★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Trekking · Day trip
Trekking to Kok-Zhailau with views of Almaty
4.8 · 21 reviews
A hike to Kok-Zhailau is the perfect way to see Almaty from a bird's-eye view. The route follows scenic trails of the Zailiysky Alatau, and the reward is a panorama of the city against snowy peaks.
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration10 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $158/person
Program
Hourly trekking program to Kok-Zhailau
07:00
Departure from Almaty
Group meeting in the city center and transfer to the trailhead at the Medeu gorge.
08:00
Start of trekking
Start from Medeu, ascent along a serpentine through coniferous forest. Elevation gain of about 500 m.
10:00
Break at the waterfall
Short stop at a picturesque waterfall, photo session and rest.
12:00
Arrival at Kok-Zhailau
Reach the plateau — the main point of the route. Lunch with panoramic views of Almaty and the mountains.
14:00
Descent via the Big Almaty Gorge
Descent along the other slope, passing alpine meadows and springs.
16:30
Finish at the dam
End of the trail at the dam of the Big Almaty Lake, transfer boarding.
18:00
Return to Almaty
Transfer back to the city, drop-off at the meeting point.
What's included
What's included in the trekking to Kok-Zhailau
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back in a comfortable car
- Services of an experienced guide
- Group first aid kit and communication means
- Bottled water (1 liter per person)
- Organizational fees and permits
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Lunch (can bring your own or order for an additional fee)
- Accident insurance
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Trekking boots or sneakers with deep tread
- Comfortable sportswear according to weather (windbreaker required)
- Backpack 20-30 L for personal items
- Snack and thermos with tea
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
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 trekking to Kok-Zhailau
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Galina D.
Google ·
★★★★★We went with the guide. Really enjoyed it. The views were great.
Maxim F.
Our website ·
★★★★★Kok-Zhailau is an easy trail with a panorama of Almaty. Anzhelika did a great job explaining everything.
Olga M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Chose this tour because of reviews. Madina is very friendly and explained everything. The views are bomb.
Sergey T.
Google ·
★★★★★Had a nice walk. Aleksandr showed us everything. Only a slight delay at the start.
Pavel N.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Kok-Zhailau with a guide. Liked everything, the views are super. The ascent through the forest was pleasant, we took beautiful photos on the plateau.
Ivan D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We climbed to Kok-Zhailau with a guide in an hour. Very beautiful. I recommend it.
Andrey K.
Google ·
★★★★★We went to Kok-Zhailau with a guide, the views are magnificent, the city is like on the palm of your hand. The trek is easy even for beginners.
Tatyana Yu.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with Sergey to Kok-Zhailau. He told a lot about Almaty and the mountains. It was interesting. The ascent started from Medeu, we walked through the forest, gained altitude. On the way we stopped at a waterfall — beautiful. On the plateau we had lunch with a view of the city. We descended along the Big Almaty Gorge, saw alpine meadows. At the end we came out to the dam. Overall liked it, but at the beginning there was a small delay with the transfer. Because of this, we rushed the schedule a bit. The guide tried, but we would like more clear organization. Rating 4.
Aizhan K.
Our website ·
★★★★★We decided with friends to go to the mountains on the weekend. The ascent to Kok-Zhailau went along a serpentine through a pine forest, we got quite tired. But the view at the top — the view of Almaty is amazing! The guide Ilyas knows the route well, joked and told stories. At the top we had lunch and took photos. We descended along another slope, encountered springs and meadows. Organization-wise everything was good. Next time we'll go again.
Dmitry L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with my parents, they don't often go to the mountains. The guide is an excellent companion, the route is easy, suitable for all ages. On the plateau a panorama of Almaty opens up, it takes your breath away.
Irina S.
Google ·
★★★★★The guide led us along beautiful trails. The views of the city are mesmerizing. We also liked the descent along the other slope, we saw alpine meadows.
Elena V.
Google ·
★★★★★Kok-Zhailau is super! The guide organized everything perfectly. The road is a bit bumpy but it's worth it.
