★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
tours to Astana from Almaty · excursion
Burabay: Nature and History in One Day
4.9 · 21 reviews
Tour to Burabay from Almaty starting in Astana: a one-day trip to Burabay National Park — picturesque landscapes of Northern Kazakhstan, ancient history, an eco-trail, a museum and a boat ride on the lake. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
WhenCheck dates
Duration16 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $71/person
Program
Tour program «Burabay: Nature and History in One Day»
The day before
Travel from Almaty to Astana on your own (train or plane); the tour starts in Astana
The group meets at 06:00, so arrive the day before and stay overnight in Astana. Tickets are not included in the tour price.
06:00
Meeting and departure from Astana
Group meeting in central Astana, boarding a comfortable bus. Departure towards Burabay with a breakfast stop.
10:00
Arrival at Burabay National Park
Entry to the park, short stop at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Burabay and the famous Okzhetpes rock.
11:00
Walking tour along the «Kokshetau» trail
Walk along the eco-trail to Mount Kokshe (Borovoe). The guide will tell about the legends and history of these places, as well as the flora and fauna of the park.
13:00
Lunch and free time
Lunch at a national cuisine cafe (included). Free time after lunch for walks by the lake or relaxation.
14:30
Visit to the Museum of Nature and History
Excursion to the national park museum, featuring exhibits on the region's geology, archaeology, and culture.
16:00
Boat ride on Lake Burabay
Boat ride on the lake with the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding rocks and forests.
18:00
Departure to Astana
Group gathering, boarding the bus, and return to Astana. Arrival approximately at 22:00.
What's included
What's included
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer Astana – Burabay – Astana on a comfortable bus
- Entrance tickets to Burabay National Park
- Services of a professional guide
- Lunch at a national cuisine cafe
- Boat ride on Lake Burabay (15 minutes)
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Travel Almaty — Astana — Almaty
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Accident insurance (recommended to arrange independently)
- Transfer to the meeting point in Astana
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm clothing or windbreaker (weather in the mountains is changeable)
- Camera or smartphone for photos
- Water bottle and a small snack
Team
Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★5
★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
Reviews of Burabay: Nature and History in One Day
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Aizhan K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with my girlfriends to celebrate the end of vacation. Nature is a fairy tale! Anzhelika is a firecracker, made everyone laugh, especially when she talked about the rocks. Walked along the trail, breathed in the pines. The downside — toilets aren't everywhere, but that's minor. Had a great trip!
Dmitry L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Burabay is beautiful. The tour was okay. So-so.
Pavel Ch.
Our website ·
★★★★★I had long been planning to go to these parts, kept putting it off. Finally made it, went alone. Saw the lake, walked along the trail among the pines, climbed up to the mountain. The guide told about the history of these places, it was interesting to listen. Lunch was normal, filling. We rode a boat on the lake, the views that open up are magnificent. The day turned out to be packed, I came home exhausted but happy.
Maria D.
Our website ·
★★★★★My friend and I went, decided to take a break from the city. Nature is bomb, pines, lake, clean air. But the driver got a bit lost on the way, we had to wander around. Madina lifted the mood, joked and told interesting things about the rocks. I liked the trail through the forest, though you need comfortable shoes. In the museum it was curious to learn about the history of the region. We rode a boat, very beautiful. Overall satisfied, but there was a lingering feeling from the road.
Aliya S.
Our website ·
★★★★★I took the tour on a whim. I really liked it! Anzhelika told many legends. Minus—we left 20 minutes late.
Tatyana V.
Our website ·
★★★★★I had long wanted to see Burabay, my husband and I went on the weekend. We really liked the tour, Madina told interestingly about the rocks and legends. Minus — there wasn't enough time for all the spots, I wanted to walk longer by the lake.
Gulnara M.
Our website ·
★★★★★I love nature. Burabay is amazing! The guide shared lots of interesting facts. I'll go again next year.
Natalya V.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I took a tour for my family. The kids were thrilled with the nature. The guide helped with photos, thanks. The only thing is the lunch could have been tastier.
Ksenia B.
2GIS ·
★★★★★The tour was fire! The views are unreal! Really enjoyed it.
Maxim T.
Google ·
★★★★★The tour was super! Everything was on point. I'll recommend it.
Sergey K.
