★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Day tour · from Almaty
Lake Issyk: Museum & Trout Farm — Tour from Almaty
4.9 · 21 reviews
Just 70 km from Almaty lies turquoise Lake Issyk, surrounded by mountains. You'll visit the Issyk Historical and Cultural Museum, home to the famous 'Golden Man' and Saka artifacts, then head to a trout farm to taste fresh fish and stroll along the ponds.
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration7 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $40/person
Program
Hourly itinerary for the Lake Issyk tour
08:00
Departure from Almaty
Group meeting in the city center (Panfilov St., 100) and departure toward Issyk Gorge.
09:00
Stop at the observation deck
Brief stop for photos with views of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains.
09:30
Arrival at Lake Issyk
Walk along the shore, photos against turquoise water and cliffs. Free time for exploration.
10:30
Visit to Issyk Museum
Museum tour: exploring Saka-era exhibits, including a reconstruction of the 'Golden Man'.
12:00
Lunch at a lakeside cafe
Traditional Kazakh cuisine (beshbarmak, kuurdak, lagman) — at an additional cost.
13:30
Trout Farm
Visit to fish-breeding ponds: feed the trout and buy fresh fish.
15:00
Return to Almaty
Transfer back, estimated arrival by 4:00 PM.
What's included
What's included in the Lake Issyk tour price
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by comfortable minibus
- Services of a Russian-speaking guide
- Entrance tickets to Issyk Museum
- Bottled water on the bus
- Insurance during the tour
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Lunch (from $7)
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, fish)
- Additional excursions (optional)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes for walking on uneven terrain
- Warm jacket or windbreaker (it's windy in the mountains)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Water bottle (can be refilled on the bus)
- Camera or smartphone for photos
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 Issyk Lake Tour
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Lyazzat M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★The tour is organized excellently, Madina suggested a good route, the lake is beautiful. We went with my husband for the weekend, wanted to see the mountains and water. The Issyk Museum impressed with artifacts, especially the Golden Man. At the trout farm we bought fresh fish, then cooked it at home. The weather was sunny, the photos turned out great. The guide told everything along the way. There was water on the bus, that's a plus. Thanks for the organization!
Askhat T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Lake Issyk is a pearl near Almaty! The Golden Man Museum is very informative. Thanks to the guide for the organization, everything went great. We went with my husband, we were satisfied.
Saule N.
Google ·
★★★★★A tour for the soul, nature calms, the museum enriches, the trout pleases, Aleksandr and Anzhelika are great. We went with friends to unwind. Lake Issyk is surrounded by mountains, the air is clean. At the museum there is an interesting excursion, we learned about the Sakas. At the trout farm you could feed the fish and buy fresh ones. Lunch at the cafe by the lake was filling, but for an extra charge. On the way back we were tired but satisfied. Thanks to the guide and driver for the comfort!
Gulmira E.
Our website ·
★★★★★We had long wanted to see Issyk, we didn't regret it at all, the museum impressed, the trout is delicious. We went with family, the kids liked it too. The guide showed and told everything. The lake is very beautiful, the water is clear. At the trout farm we bought fish and cooked it at home. We left early in the morning and returned by evening. Everything went great!
Sergey V.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I liked everything: the lake, the museum, the trout, but the departure was delayed by 10 minutes, not critical. We went with colleagues, wanted to take a break from the city. Lake Issyk is very beautiful, the water is clear. At the museum we learned a lot of new things about Saka culture. At the trout farm it was interesting to look at the fish, we even fed them. Lunch was not included in the price, but we brought our own. The guide told fascinating stories. Despite the small delay, everything went well.
Timur Sh.
Google ·
★★★★★Lake Issyk is a wonderful gift of nature. The exhibits in the museum were interesting, especially the Golden Man amazed us. Thank you! We went with our family, the children also liked it.
Aigerim Zh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Visiting Issyk-Kul was my dream. The water is clean, the fish is tasty. The museum is interesting. Thank you!
Ruslan A.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Good tour, liked everything, went with family, the lake is clean, the water is cool, the museum is interesting for kids
Botagoz K.
