One-day tour · Lake

Tour to Big Almaty Lake from Almaty

4.9 · 24 reviews

A trip to the pearl of the Zailiysky Alatau — Big Almaty Lake. You will drive through a scenic gorge, see mountain panoramas and the turquoise surface of the reservoir at an altitude of 2511 meters. The route is available daily and suitable for all ages.

WhenDaily
Duration6–7 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $26/person

Program

Hourly program of the tour to Big Almaty Lake

08:00

Meeting and departure from Almaty

Meeting with the guide at the "Almaty" hotel (85 Kabanbay Batyr St.). Boarding a comfortable minibus.

08:30

Drive through the Almarasan Gorge

Ascent along the serpentine road by the mountain river, stop at a spring for photos.

10:00

Arrival at Big Almaty Lake

Sightseeing walk along the dam, viewing the lake from different angles. In clear weather, the peaks of the Zailiysky Alatau are visible.

11:00

Walking around the lake

A leisurely walk along a well-equipped trail (about 1 km) with photo stops.

12:30

Lunch in nature

Picnic with hot drinks and sandwiches (included). Delicious food in the fresh air.

14:00

Departure Back to Almaty

Descent along the same route, with an additional stop at a viewpoint.

15:30–16:00

Arrival in Almaty

End of the tour at the starting point.

What's included

What is included in the tour to Big Almaty Lake

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer in a comfortable bus or minibus
  • Services of a professional guide-driver
  • Organizational fee and permit for visiting
  • Bottled water in the car
  • Light lunch (hot tea/coffee, sandwiches, snacks)

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
  • Insurance (optional)

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable shoes (sneakers or trekking boots)
  • Warm jacket or windbreaker (it can be windy at altitude)
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Camera or smartphone for photos
  • Your own mug for tea (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.

Aidos Serikov — Senior guide, mountain routes★4.9

Aidos Serikov

Senior guide, mountain routes

187 reviews · experience 14 years

Dinara Kassymova — Guide-lecturer in Almaty★5

Dinara Kassymova

Guide-lecturer in Almaty

142 review · experience 11 years

Marat Zhunussov — Trekking instructor★4.8

Marat Zhunussov

Trekking instructor

96 reviews · experience 9 years

Oleg Kim — Driver-guide, jeep tours★4.9

Oleg Kim

Driver-guide, jeep tours

164 review · experience 13 years

Zhanna Abenova — Tour manager★4.8

Zhanna Abenova

Tour manager

78 reviews · experience 7 years

Timur Beketov — Multi-day tour guide★4.9

Timur Beketov

Multi-day tour guide

118 reviews · experience 10 years

Aliya Nurlan — Group coordinator★5

Aliya Nurlan

Group coordinator

64 review · experience 6 years

Sergey Volkov — Instructor, ski tours★4.8

Sergey Volkov

Instructor, ski tours

103 review · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of the tour to Big Almaty Lake

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
DB
Damir B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Beautiful places all day, the lake is very beautiful. The width of the road is interesting. This tour is very enjoyable.

Verified review · Order #46611
IP
Ivan P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Went with family. The kids are delighted with the lake. A slight delay in departure, but it didn't spoil the impression. The road through the gorge is beautiful, we made stops for photos. Lunch in the fresh air was enjoyed by both adults and children.

Verified review · Order #44436
SD
Svetlana D.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Davno hoteli popast na Bolshoe Almatinskoe ozero. Vzali tur s obecom. Gid rasskazyval interesnye istorii. Vse super

Verified review · Order #43029
AR
Aibek R.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

The lake is very beautiful. The width of the road. Good food.

Verified review · Order #42863
TA
Timur A.
Google ·
★★★★★

Everything was fine. The guide picked a good route. Too bad we didn't have enough time for the walk. But overall satisfied.

Verified review · Order #42798
VT
Vladimir T.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Very beautiful! The guide told a lot about the mountain lakes. I recommend to everyone.

Verified review · Order #39373
IP
Irina P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Loved the guide. He told interesting stories. The road up the mountain is bumpy but that's a minor thing. The lake is superb.

Verified review · Order #38650
MB
Maksat B.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

The tour is very enjoyable. The lake is very picturesque. Except for a slight delay on the road, everything was good.

Verified review · Order #38171
PG
Pavel G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

I took the tour because I didn't want to organize the trip myself. It fully lived up to expectations. Aidos told the story in a very informative way.

Verified review · Order #32344
NK
Natalya K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

We wanted to relax quietly. We chose this tour and didn't regret it. The guide is very warm-hearted. The nature is mesmerizing.

Verified review · Order #32104
ZM
Zhansaya M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Great trip! Saw the lake in all its beauty. Aidos gave good photo tips. We'll recommend it. Gathered with colleagues to take a break from work. The weather was clear, the mountains reflected in the water. Lunch was modest but filling.