Google ·
★★★★★Gathered with colleagues to unwind after a pile-up at work, chose this one-day tour. Liked everything: the trail through the pine forest and the museum with geology exhibits. Took a boat ride on the lake, the panoramas are just stunning. The guide told interesting stories, I recommend it!
Ivan G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★The nature is fire, and the history is interesting. I recommend it.
Arman Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★I took a tour to relax. Everything was great. Nature is top. Anzhelika suggested the best route for a walk.
Alexey N.
Our website ·
★★★★★My wife and I had long wanted to get out into nature, but it never worked out. Finally we went, and didn't regret it: mountains, forest, lake — everything like a picture. The guide told fascinating stories about the rocks and legends. The road is a bit bumpy, but tolerable. Overall, a good option for a day.
Denis A.
2GIS ·
★★★★★5-star tour. The weather was perfect. The views were gorgeous. Too bad we had little time.
Erlan B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★My brother and I went, he had been inviting me to these places for a long time. Mountains, lake, pines — a fairy tale. We climbed up to the mountain, from there a unreal panorama opens up. The guide told about legends, it was interesting to listen. We rode a boat on the lake, wind, splashes, beauty. Lunch was tasty, home cooking. Organization is fine, everything on time. The day flew by unnoticed, we returned satisfied.
Olga I.
Our website ·
★★★★★I had long dreamed of seeing Burabay and finally made it. I went alone, but quickly found company in the group. I got a bit motion sick on the bus, but that's nothing compared to what I saw. Aleksandr is a cheerful guide, he told about the rocks and legends so captivatingly that you'd hang on every word. The trail through the forest is a separate pleasure, the pines smell incredible. We rode a boat, wind in your face, beautiful. In the museum it was interesting to learn about the geology of the region. I returned tired but very happy.
Andrey M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Good tour. Burabay is beautiful. Recommend it.
Svetlana P.
Google ·
★★★★★Burabay is a miracle! I'll definitely come back. Everything was perfect.
Elena F.
Our website ·
★★★★★borala tour ochen ponravilsya. priroda krasivaya, istoriya interesnaya. spasibo organizatoram.
Asel T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★men tudy barganymda tabigatka gaşık boldym. jol jaksy, ekiskursiya ote kızykty boldy. sergey komektesti. rıza.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the tour to Burabay from Almaty
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 questionThe main walking part is a stroll along the «Kokshe» eco-trail to the mountain, about an hour at a relaxed pace. At the observation deck and the museum the walks are short, and between points the group travels by bus. There is no difficult terrain or long climbs. No special preparation is needed: it suits people of ordinary fitness and children; you just need comfortable shoes.
The departure to Burabay is at 06:00 from central Astana, and you make the journey from Almaty to the capital yourself — by train or by plane, paying for the tickets separately. Arrive the evening before and stay overnight in Astana, so in the morning you only need to get to the meeting point. We will send the address of the meeting point on WhatsApp.
Yes, the route does not require athletic fitness: the walking is unhurried, and most of the day is spent on the bus and at stops. For older people it is important to take comfortable shoes and a warm layer — the weather by the lake is changeable. If anyone has health restrictions, tell us in advance on WhatsApp, and the guide will advise how to get through the day more comfortably.
The group meets in central Astana at 06:00, and the bus brings the group back to the same place at approximately 22:00 after leaving Burabay at 18:00. We confirm the exact meeting point for your date on WhatsApp so you do not have to look for it in the morning. You get to that point on your own.
No special gear is needed — comfortable shoes for the «Kokshe» trail and a windbreaker or warm layer are enough, because by the lake and in the mountains the weather changes during the day. Take water, a small snack and a phone or camera for the views of Okzhetpes rock. A swimsuit is not needed: on the boat you ride across the lake, you do not swim.
The price includes the bus to Burabay and back, entry to the national park, the guide's services, lunch in a national cuisine cafe and a boat ride. You pay separately only for souvenirs and extra drinks, and accident insurance, if you want it, you arrange yourself. You also pay for the journey to the meeting point in Astana yourself.
This departure is a group one, so different tourists travel on the bus and the day follows the programme. If you want it with just your own group, write on WhatsApp — for your date we will check what can realistically be arranged. In any case, booking is made by message, with no prepayment: you pay on the day of the trip by Kaspi, card or cash, and cancellation is free.
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