★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Sightseeing tour · ascent to Shymbulak
"Legends of Almaty": sightseeing tour with ascent to Shymbulak
5 · 24 reviews
Immerse yourself in the history and culture of the southern capital: see the main architectural landmarks and green oases, then ascend to Shymbulak — the gem of the Zailiysky Alatau. In 5 hours, you will breathe mountain air and learn why Almaty is called the "garden city."
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration5 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $168/person
Program
Sightseeing tour program in Almaty with ascent to Shymbulak by the hour
09:00
Departure from central Almaty
Meeting with the guide at the "Almaty" hotel (85 Kabanbay Batyr St.). Boarding a comfortable minibus.
09:30
Park named after 28 Panfilov Guardsmen
Walk in the park, visit to Ascension Cathedral and the Memorial of Glory. The guide will tell about the heroic defense of Alma-Ata.
10:30
Republic Square and Government House
Viewing the main city square, the Independence Monument, and the architectural ensemble.
11:30
Ascent to Shymbulak by cable car
Transfer to the Medeu tract, then by cable car ascend to 2260 m. Observation deck with a panorama of Almaty and the mountains.
12:30
Free time at Shymbulak
You can have a snack at a café (at your own expense), stroll along the mountain plateau, and take photos against the backdrop of peaks.
13:30
Descent and return to the city
Return descent by cable car, transfer to the starting point. Approximate finish at 14:00.
What's included
What is included in the sightseeing tour with ascent to Shymbulak
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by comfortable minibus
- Services of a professional guide
- Ascent and descent on the Shymbulak cable car
- Guided tour along the entire route
- Bottled water (0.5 L per person)
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Food and drinks
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, additional services)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm jacket or windbreaker (it's windy at altitude)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera or smartphone for photos
- Small backpack for personal items
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 sightseeing tour in Almaty with ascent to Shymbulak
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Dana K.
Our website ·
★★★★★In September we were passing through Almaty and decided to take a sightseeing tour. Almaty is a beautiful city, thank you for the tour. What I remember most is the park with the Ascension Cathedral — it's quiet and green there, even though the noisy city is all around. At Republic Square we took good photos. We went up to Shymbulak by cable car, the view from above is incredible: mountains, the gorge, the city in a haze. The guide told us about the defense of Alma-Ata, it was informative. Lunch was a bit rushed — there wasn't enough time to grab a bite, but that's a minor thing. Overall the organization is good, the minibus is comfortable. I recommend it to those who want to see both the city and the mountains in a short time.
Talgat N.
Our website ·
★★★★★On the weekend we decided to see the city and the mountains. Dinara told about the legends, very fascinating
Anatoliy F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Went with my parents, wanted to show them Almaty. The car was bumpy on the serpentine, but guide Dinara smoothed the impressions — told a lot of interesting things about the square and the park. The cable car pleased, there was almost no queue.
Asem G.
Our website ·
★★★★★In May we went on vacation to Almaty with our family. We were looking for a tour that would be interesting for both the kids and us. We chose this excursion because you can see both the city and the mountains in one day. The guide Dinara is very polite and told us a lot. The cathedral in the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen made a special impression. We went up to Shymbulak by cable car, the view of Almaty from above is wonderful. The mountain air is clean, we strolled and took photos. We rested at the cafe and drank hot tea. Time passed quickly, we didn't notice getting tired. Everything went very well, I recommend it!
Marina E.
Google ·
★★★★★I learned a lot of new things about Almaty, I especially liked the stories about the apple orchards. My friend and I came in April, the city was drowning in greenery. We took a private tour so as not to depend on a group. The guide Dinara turned out to be an excellent storyteller, she knows a lot about plants and history. The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen impressed me, you really feel the spirit of the place there. We went up to Shymbulak by cable car — in April there was still snow, but the sun was warm. From the mountains there's a stunning view of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Down below at the cafe we drank tea with mountain herbs. Five hours flew by unnoticed. Thank you for the informative walk, I'll definitely come back again.
Ksenia V.
Google ·
★★★★★I recommend the tour, well thought out.
Mariya B.
Our website ·
★★★★★turovaya firma molodec, vse organizovano. legko i priyatno
Alexey B.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went with my husband in November, the weather was clear and sunny. We got lucky with the weather, everything was great. The guide Dinara told us about the city and the legends of Almaty with real warmth. In the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen I liked the cathedral — wooden, unusual. Then we went up to Shymbulak, where snow was already lying, but it wasn't cold. From the cable car a panorama opens up — mountains, the city, everything like in a picture. We waited a bit in the line for the ascent, but it didn't spoil the impression. Down below we managed to buy souvenirs. The guide answered all questions, you can feel her knowledge of the material. Thank you for the day, everything went easily and pleasantly.
