★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
One-day tour · Lake and waterfalls
Tour to Lake Issyk and waterfalls from Almaty
5 · 23 reviews
In one day you will see the turquoise Lake Issyk and cascading waterfalls in the Turgen Gorge. The route suits any fitness level: minimal walking, maximum impressions.
WhenSat, Sun
Duration7 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $22/person
Program
Hourly itinerary of the tour to Lake Issyk and waterfalls
08:00
Meeting and departure from Almaty
Meeting the group in the city center, boarding a comfortable minibus.
09:30
Arrival at Lake Issyk
Short photo stop at the viewpoint overlooking the turquoise lake surface.
10:00
Walk along the lake
A walk along the shore (about 1 km), the guide tells about the lake's origin and legends.
11:30
Transfer to Turgen waterfalls
Transfer to the Turgen Gorge, where the waterfall cascade is located.
12:00
Visit to the waterfalls
Sightseeing of three main waterfalls (Bear, Green, Stormy), trekking on equipped trails.
14:00
Lunch in nature
Picnic with hot tea and sandwiches (lunch included in the price).
15:00
Return to Almaty
Departure back, estimated arrival in the city at 16:30.
What's included
What is included in the tour to Lake Issyk and waterfalls
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by comfortable minibus (Almaty – lake – waterfalls – Almaty)
- Services of a professional guide
- Lunch (hot tea, sandwiches, snacks)
- Bottled water on the bus
- Environmental fees and permits for visiting
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Insurance (we recommend arranging it yourself)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes (sneakers or trekking boots)
- Jacket or windbreaker (mountain weather is changeable)
- Hat and sunscreen
- Camera or phone for photos
- Water bottle (can be refilled on the bus)
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 of the tour to Lake Issyk and waterfalls
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Vladimir P.
Our website ·
★★★★★The tour was good, but we got a bit tired from the road. However, the waterfalls and the lake were worth it. Aidos told us where to take the best photos.
Anna G.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went for the first time. Everything is well organized. Beautiful views, clean lake. Zhanna is a very pleasant girl, helped with questions. We took our parents, they liked it too. The guide told about the lake and legends. The waterfalls impressed, especially the sound of water. Lunch in nature was tasty. Thanks for the trip.
Maria K.
Our website ·
★★★★★We chose this tour because of the price and proximity to the city. The lake is beautiful, the waterfalls are loud. Too bad we left half an hour late, but that's minor.
Sergey M.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I've wanted to go to Issyk for a long time, I chose this company based on reviews. No regrets. Aliya organized everything perfectly, the waterfalls impressed me.
Marat I.
Google ·
★★★★★Krasota! Ozero i vodopady na 5+. Organizaciya na urovne. Gida ochen xvalyat. Ponedelil by vnimanie obedu s chayem.
Bakhyt S.
Our website ·
★★★★★We chose this tour with our family, relaxed with the kids. Issyk mountain and the waterfalls are very beautiful. Aidos guided well, told about the lake. The only downside — a lot of dust on the road, the kids got tired. We went to the waterfalls, saw all three. Nature is wonderful, the air is clean. Lunch was in nature, we drank tea.
Nurlan R.
Our website ·
★★★★★Since the price was affordable, we chose this tour. My spouse and I are going together. The water of Issyk mountain is truly turquoise, a great place for photos. The guide told about the formation of the mountains, we listened with interest. We went to the waterfalls, saw all three, our shoes got wet, but we liked it. Nature is wonderful, the air is clean. Downside: the bus goes fast, one gets tired.
Aizhan Sh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★This tour exceeded my expectations. Beautiful nature, fresh air. This day will be remembered. This day will be remembered.
Ivan D.
2GIS ·
★★★★★First time at Issyk. The lake is beautiful, liked the waterfalls. The only thing — we stood in line at the viewpoint for about 20 minutes.
Yevgeniya T.