Google ·
★★★★★The trip to Issyk-Kul was fantastic! The fish was delicious. The Golden Man in the museum amazed me. Thanks to Andrey!
Elena R.
Our website ·
★★★★★Poezdka udalasya voda zelenaya ryba vkusnaya muzei krasivyi spasibo the guide za pomosh
Marat D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Went with friends and chose this tour because of the Golden Man Museum. Interesting exhibits, but the road to the lake was bumpy.
Tatiana I.
Our website ·
★★★★★Vse otlichno o4en ponravilos museum interesniy voda chistaya
Kuanysh B.
Google ·
★★★★★I chose the tour because of the reviews, I didn't regret it, the lake, museum, trout – everything is top-notch. We went with a friend, wanted to see the mountains and the lake. Guide Ilyas accompanied us, everything was clear. At the museum I especially liked the Golden Man. At the trout farm we fed the fish and bought fresh ones. Lunch was not included, but we ate at the cafe. Overall an excellent trip!
Oleg P.
Google ·
★★★★★Vse super mesto o4en krasivoe museum interesen
Dinara B.
Google ·
★★★★★Turo4ka o4en krasivaya voda zelenaya ryba vkusnaya spasibo Sergeyu za organizaciu
Ainur K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Lake Issyk is just a fairy tale, the water is turquoise and the trout at the farm is super fresh. Really enjoyed it.
Aliya T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★The vacation was a success. We chose the tour because of the trout farm, the child was delighted feeding the fish. The lake is clean, the water is transparent. In the museum we liked the Golden Man. We went as a family, the weather was excellent.
Aleksandr L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Malinki ostalos dovolnim ozerom i muzee voda prozrachnaya
Ivan G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Krasota voda izumrudnaya ryba svezhaya museum poznavatelno no doroga tlesetsya
Dmitry F.
Our website ·
★★★★★Everything was great, the lake is a fairy tale, the trout is fresh. Only we stood in line at the museum entrance for about 15 minutes. We vacationed with a friend, decided to go out of town for one day. The road took about an hour, but the views out the window were worth it. At the lake the water is turquoise, we took a bunch of photos. In the museum the exhibit is interesting, I especially liked the Golden Man. After the museum we went to the trout farm, there we fed the fish and bought fresh ones. Lunch at the cafe was tasty, but we paid for it separately. Overall the impressions are excellent, I recommend it!
Zhanna S.
Google ·
★★★★★The lake is amazing! The water of Issyk-Kul is clear, the fish is delicious. Thanks to Aleksandr!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Issyk Lake Tour
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 sections are short and without climbs: a stroll along the shore, a visit to the museum and the territory of the trout ponds. A car takes you between the stops. Even if someone gets tired, they can wait by the car — the guide will suggest where it's more convenient.
In the mountains by the lake it's windy, so a jacket or windbreaker will come in handy even on a warm day. Choose comfortable shoes — you'll be walking on uneven ground by the water and in the museum. Also take sunglasses and sunscreen, and you can fill your own bottle with water right in the car.
Departure from Almaty at 08:00, meeting in the city center at 100 Panfilov Street. We arrive at the lake around 09:30, enter the museum at 10:30, and leave the trout farm at 15:00. We'll be back in Almaty around 16:00, but we'll confirm the exact departure time for your date on WhatsApp.
This amount already includes the road from Almaty and back, the guide's work, tickets to the «Issyk» museum, water in the car and insurance. Separately, on site you pay only for lunch at the cafe by the lake, fresh fish at the farm and souvenirs if you want. Lunch will cost from $7, but you can bring food with you.
For children the route is easy — short walks, the museum with the «Golden Man» and feeding the trout in the ponds usually appeal even to little ones. The tour is private, so we adjust the pace and breaks to your child. Message us on WhatsApp if you're travelling with a child and we'll suggest how to plan the day.
Write on WhatsApp the date on which you want to go with your own group to Issyk Lake — we'll book it without prepayment. Pay on the day of the trip: Kaspi, card or cash. If plans change, cancel the booking free of charge, without penalties. We'll agree the start time with you; by default the meeting point is 100 Panfilov Street at 08:00.
