★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Lakes · Auto Tour
Tour to Big Almaty Lake by Car from Almaty
5 · 21 reviews
Embark on a car journey to Big Almaty Lake — the gem of the Zailiysky Alatau. In 4 hours, you'll see the turquoise expanse of this high-altitude reservoir surrounded by Tien Shan peaks. An ideal option for those who want to quickly and comfortably enjoy alpine landscapes without long treks.
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration4 hrs
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $55/person
Program
Hourly program of the tour to Big Almaty Lake
08:00
Departure from Almaty
Meeting at Republic Square. Transfer to the gorge via the bypass road.
08:45
Stop at the observation deck
Short stop at the viewpoint at an altitude of 1500 m — view of the city and mountains.
09:30
Arrival at the lake
Reach the shore of Big Almaty Lake. Free time for a walk and photos.
10:30
Walking trail around the lake
Walk along the trail on the eastern shore (about 1 km). The water changes color from azure to emerald.
11:30
Lunch in nature
Picnic with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding peaks.
12:30
Return
Transfer back to Almaty. Drop-off at hotels or in the city center.
What's included
What is included in the tour to Big Almaty Lake
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by comfortable car (sedan/minivan)
- Driver-guide services
- Environmental fees (entry to Ile-Alatau National Park)
- Bottled water in the car
- Insurance for the trip duration
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra meals)
- Lunch (optional — picnic from us for an additional $10/person)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm jacket or windbreaker (it's windy at altitude)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera or smartphone for photos
- Sandwiches or snacks (optional)
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.
★4.9
★5Dinara Kassymova
Guide-lecturer in Almaty
★4.8Marat Zhunussov
Trekking instructor
★4.9Oleg Kim
Driver-guide, jeep tours
★4.8Zhanna Abenova
Tour manager
★4.9Timur Beketov
Multi-day tour guide
★5Aliya Nurlan
Group coordinator
★4.8Sergey Volkov
Instructor, ski tours
Reviews
Reviews from tourists on Big Almaty Lake
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Nursultan K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Breathtaking views from two observation decks are the best part of the tour. Aidos was attentive and explained everything.
Arman K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I took the tour because I didn't know the route myself. Zhanna explained everything. Breathtaking views. There's a typo in the name, but no big deal.
Aliya D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Vybirała tur po sovetu. Aydos vse pokazal. Vidy zakhvatyvayushchie. Rekomenduyu
Dinara Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★When we went on vacation with the kids, we decided to see the mountain lake by car. My wife doesn't like long walks, so the car tour was perfect. Along the way, the guide talked about the mountains and the gorge. At the first stop, a wonderful view of the city and peaks opened up. When we reached the lake, the water color shifted from blue to green, and the kids hurried to take photos. The guide suggested a good angle. We had lunch in nature and breathed fresh air. We spent little time at the lake shore, but the impression is amazing. I recommend it to those looking for a fast and comfortable trip by car.
Kamila A.
Our website ·
★★★★★We had long wanted to get out to a mountain lake with the family, but it's hard to walk long with kids, so we chose a car tour. The guide talked about the gorge and nature along the way, it was interesting. At the first stop, a panorama of the city and ridges opens up — the kids were delighted. At the lake itself, the water shimmered from azure to emerald, we walked along the shore and took photos. The guide suggested a good angle so the lake would fit entirely in the frame. The weather was clear, the picnic in nature turned out great. The only thing — we wanted a bit more time at the lake, but the program is packed. Overall, the impressions are wonderful, we recommend it to those who value comfort.
Gulnara A.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We planned our vacation in Almaty in advance, wanted to see the mountains without long hikes, so we looked for a car option. Went together with my wife, she doesn't like long walks, so four hours was just right. The road up was bumpy, but the driver drove carefully, and that made the trip better. At the viewpoint we saw the city from above for the first time, it took our breath away. When we arrived at the lake, the water was turquoise, and snowy peaks all around — I had never seen such beauty before. We walked a bit along the shore, took a bunch of photos. On the way back we were tired but happy. Didn't regret a single minute, though the road is exhausting in places.
Zere R.
Our website ·
★★★★★I had dreamed of going for a long time. The guide was excellent. The view from both observation decks is amazing
Sveta T.
Our website ·
★★★★★I spent a long time choosing between tours, chose this one because of the reviews. The guide showed breathtaking views, especially from the observation deck over the city. The downside is the bumpy road, but the driver drove carefully.
Ivan P.