Our website ·
★★★★★A good one-day tour. Everything is well thought out. The children were delighted with the waterfalls. The adults liked lunch with tea. The guide handled the group excellently.
Alexey P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We went to Issyk with the company, really liked it. Zhanna organized everything perfectly, lunch with hot tea was just right.
Dauren S.
Google ·
★★★★★I needed a break with friends, we chose this tour. The tour met expectations. The waterfalls are powerful, the lake is clean. Downside: waited long for the bus at boarding. The guide told about the lake and legends. The walk along the lake was enjoyable, the photos turned out great. Lunch in nature with tea was just right. Overall I recommend.
Ruslan N.
Our website ·
★★★★★Ochen krasivoe mesto. Voda v ozere prozrachnaya. Gid rasskazival mnogo interesnogo. Rekomenduyu.
Asem T.
Our website ·
★★★★★Men bul tury tandalym sebebi blizko. Issyk ote korkem. Tymur tury jaksy uymdastyrdy.
Svetlana Ya.
Google ·
★★★★★Chose the tour because of the short route — didn't want to travel long. The lake is really beautiful. The waterfalls too. Sandwiches with tea were tasty but few.
Aigul R.
Google ·
★★★★★The trip to the lake was very exciting. The water of Issyk mountain is clean. Aidos led well.
Dmitry L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with friends. Liked everything, especially the waterfalls — very atmospheric. The guide is awesome!
Olga Z.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with kids. The road is bumpy, but the lake is worth it. Zhanna helped with the booking, thanks to her.
Elena V.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I really liked that it's not far from Almaty. The organization is top-notch, the guide was with us all the time. Lunch with tea is tasty, I recommend it!
Talgat B.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Had a great day. Aliya told everything about the lake and legends. Sandwiches with tea on the shore — super!
Gulnara A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Issyk Lake is a fairy tale! The water is turquoise, mountains all around. A walk along the shore is a separate pleasure. Thanks to the guide for the excursion.
Zhanat K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I really liked the tour. Issyk Lake is the pearl of the Trans-Ili Alatau. The waterfalls impress with their power. The guide gave an excellent tour along the lake shore. Lunch with tea was delicious. I recommend it to everyone!
Konstantin Yu.
2GIS ·
★★★★★The vacation was a success. The lake is clean, the waterfalls are noisy. Tea with sandwiches in nature. Aliya organized everything at the highest level. Thanks!
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the tour to Lake Issyk and waterfalls
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 walking part is quite short: at the lake it's a stroll along the shore of about a kilometre, and at the waterfalls it's trekking along maintained trails. No special training is needed, the route is designed for any level. If you have any health concerns, message us on WhatsApp and we'll advise on how to make the day more comfortable.
Yes, this is a one-day bus trip with short walks, no overnight stays, so both children and older travellers usually manage it easily. The main thing is comfortable shoes and a jacket, as mountain weather is changeable. You can discuss your preferred pace with the guide on the spot.
Departure is at 08:00, with the group meeting in the city centre — we'll confirm the exact meeting point on WhatsApp before your date. You'll board a comfortable bus, and from there everything follows the programme. If you're coming from another district, write to us and we'll advise on the most convenient way to reach the starting point.
We expect to arrive in Almaty at 16:30, and the whole tour takes 7 hours. The return departure from the gorge is at 15:00, with photo stops along the way. The exact time depends on the group and the weather, and the guide will let you know before departure.
The tour price includes an outdoor lunch with hot tea, sandwiches and snacks, and there is bottled water on the bus. You only pay separately for personal expenses — souvenirs and extra drinks; we recommend arranging insurance yourself in advance. If you'd like your own snacks, feel free to bring them — the guide will tell you when it's convenient to take them out.
This tour is a group format, with departures on Saturdays and Sundays, so your group will join the shared group on the bus. Booking is without prepayment: just message us on WhatsApp, give the date and the number of people, and payment is on the day of the trip (Kaspi, card or cash). Cancellation is free, so you can change your plans easily.