Verified review · Order #29400
RH
Ruslan H.
Our website ·
★★★★★

The tour to the Big Almaty Lake is fire! The water is green, the mountains are high. The guide is great. I recommend it. My friends and I had long wanted to get out of the city, and finally we decided. The road through the gorge is beautiful, we stopped at a spring and took photos. We spent about an hour at the lake, walked along the dam. Lunch was simple but tasty, especially tea in the fresh air. We drove back tired but happy. I recommend it to everyone, you won't regret it!

Verified review · Order #28864
MM
Marina M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Thanks to Zhanna for the excellent organization! We didn't expect such beauty. The lake is emerald, the air is clean. Everything went smoothly. We went as a family with children, and everyone liked it. The guide told interesting facts about the mountains, the children listened with pleasure. The weather was clear, we could see far. The walk around the lake took a little time, but we managed to enjoy the views. We will definitely come back!

Verified review · Order #27840
OF
Olga F.
Google ·
★★★★★

We took the tour because of the convenient transfer. The driver drove carefully. The lake is gorgeous, but there was a small queue at the park entrance

Verified review · Order #25113
EZ
Erlan Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★

Good tour. The views are stunning. The only thing is the road is bumpy, but that's the mountains. My wife and I went to take our minds off work. The guide showed and told us everything. At the lake there's a cold wind, but it's beautiful. Lunch is included, sandwiches and tea. We drove back tired but with good impressions. I recommend it for those who love nature.

Verified review · Order #23748
GA
Gulmira A.
Google ·
★★★★★

Liked everything. Especially lunch in nature. Aliya helped choose the optimal route. The only thing — we left 15 minutes later. Went with colleagues after the work week. The lake impressed, the water is clear. A walk along the trail added color.

Verified review · Order #23697
AZ
Anna Z.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Good tour. The guide is a pro. The only thing is the bus could have been softer. But the views were worth it.

Verified review · Order #23257
SL
Sergey L.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Beautiful, but quite crowded. Overall the tour is worth the money. Thanks to the guide for the company. I went with a friend, we wanted to see the lake. The road through the gorge is scenic, but it's a serpentine. We spent about an hour at the lake and took photos. The weather was sunny, the water was turquoise. Lunch was simple but tasty. Everything is well organized, but I would like more time for a walk.

Verified review · Order #22845
AT
Aigul T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

The lake has an unusual green color. The guide told us legends. Everything went wonderfully. I recommend it. I really enjoyed it.

Verified review · Order #19530
AY
Aliya Ye.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

It was the best day! We had wanted to see this lake for a long time. Everything was organized perfectly. The lunch was delicious.

Verified review · Order #18831
LZ
Lyazzat Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★

Nature is amazing! The color of the lake is unique. Our guide gave a lot of information. You want to go back. We went with our family, the children liked it too. On the way we stopped by a mountain river and took photos. At the lake the air is clean and quiet. Lunch was simple but tasty. Next time I want to go again and spend more time.

Verified review · Order #17910
DK
Daniyar K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

The lake is very scenic. Aidar's laugh is very cheerful. I will come again.

Verified review · Order #17500
EV
Ekaterina V.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I liked everything. The guide is attentive. The only thing is we waited in line at the entrance for about 10 minutes. My colleagues and I decided to spend a day off in nature. The road took about two hours, but the landscapes are worth it. At the lake we took many photos and walked along the trail. Lunch was modest but filling. We drove back without adventures. Overall I recommend it, especially if you want a break from the city.

Verified review · Order #14964
AS
Arman S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

My trip with my friend. The tour is very good. I will go again.

Verified review · Order #13081

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the tour 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 question

At an altitude of 2511 metres it is noticeably cooler and often windy, so a windbreaker or warm jacket will not be out of place even on a warm day. Take comfortable shoes for walking along the trail — trainers are best. Among the little things, sunglasses, sunscreen and, if you like, your own mug for tea at the picnic will come in handy.

You will walk very little — a stroll around the lake along the equipped trail takes about a kilometre, and the rest of the time you travel by transport. The pace is unhurried, with stops for photos, so no special preparation is needed. The tour is suitable for any age, including children and elderly people.

Meeting at 08:00 at the Almaty Hotel on 85 Kabanbay Batyr Street, where the guide meets you. After that the group sets off into the gorge and at the end of the day returns to the same place. If it is inconvenient for you to get to this point, write to us on WhatsApp — we will advise you on the best route.

The tour takes 6–7 hours: departure at 08:00, return to the starting point at approximately 15:30–16:00. Along the way there are stops at a spring, at a viewpoint and lunch in nature. The time may shift slightly due to traffic, but by evening you will definitely be in Almaty.

Our tour to Big Almaty Lake is a group tour, but if you want to go only with your own group, write to us on WhatsApp and we will clarify what can be arranged for your date. The price of $26 per person already includes transport, guide, visit permit, water and a light lunch. Only personal expenses such as souvenirs or extra drinks are paid separately.

Simply write to us on WhatsApp and tell us the date of the trip — we will reserve a place for you, no prepayment needed. You can pay on the day of the tour via Kaspi, by card or in cash. Cancellation of the booking is free, so plans can change without penalties.