Our website ·
★★★★★We spontaneously decided to go. Aidos is a careful driver. The views are great. I recommend it.
Talgat P.
Google ·
★★★★★Went with friends. The road is bumpy but the views are worth it. The guide is a professional
Zhandos B.
Google ·
★★★★★Loved it! Aidos showed us the best photo spots. The lake is amazing, highly recommend.
Bakhytzhan R.
Our website ·
★★★★★We often go to the mountains, but this time we wanted a light walk. The guide took us to two viewpoints and shared interesting facts. The views are breathtaking, especially of the lake. I liked that we didn't have to think about anything.
Erbol S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great tour! The views from the two platforms lifted our spirits. The guide explained everything, we reached the lake quickly. I recommend it.
Erkezhan M.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I had dreamed of seeing Big Almaty Lake for several years, and finally made it. I went alone, but the guide Aidos organized everything perfectly, I felt comfortable. We left a bit later than planned, but it didn't spoil the impression. The road to the mountains is beautiful, along the way we stopped at a viewpoint — from there a view of the city opens up. The lake itself amazed with the color of the water, it changes in the sun. We walked along the shore, I took many photos. Lunch in nature with a view of the peaks is a separate pleasure. We returned on time, the guide drove me to the hotel. I recommend this tour to everyone who wants to see the lake without strenuous hikes.
Sanzhar D.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Tur dlya aktivnykh puteshestvennikov. Aydos rasskazal pro dve ploshchadki. Vse super
Marat T.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went with my husband at the end of our vacation, we wanted to see the mountains without long climbs, so we took a car. The guide organized everything clearly: first we were taken to the viewpoint where the city opens up like on a palm, and then to the lake itself. The views from the two platforms are breathtaking, the water in the lake shimmered in the sun. We were very pleased.
Aizhan K.
Our website ·
★★★★★I chose the tour because of the reviews, we went to Big Almaty Lake. The guide showed the viewpoints excellently, the views are breathtaking. True, the road up the mountain was a bit tiring.
Olga N.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I chose the tour for convenience — I didn't want to walk for a long time. Breathtaking views from two viewpoints, the guide organized everything perfectly. The departure was delayed by 10 minutes, but not critical.
Laura S.
Our website ·
★★★★★My friend and I decided to go to the lake to avoid the hassle of planning a route. The guide suggested where it's better to stop for photos. The views from the platforms are breathtaking, especially of the lake on a sunny day.
Asel V.
Our website ·
★★★★★Davno hoteli uvidet' eto ozero, no bez dolgikh pokhodov. Gid vse organizoval, dovez do samogo berega. Vidy zakhvatyvayushchie, osobenno so vtoroy ploshchadki. Voda biryuzovaya, fotki poluchilis' otlichnye.
Ruslan G.
Google ·
★★★★★Took the tour for a family of active travelers. the views are breathtaking. the driver is polite.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the trip to Big Almaty Lake
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 questionIt is noticeably cooler and windier at the lake than in Almaty, so even for a short trip take a jacket or windbreaker, comfortable shoes for the trail along the shore, and sunglasses with sunscreen. A phone or camera will come in handy for photos of the turquoise water against the peaks. If you plan to have a snack on the shore, you can bring sandwiches — we have water in the car.
The walking part here is very small: you get out on the shore, walk along the trail along the eastern shore for about a kilometer and make stops for photos. The rest of the time is car transfers and a short stop at the viewpoint. This pace will suit both children and older people if a short walk in the fresh air is comfortable for them.
According to the program, return to Almaty is around 12:30 — the driver-guide takes you to your hotel or to the city center. Before that, we manage to stop at the viewpoint, walk by the lake and have lunch with a view of the water and the peaks. We will confirm the exact departure time for your date on WhatsApp — departures are daily, time on request.
Yes, this tour is private: we take only you and your group by car, without a shared group. We choose the vehicle according to the number of guests — a sedan or a minivan, pick you up from Almaty and drive to the lake. This way you can calmly walk by the water and take photos at your own pace, without adjusting to anyone else's plans.
The $55 per person includes car transfers, a driver-guide, ecological fees for entering Ile-Alatau Park, water in the car and insurance for the duration of the trip. Additionally, you pay only for personal purchases such as souvenirs or food outside the program. If you want a picnic in nature, we will organize it for $10 per person.
Write to us on WhatsApp, choose a convenient day from the daily departures — and we will reserve the car and time for you without prepayment. Payment is on the day of the trip: Kaspi, card or cash. If plans change, cancellation of the booking is free, with no penalties.