Marat S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Good trekking with stunning views of Almaty. The instructor led the route without unnecessary stops.
Natalya P.
Google ·
★★★★★Went with my sister, we'd long wanted to see Almaty from above. The guide told us everything about the mountains and the city, we took great photos on the plateau. The only thing — we left 15 minutes later, but that's not critical.
Denis Sh.
Our website ·
★★★★★Kok-Zhailau is super. Just the road was a bit bumpy.
Svetlana A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Had a good time at Kok-Zhailau. The guide is a professional, organized everything. The views of Almaty are great, especially from the plateau.
Gulmira K.
Google ·
★★★★★Very beautiful places. The guide showed the best spots for photos. Went with colleagues after work, decided to unwind. Climbed to the plateau, took a bunch of photos against the backdrop of the city and mountains. Lunch was with a panoramic view. Recommend to everyone!
Bekzat M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Went with friends, the nature is amazing, especially the view from the top of the mountain. The guide knows the route well, but the bus was late, so the time was slightly shortened. Nevertheless, the impression is very good.
Anna B.
Our website ·
★★★★★Chose an excellent route. Went with my husband, had long wanted to climb Kok-Zhailau. Liked the views of Almaty from above, especially from the plateau. The guide showed and told everything. The only thing — on the descent we got a bit tired, but it was worth it.
Lyudmila Ch.
Our website ·
★★★★★Really liked the trekking. Andrey is a very pleasant companion. Went with a friend, wanted to see the mountains and the city from above. The ascent was not very difficult, we walked leisurely. On the plateau a panorama of Almaty opens up — fascinating. The descent along another slope passed by meadows and springs. The water in the spring is cold and tasty. The only thing, we would like more time for photos. But overall the impressions are excellent. Thanks to the guide for the interesting story.
Vladimir G.
Google ·
★★★★★We decided with friends to spend the weekend actively, chose this tour. The guide organized everything clearly, without delays. The ascent along the serpentine through the coniferous forest was easy, beautiful views opened up. On the plateau we had a rest stop with a panorama of the city — breathtaking. The descent along the other slope also liked, alpine meadows and springs. The water was tasty. Overall a great option for first acquaintance with the mountains.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about trekking to Kok-Zhailau
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 takes up almost the whole day: we start from Medeu, climb a winding trail through a coniferous forest with an elevation gain of about 500 m, and descend through the Big Almaty Gorge. Along the way there is a stop at a waterfall and lunch on a plateau with a panorama of Almaty. Basic endurance will come in handy — if you are unsure about your fitness, message us on WhatsApp and we will advise you based on your pace.
Yes, this is a private format: we put the group together around you, and the route to Kok-Zhailau is run only for your group. Departures are daily, we agree on the start time on request, and a guide accompanies your group specifically. We will confirm the details for your date on WhatsApp.
The group meets in the centre of Almaty at 07:00, then transfers to the start of the route at Medeu. Return to the city according to the programme is by 18:00, with drop-off at the meeting point. We will send the exact meeting point and the guide's contact on WhatsApp before departure.
The main thing is footwear with a grippy tread that holds on stones and slopes, because the trails in the Trans-Ili Alatau are uneven. Take weather-appropriate clothing, definitely a windproof jacket, a 20–30 l backpack, a snack and a thermos with tea, as well as sunglasses and sunscreen. Water for the route is already included, and the guide will advise before departure on what else will be useful depending on the weather.
The price includes transfer from Almaty and back, the work of a guide, a first-aid kit and communications, bottled water, and organisational fees with permits. Personal expenses and lunch are paid separately — you can bring your own food to the plateau or order lunch for an extra charge; accident insurance is also not included. If you plan to have lunch, let us know in advance on WhatsApp.
Booking is simply a message on WhatsApp: no prepayment is needed, you pay on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash. Cancellation of the booking is free. Send us the date and the number of people — we will confirm the departure to Kok-Zhailau.
