Food tour · walking

Gastronomic walk through the Old Center

5 · 22 reviews

Want to taste real Almaty beshbarmak and learn to tell samsa from samsa? This tour is for those who want to understand the city through flavor. In two hours, we'll stroll along the cozy streets of the Old Center, drop by legendary eateries and bazaars where they cook according to family recipes.

WhenDaily, starting at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Duration2 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $17/person

Program

Program of the gastronomic walk through the Old Center

10:00

Meeting point in the center (Zhibek Zholy St.)

We meet at the Abay monument. Getting acquainted with the guide and the group.

10:15

Walk along Zhibek Zholy Street

History of the Old Center and first tastings: fresh flatbreads from the tandoor.

10:40

Visit to the Green Bazaar

Introduction to local products: kumis, irimshik, kurt. Trying Almaty apples.

11:10

Samsa tasting

We go into a famous samsa shop — try samsa with meat and pumpkin.

11:40

Lunch at a national cuisine cafe

Main dish: beshbarmak or lagman (choice). Tasting baursaks with tea.

12:15

Walk to the Ascension Cathedral

Final point of the route. The guide talks about wooden architecture and the park's history.

12:30

Tour end

We say goodbye at the cathedral. The guide gives recommendations on where to go on your own.

What's included

What is included in the gastronomic walk

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Services of a Russian-speaking gastronome guide
  • All tastings according to the program (flatbreads, samsa, kumis, irimshik, apples)
  • Lunch (beshbarmak or lagman + tea with baursaks)
  • Bottled water 0.5 L
  • Audio guide (for groups of more than 10 people)

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra portions)
  • Transfer to the meeting point and back

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Camera or smartphone for photos
  • Mood to try something new
  • A small amount of cash for purchases at the bazaar

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.

Alexander Пашкин — Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу★4.52

Alexander Пашкин

Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу

52 review · experience 10 years

Andrey Шевелёв — Driver-guide★4.74

Andrey Шевелёв

Driver-guide

73 review · experience 13 years

Анжелика Чвыкова — Гид-фотограф★4.27

Анжелика Чвыкова

Гид-фотограф

58 reviews · experience 11 years

Ильяс Дарбеков — Гид-переводчик★4.27

Ильяс Дарбеков

Гид-переводчик

36 reviews · experience 6 years

Мадина Данина — Организатор туров★4.55

Мадина Данина

Организатор туров

65 reviews · experience 15 лет

Сергей Бабичев — Personal guide-водитель★4.49

Сергей Бабичев

Personal guide-водитель

65 reviews · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of the gastronomic walk

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
ZM
Zhanna M.
Google ·
★★★★★

I liked the tour, but in September it was hot to walk — that's the only downside. Otherwise super!

Verified review · Order #48158
GA
Gaukhar A.
Google ·
★★★★★

Great tour! I went with my kids, we all liked it. The baursaks are very tasty, they were wonderful with tea. Thanks to the guide, we learned a lot.

Verified review · Order #47946
VK
Vladimir K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

vkusno pokushali, uznali istoriju centra. anzhelika byla otlichnaja! malenjkij minus — chutj zaderzhali vyezd.

Verified review · Order #47583
YD
Yelena D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

I chose the tour on the recommendation of a friend. Everything is delicious, beautiful, informative. Special thanks to the guide Anzhelika.

Verified review · Order #42595
RG
Ruslan G.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We finished work and decided to take a walk. The tour was very atmospheric, especially enjoyed the stories about the old houses. The guide was great!

Verified review · Order #42128
PF
Pavel F.
Google ·
★★★★★

I took the tour for my parents, they really liked it. They say the excursion was informative and delicious. They especially highlighted the guide, who told interesting stories about the cathedral.

Verified review · Order #40572
DP
Dinara P.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Two-hour walk flew by. Thanks to the guide for the stories and treats!

Verified review · Order #39462
AR
Aliya R.
Google ·
★★★★★

Tried shuzhuk and kurt, really atmospheric. Madina did a great job!

Verified review · Order #36888
DK
Daniyar K.
Google ·
★★★★★

I liked everything! We went with my husband, wanted to spend time in an unusual and tasty way. Lots of food: we tried kumys, irimshik, samsa, and for lunch there was lagman. Interesting facts about the city, the guide told it with soul. I wish we could have walked a bit longer, but two hours is fine — we managed both to eat and to listen. The only thing, I would have liked a few more rest stops, but that's minor. Overall very satisfied, we recommend!

Verified review · Order #36679
OS
Oleg S.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Decided to go after work, didn't regret it. Learned a lot of interesting things about the city center, ate well.