Ivan G.
Google ·
★★★★★Went with colleagues after a conference, wanted to see the city and go to the mountains. The tour company is solid, guide Dinara is a professional. We lingered longest in the park by the cathedral, it's really quiet and green there. And on Shymbulak the views are such that all phones died from photos.
Galina L.
Google ·
★★★★★Very educational tour, thank you
Dmitry A.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I wanted to see the city from above, chose this tour, no regrets.
Aliya Zh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★My daughter is delighted with the cable car. Almaty is a beautiful city. Went with family in January, thought it would be cold, but on Shymbulak the sun was warm. Walked around the plateau, drank tea in a cafe.
Oksana A.
Our website ·
★★★★★I liked the guide Aidos, an interesting storyteller. The view from the mountain is amazing
Olga M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Everything was good, they showed us the city well, but the trip up to Shymbulak was delayed due to the queue.
Svetlana T.
Our website ·
★★★★★Small downside: we waited in line for the cable car for about 15 minutes, but the view is worth it.
Maksim V.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We left 20 minutes late but in the end everything was fine.
Larisa I.
Our website ·
★★★★★legkaya ekskursia,mnogo istorii. gorod i gory – super
Viktoriya Ya.
2GIS ·
★★★★★No unnecessary details, everything was clear. Thanks.
Aizhan B.
Our website ·
★★★★★Interesting excursion, the views from Shymbulak are incredible.
Roman Z.
Our website ·
★★★★★In November we went with colleagues — it was a corporate outing. Everything was super, but we got shaken a bit in the bus on the serpentine road. Otherwise the organization is top-notch: the minibus arrived on time, the guide Dinara immediately won us over. First we saw the park and the cathedral, then Republic Square. We went up to Shymbulak by cable car, there was almost no line. From above there's a fantastic view of the mountains and the city. In November it's already cool, but we brought jackets. At the cafe on top we warmed up with mulled wine. We came back down without any adventures. Five hours flew by quickly, everyone was happy. Thank you for the tour, I recommend it for getting to know Almaty.
Sergey P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★The organization is excellent, the guide Dinara told many legends. I recommend it to everyone
Natalya C.
Our website ·
★★★★★At first we only wanted mountains, but this tour also gave us the city. Dinara, the guide, did a great job.
Aliya R.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Came with a friend for the weekend, wanted to see the city and go to the mountains. Dinara told about the city very interestingly. The ascent to Shymbulak is super, the panorama is incredible. It was a bit rushed with lunch, but that's minor.
Yerlan M.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Chose it because of Shymbulak, no regrets. Went with my wife, she wanted to see the city, and I wanted the mountains. In the end we saw the cathedral and went up on the cable car. From the top there's such a panorama that it takes your breath away.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the sightseeing tour in Almaty with ascent to Shymbulak
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 questionYes, the effort here is moderate: around the city you stroll through the park and the square, and you go up by cable car, without long uphill walks. Children and elderly people usually complete the route comfortably, but it's cool and windy at the top, so warm clothing is essential for everyone. If someone in the group has difficulty walking, message us on WhatsApp — we'll advise on how to organise everything more conveniently.
The whole trip takes about five hours, starting in the morning from the centre of Almaty. According to the programme, return to the boarding point is around 14:00, but the exact time depends on the group's pace and the weather at Shymbulak. The guide will warn you in advance if anything shifts.
The meeting point is in the centre of Almaty, at the «Almaty» hotel on 85 Kabanbay Batyr Street, with departure according to the programme at 09:00. Since departures are daily and the time is on request, we'll confirm the exact time for your date on WhatsApp. The guide will meet you at the location and help with boarding.
This amount includes all travel along the route by minibus, the services of a professional guide, round-trip cable car tickets and a bottle of water for each person. You pay separately only for food and drinks, for example a snack at the café on the mountain, as well as for souvenirs and personal purchases. There are no mandatory extra charges on the route.
Take comfortable walking shoes and be sure to bring a warm jacket or windbreaker — it's windy at the top even on a warm day. Sunglasses and sunscreen will come in handy, as well as a phone or camera for the panoramas. A small backpack for personal items will be more convenient than a bag.
The tour is individual: you travel only with your own group, without other fellow travellers, and the guide attends only to you. Booking is made via a WhatsApp message, 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.
