Water Tour · Kapchagay

Swimming Tour to Kapchagay Reservoir from Almaty

4.8 · 21 reviews

Spend a day on the water: swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and relaxing on the shore of Kapchagay Reservoir. Departure from Almaty, transfer included — no hassle, just sun and water.

WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration5.5 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $28/person

Program

Hourly Schedule of the Swimming Tour to Kapchagay

09:00

Meeting and departure from Almaty

We meet in the city center, board a comfortable minibus, and head to the reservoir.

10:00

Arrival at Kapchagay

We arrive at a equipped beach, change clothes, and receive equipment (SUP boards, life jackets).

10:30

Briefing and SUP Walk

A short briefing on SUP board handling, then we get on the water and paddle along the shore.

12:00

Free Time / Swimming

Swim, sunbathe, and ride the SUP boards on your own. Lunch (optional, paid separately).

13:30

Gathering and Return to Almaty

Pack up, get into the vehicle, and head back.

14:30

Arrival in Almaty

Approximate time of return to the city.

What's included

What's Included in the Swimming Tour to Kapchagay

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer from Almaty and back
  • SUP instructor services
  • SUP board and life jacket rental
  • Bottled water on the bus
  • Insurance during the tour

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Lunch (can be ordered additionally)
  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, drinks)
  • Transfer from remote areas of Almaty

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Swimsuit / trunks
  • Towel and sunscreen
  • Change of clothes and shoes
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • 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.

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 swimming tour to Kapchagay

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
RA
Roza A.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

went with friends. everyone liked it. the driver is excellent. spent almost the whole day at the reservoir: rode SUPs, swam, sunbathed. the water is warm, the weather is super. on the way back we were tired but satisfied. thanks for the organization.

Verified review · Order #46632
AB
Aslan B.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Chose the tour because of the reviews. Didn't regret it. The instructor is great.

Verified review · Order #46445
VS
Viktor S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Thanks for the vacation. Anzhelika suggested the best places for photos. My friend and I had long been looking for an option to both swim and not get tired on the road. We chose this tour because we liked that everything was included and we didn't have to think about anything. We spent a great day at Kapchagay: first rode SUPs along the shore, then just swam and sunbathed. The instructor showed how to paddle correctly so as not to get tired. The water in the reservoir turned out to be very warm, we didn't even expect it. The only thing, we would have liked more free time, but even so everything was wonderful. We will definitely come back here again.

Verified review · Order #45271
BM
Batyr M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

At first I thought it would be boring but no. Swimming in Kapchagay is top-notch. Aleksandr is awesome. We went with friends to unwind after exams. I don't really like water, but decided to try SUP. It turned out to be very fun, especially when you try to keep your balance. Instructor Aleksandr showed everything and encouraged. After the walk, we swam and sunbathed. The water is warm, the sun is hot. The only thing, the way back took a bit longer than expected, but that's minor. I recommend it to everyone, especially if you want new sensations.

Verified review · Order #44993
MZ
Medet Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We had a great day. Swam, sunbathed. Madina is great. My colleagues and I decided to give ourselves a mini-vacation in the middle of the work week. We chose this tour because it's short and doesn't require much travel time. On site, SUPs and life jackets were waiting for us, everything was handed out quickly. The briefing was clear, even beginners managed. The weather was sunny, the water in the reservoir warmed up well. After the activities, we had a picnic on the shore. We were a bit confused that there was no drinking water on the bus, but we brought our own. Overall, we were satisfied, especially liked riding the SUP.

Verified review · Order #36108
TR
Tatyana R.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

We had long wanted to get out on the water with the family, and finally decided. The road to the reservoir took about an hour, but we left 20 minutes later than planned, so we were a bit nervous. But it didn't ruin the vacation. On site, an instructor met us, gave a short SUP briefing, and we immediately set off to conquer the water surface. The children were delighted with swimming, the water turned out to be warm and clean. The adults didn't lag behind either: rode SUPs, sunbathed. We didn't order lunch, took our own sandwiches, but there were people nearby eating shashlik, and the smell was very appetizing. We got back without adventures.