Verified review · Order #36139
AI
Anara I.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Everything is super! We went as a whole family — my wife, the kids, even my mother-in-law was pleased. Lots of different treats, very filling: samsa, beshbarmak, and baursaks. The kids ate so much they didn't want dinner afterwards. The guide Anzhelika told everything very engagingly, especially about the history of the old center and the cathedral. The walking tour turned out not tiring at all, two hours flew by quickly. Thanks for a great day!

Verified review · Order #34221
AK
Aigul K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

A very tasty walk - we tried baursaks and kumis. The guide told interesting stories.

Verified review · Order #27149
LB
Laura B.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Went with my husband, very romantic. Only thing was it was hot, wanted more water. But the organizers did a great job.

Verified review · Order #26344
NP
Natalya P.
Google ·
★★★★★

I spent a long time choosing a tour and settled on this one — no regrets. I went with a friend; she had long wanted to try real Kazakh cuisine. The guide is interesting, the treats are tasty: flatbreads, samsa, and beshbarmak. I especially liked the Green Bazaar — so many unusual things, your eyes run wild. A small minus: it started 10 minutes late, but that didn't spoil the impression. Overall a great walk, we learned a lot of new things about the city center.

Verified review · Order #25328
TV
Timur V.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I took the tour for a group of friends, everyone liked it. The only thing is that in April we got a bit tired of walking.

Verified review · Order #21161
LS
Lyudmila S.
Google ·
★★★★★

I went with my daughter, and we were both thrilled. Everything was delicious, the kids ate well. Thanks to the organizers!

Verified review · Order #21027
AT
Askar T.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Sama progulka ochen interesnaja, no malo ostanovok dlja otdyha. No eda vkusnaja spasibo

Verified review · Order #20725
BS
Bekzat S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Good excursion, I learned a lot. The food was delicious, especially the irimshik and samsa at the bazaar. It rained in October, but it didn't spoil the mood. I recommend it!

Verified review · Order #19146
MZ
Marat Zh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I chose the tour to show my wife our old center. The food is excellent, especially the pumpkin samsa and beshbarmak. True, the start was delayed by 10 minutes, but the impression wasn't spoiled.

Verified review · Order #18605
OC
Oksana Ch.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I had long wanted to try something unusual, and when I saw this tour, I realized it was just what I needed. I invited my sister, and the two of us went together. We started at the monument, then walked along Zhibek Zholy Street, where we were told about the old center. I especially remember the fresh tandoor flatbreads — hot, aromatic, they just melted in your mouth. At the Green Bazaar we tried kumys and irimshik, and also Almaty apples — very tasty. Then there was samsa with meat and pumpkin, and for lunch — beshbarmak. Everything went great, thanks to the guide for the attention and the mood!

Verified review · Order #16160
GF
Gulnara F.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I had long wanted to try Kazakh cuisine, and finally decided to. Went with my sister, both were satisfied. Especially liked the baursaks with honey, and also remembered the story about old houses. Thanks to the team!

Verified review · Order #11297
SB
Sanzhar B.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I recommend it to everyone! Very tasty and interesting. The only thing was it was crowded, but that's not a minus for the tour, rather a plus.

Verified review · Order #11074

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the gastronomic walk

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

The route is entirely on foot, but the walks between stops are short: from the Abai monument to the Green Bazaar, then to the samsa shop and a café, and the final stretch is to the Ascension Cathedral. It is a relaxed city stroll with no climbs and no rush; the guide walks at a comfortable pace and makes stops for tastings. Older parents are usually comfortable if they wear ordinary shoes and are ready to be on their feet for two hours. If anyone needs a rest, just tell the guide on the spot — they will adjust.

Start is daily at 10:00 and 15:00, meeting point is in central Almaty, at the Abai monument on Zhibek Zholy Street. The guide will wait for you there; we will send the exact point and their contact via WhatsApp after booking. Please come a couple of minutes before the start so you can meet calmly and begin the stroll.

The main thing is comfortable shoes, since the whole route is on foot, and clothing for the weather: two hours outside with stops at eateries and the bazaar. Bring a phone or camera for photos and a small amount of cash in case you want to buy something at the Green Bazaar. Drinking water is already included, so you do not need to bring your own.

Yes, this is a private format: you go with your own group, and there will be no strangers with you. You choose a convenient start — 10:00 or 15:00 — and the guide leads the stroll at your pace. If there are more than ten of you, an audio guide is provided additionally so everyone can hear.

The price already includes a guide-gastronome, all tastings along the route — from flatbreads and samsa to kumys, irimshik and apples — as well as lunch with beshbarmak or lagman and tea with baursaks, plus a bottle of water. You pay separately only for personal purchases — souvenirs, extra portions — and for travel to the Abai monument and back. There are no other extra payments on the spot.

Message us on WhatsApp with the date, your preferred start — 10:00 or 15:00 — and how many people you are; we do not take a deposit. Payment is on the day of the trip: Kaspi, card or cash. If your plans change, cancellation is free — just let us know on WhatsApp.