chose this tour to get away from the city. In one day we saw Borovoe and the marals. Very satisfied!
I spent a long time choosing between different options, and in the end settled on this one. Went with a colleague to take a break from work. Everything is included, comfortable. I especially liked the viewpoint on Bolektau mountain — the panorama of the lake is simply mesmerizing. No regrets!
Went with my brother for the weekend to unwind. Overall liked everything: mountains, lake, marals. But the bus is a bit old, it wasn't very comfortable on the road. Still, the views and animals made up for that downside.
Went with my friend for company, didn't expect it to be so cool. Borovoe is beautiful, the deer farm was nice, the deer are tame. I recommend it!
Went with colleagues for the weekend to unwind, I'm not usually a fan of bus tours, but this one worked. The road from Astana wasn't tiring — we stopped for coffee on the way. From Bolektau mountain there's a view of the lake, breathtaking! The marals at the farm are something else, so majestic, they let us feed them by hand. Lunch at the cafe was filling, I tried kumys. Then I swam at the beach, the water is invigorating. We walked to Zhumbaktas rock through the pine forest, the photos turned out great. On the way back we were tired but happy. The guide told us everything, organized without fuss. I recommend it if you want to see everything in one day.
Khoroshii tur, vse vkliucheno. No nemnogo ustavali v doroge.
Good tour, everything included. We waited a bit at Zhumbaktas rock, but the view from the mountain was worth it.
Went with my wife, she had long wanted to go to Borovoe, and I was skeptical. The result — not bad, but I expected more. I liked the viewpoint on Bolektau mountain, the view is magnificent. The maral farm is interesting, but there's too little time — I wanted to spend more time with the animals. Lunch was okay, beshbarmak tasty. Beach free time — could have been longer. We walked to Zhumbaktas rock, beautiful, but the crowd of tourists made it hard to take photos. We left for Astana on time, no delays. Overall, it's okay for a tick, but I won't go a second time.
Went with my husband, wanted to see Burabay. The tour is a 5! Burabay and marals are a great combination. Lunch was delicious, especially beshbarmak. Thanks to the organizers for their clear work!
My sister and I got together for the weekend, wanted to see Borovoe. Departure was a bit delayed, but then everything went smoothly: mountains, lake, deer at the farm — just super! I especially liked feeding the marals, they are so cute. Overall, a great trip despite the small hiccup.
I had long dreamed of seeing Burabay, and finally went with my daughter. I liked the maral farm most of all — the deer are so trusting, they ate from my hand. I also remember the walk to Zhumbaktas rock, the photos turned out great. The tour met expectations.
Went with friends, had a great time. Aleksandr told us everything about the marals.
We went with the whole family, the kids liked the deer. Ilyas told us a lot of interesting things about the marals.
Mom had long dreamed of seeing Borovoe, so we gathered as a family. The weather was great, sunny. The lake is like from a fairy tale, the water is clear. At the maral farm the animals are tame, you can feed them by hand — the kids were delighted. We liked lunch at the cafe, especially the kumys. After lunch we walked along the beach, relaxed. We walked to Zhumbaktas rock as a whole group, the views from the shore are stunning. The guide told interesting stories, didn't rush. Thanks for the organization, everything went smoothly. We will definitely come back here again.
Kazaksha aitanda, Borovoe tamasha. Maraldar da korkem. Jaksy demaldyk.
Biz osy tury tandadyk, ote korkem. Borovoe jane maraldar. Rakhmet.
Great tour! Everything was well organized, thanks to Andrey for an awesome trip.
Borovoe ochen krasivoe, maralovaia ferma interesnaia. Mne ponravilos.
Osy tury dosymmen birge bardyk. Borovoe tamasha, maraldar da unady.
Friends persuaded me to join, it's my first time in Borovoe. The gathering in Astana is early, had to get up at the crack of dawn, but it was worth it. Bolektau mountain — the lake panorama is just mind-blowing. At the farm the marals are cool, tame, they let you pet them. The photos turned out fire! Lunch at a national cuisine cafe, we ate our fill. We swam at the beach, the water is clean. We walked to Zhumbaktas through the forest, the pine air — you can't breathe enough. The guide organized everything clearly, no delays. I recommend it to everyone who wants a change of scenery in a day!
Departure was delayed by half an hour, but that's minor. Borovoe is gorgeous, the marals are cute. Thanks!
FAQ
We've collected the questions travelers ask most often. Didn't find your answer? Write to us — a guide will reply in a couple of minutes.
Ask a questionFocus on the itinerary: there will be a viewpoint at Bolektau, the road to Zhumbaktas rock and time on the sandy beach, so you need comfortable shoes and clothing for the weather. If you want to swim, bring a swimsuit and a towel. A hat, sunscreen and a camera will also come in handy, because there will be many photos during the day.
The bus to Borovoe leaves central Astana at 06:00, and you arrange the journey from Almaty to the capital yourself: by train or by plane, with tickets not included in the tour price. A morning arrival cannot make such an early start, so come the day before and stay overnight in Astana. We will confirm the boarding point on WhatsApp.
The walking sections are short and at a calm pace: go up to the viewpoint, stroll to the rock and walk by the lake. Between all points the group travels by bus, so there is no serious exertion. Special training is not needed, the main thing is comfortable shoes.
The day lasts 14 hours, but with pauses: transfers, lunch at a cafe and free time on the beach, where you can rest at your own pace. Children are usually interested in feeding the marals, and for older people it is important that the climbs are short and you do not have to walk fast. If there are health considerations, write to us on WhatsApp — we will clarify for your date.
We will confirm the exact meeting point in the center of Astana on WhatsApp after booking, and there we will also advise how best to get there. Departure from Borovoe according to the program is at 16:00, and by 20:00 the bus returns to Astana to the meeting point. So the whole day is planned, and in the evening you are back in Astana.
The price already includes the bus from Astana and back, the guide's services, entry to the maral farm, lunch and travel insurance. Only personal expenses are paid additionally: souvenirs, drinks beyond lunch and attractions, if you want. So on site you will need money mostly for pleasant little things.
This tour is a group tour, but for your dates we will clarify on WhatsApp what can be offered for your group. Booking is simply a message on WhatsApp, without prepayment: we will reserve a seat on the bus for the chosen date. Payment on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash, cancellation is free.