Verified review · Order #35480
OV
Oksana V.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I spent a long time choosing a tour and settled on this one. No regrets. The guide organized everything.

Verified review · Order #35396
OZ
Olga Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★

V odin iz vyhodnyh reshili poehat na Kapshagay. Vybrali etu firmu po sovetu druga. Vse ponravilos, tolko ochered na vyezde nemnogo podportila nastroenie. No na pliazhe vse zabylos. Gid, spasibo za otlichnyy den!

Verified review · Order #35002
MT
Marat T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Good tour. We swam in Kapchagay, the water was warm. Thanks to the guide for the organization.

Verified review · Order #33358
BK
Bekzat K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Good tour. The water was warm, the sun was great. Anzhelika helped. We'll go again next time.

Verified review · Order #26629
AK
Aigul K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

We liked everything. The driver is polite, the place is beautiful. Only we left half an hour later. We went with family, the children were happy to ride SUPs. We did the briefing quickly and immediately went into the water. The water is warm, we swam with pleasure. The delay in departure upset us a bit, but the vacation was worth it.

Verified review · Order #25763
NK
Nursultan K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

The beach is good, the water is warm. the SUP boards are cool

Verified review · Order #25693
IC
Irina Ch.
Google ·
★★★★★

Good tour for the family. The kids swam a lot. Minus: not enough water.

Verified review · Order #23711
SN
Saule N.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Had a great time. The water was clean. Wish we had brought shashlik.

Verified review · Order #16666
EP
Elena P.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

The vacation is super! The SUP boards are interesting. The only downside is the bumpy road.

Verified review · Order #16367
GE
Galina E.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We vacationed with a big group. Everything was perfectly organized. Madina took all our wishes into account. The water in the reservoir was warm. The road was a bit tiring, but that's minor. We'll definitely go again.

Verified review · Order #16238
AM
Aizhan M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

It was very good. Kapchagay is wonderful. Thanks to the guide, I learned a lot. There was only a delay, but it's not important.

Verified review · Order #14978
SL
Sergey L.
Google ·
★★★★★

Esli vy ishchete otdyh na vode, etot tur podhodit. Mne nravilos. Vse bylo chorosho, edinstvenno dorooga nemnogo tryaskaya. Anzhelika normalnaya.

Verified review · Order #14473
RG
Ruslan G.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Everything is ok. Liked that the water is warm. Madina told everything.

Verified review · Order #14382
ZD
Zhanat D.
Google ·
★★★★★

I liked the SUP. The guide told how to steer.

Verified review · Order #14234
ML
Maria L.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Everything was great. We were a bit confused about the meeting point at first, but Anzhelika helped.

Verified review · Order #13829

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the swimming tour to Kapchagay

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

Bring a swimsuit or swimming trunks, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes and shoes — after the water it will be nice to change into something dry. A hat and sunglasses won't hurt in the open sun, and you can fill a water bottle right on the bus.

The format is relaxed: we travel by bus, and at the destination you'll find an equipped beach and water, with no long walks. The instructor will give a short paddleboard briefing and provide a life vest, so beginners will manage too. If you're with children or elderly relatives, message us on WhatsApp — we'll tell you how everything will go on your specific date.

After a short briefing you go on the water around 10:30 and paddle along the shore, and from 12:00 free time begins for swimming and riding on your own. So beginners have time to get comfortable without rushing, and experienced riders get plenty of time on the water. If anything is unclear on the water, the instructor is nearby and will help.

The meeting point is in central Almaty, with departure at 09:00 according to the programme; we confirm the exact spot for your date on WhatsApp. The tour is private and runs daily, so the departure time can be shifted to suit you.

The price already includes the road from Almaty and back, the instructor's work, a paddleboard with a life vest, water on the bus, and insurance for the duration of the trip. Only lunch is paid separately if you want to eat on site, and personal expenses like drinks or souvenirs. Transfer from remote parts of the city is also not included — check your address in advance.

Booking is simple via a WhatsApp message — no prepayment is needed, and you pay on the day of the trip by card, Kaspi, or cash. Cancellation is free, so you can change plans calmly. If you're traveling with your own group, message us — the tour is private, and we'll find a convenient time.