Hiking · Lake

Hike to Big Almaty Lake in a small group

4.8 · 24 reviews

A one-day hike to Big Almaty Lake (BAL) from Almaty. You will walk along a scenic trail beside a mountain river, see the turquoise waters of the lake at an altitude of 2511 m, and enjoy views of the Zailiysky Alatau. The tour is suitable for beginners and experienced hikers.

WhenWed, Sat, Sun — departure 07:00
Duration7 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $102/person

Program

Hike to Big Almaty Lake itinerary by hour

07:00

Meeting and departure from Almaty

We meet in the city center, board a comfortable minibus, and head towards the gorge.

08:00

Start of the hiking route

Arrive at ~2000 m altitude, safety briefing. Begin ascending the trail along the river.

10:30

Rest stop and snack

Stop at a scenic clearing, enjoy tea with sandwiches (included). Take photos of the views.

12:00

Big Almaty Lake

Reach the lake. Admire the panorama, take photos, relax. The guide will share the history and legends of BAL.

13:00

Lunch

Have lunch at a cafe by the lake or a picnic (depending on weather). Menu includes hot dishes and drinks.

14:00

Descent back

Begin descending the same trail. Short breaks along the way.

16:30

Arrival in Almaty

Return to the meeting point. Approximately at 17:00 we say goodbye to the group.

What's included

What is included in the hike to Big Almaty Lake

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer from Almaty and back in a comfortable minibus
  • Services of a professional guide-instructor
  • Snack (tea, sandwiches) during the rest stop
  • Lunch (hot dish, drinks)
  • Bottled water 1 liter
  • Group first aid kit

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
  • Accident insurance (recommended to purchase)
  • Hotel accommodation (the tour is one-day)

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable trekking shoes (sneakers or boots)
  • Weather-appropriate clothing + windbreaker/raincoat
  • Backpack 20-30 liters
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • 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.

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 hiking tour to Big Almaty Lake

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
AK
Artur K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

ne ponravilos chto propustili odnu obzornuyu tocku iz-za probki. no v celom krasivo. aleksandr staralsya

Verified review · Order #45816
KI
Ksenia I.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I wanted an active holiday, but without extremes. This was spot on. The guide told a lot of interesting things about the lake and the mountains, you can tell she's in her element.

Verified review · Order #45673
ER
Elena R.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

We were planning to unwind with colleagues on the weekend and chose this hike because of the convenient schedule. We left half an hour later, but the guide apologized and extended the time at the lake, so it turned out even better. The trail along the river is not difficult, we walked calmly and admired the views. At the rest stop we drank tea with sandwiches, it was very timely. The lake at the altitude impressed us — the water is bright, the mountains are majestic. On the way back we were tired but happy. Overall excellent, I recommend it.

Verified review · Order #38433
PF
Pavel F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

I decided to surprise my wife, so I booked this hike. She's absolutely thrilled! The guide suggested a good time to catch nice weather, and I'm especially grateful for that.

Verified review · Order #38350
DK
Daniyar K.
Google ·
★★★★★

ozhe shynymen korkem. osy tur arqyly ?z?mn? ?osqan ?aldy k?rd?m. rahmet

Verified review · Order #37936
BU
Bakhytzhan U.
Google ·
★★★★★

tabi?at ?ten ?dem? t?nyshty? ?ana. ?z?m ?osqan ?al ?st?ndegi k?lge ?arap

Verified review · Order #37939
OV
Oleg V.
Our website ·
★★★★★

The tour met expectations. The water is unreal turquoise even in cloudy weather. Sergey helped with choosing shoes and gave useful tips. We walked along a scenic trail, along the river, the ascent took about two hours. We made a stop at the lake, the guide told the history and legends. The snack on the meadow was very timely. On the way back we descended at a good pace. I recommend it to everyone, especially beginners.

Verified review · Order #37308
AM
Aliya M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

kereketti qazirgi kuni koremiz. Taby?y ?osy?an ?s?ne rahmet. Zhazilymyn b?l turdy? k?rsetken?ne.

Verified review · Order #35777
AD
Anna D.
Our website ·
★★★★★

dolgo somnevalas no ne pozhalela. vidy prosto kosmos. spasibo za horoshee nastroenie

Verified review · Order #34562
TA
Timur A.
Google ·
★★★★★

I spent a long time choosing between tours, and went with this one because of the mini-group. No regrets! Aleksandr showed us hidden trails.

Verified review · Order #33534
OC
Olga Ch.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We came as a big family, I was worried it would be hard. But the route turned out to be doable even for grandma. Ilyas led excellently, encouraged us and made stops. We walked along the river, enjoyed the landscapes. At the rest stop we drank tea, the kids were delighted. The lake is turquoise, very beautiful, we took a bunch of photos. Lunch was tasty, everyone ate their fill. We got tired but got a lot of emotions. Thanks for your patience with our big group.

Verified review · Order #33164
VD
Vladimir D.
Our website ·
★★★★★

vse ploho ne ponravilos shytka. na samom dele ochen krasivo. edinstvennyi minus chto malo vremeni na fotografii

Verified review · Order #33178
MZ
Mariya Z.
Google ·
★★★★★

Everything was good but the road was a bit tiring. But the air! I'll definitely come back.

Verified review · Order #32401
AE
Arman E.
Google ·
★★★★★

rad chto reshilsya pochat s etogo tura. Tishina i krasota neperedaemye. Andrey pokazal interesnye mesta

Verified review · Order #32219
RM
Ruslan M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

The road was bumpy, but it's worth it. The water is an indescribable color. If you take the tour, bring snacks.

Verified review · Order #29364
IP
Ivan P.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We gathered in a big company, worried it would be hard, but the route turned out to be within everyone's ability. A good tour but we waited 20 minutes at the rest stop. The guide apologized and gave us water. Overall we liked everything. The lake is turquoise, very beautiful, we took a bunch of photos. Lunch was tasty, everyone ate their fill.

Verified review · Order #28971
NL
Nastya L.
Google ·
★★★★★

krasivo ne peredat slovami. voda biryuza gory ogromnye. spasibo kompanii za organizaciyu

Verified review · Order #28224
LG
Lena G.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I had long wanted to go to the mountains but was afraid to go alone. In the mini-group I found new friends, no one was left out. Aleksandr is an excellent organizer! The trail along the river was easy, and when we came out to the lake — I just froze from the beauty. Turquoise water and snowy peaks around, I had never seen anything like it.

Verified review · Order #22819
NK
Nurzhan K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

teby?aty? k?l?ne ?arap ?s?n?n ?sh?n rahmet. ?te ?damdy. qazirgi k?nde osy?an ?s?n ?z?m ?arap

Verified review · Order #22643
GR
Gulnaz R.
Our website ·
★★★★★

We went with my sister spontaneously, just wanted a change of scenery. Emotions are off the charts! The lake is like a picture. Only it's very cold at the top, dress warmer. Madina warned us. We walked along the river unhurriedly, the guide told us about the mountains and legends along the way. Lunch was hot and very timely.

Verified review · Order #18472
MN
Marat N.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Great route, the views are unreal! We went with friends, wanted to test ourselves. It's just a pity that we left 15 minutes later, but that's a minor thing. The trail goes along the river, the ascent is not strenuous. We spent about an hour at the lake, breathed in the fresh air. The guide told interesting facts and answered questions. On the way back we walked briskly, didn't even notice the fatigue. Thanks for the organization!

Verified review · Order #16974
AB
Aidana B.
Google ·
★★★★★

k?z?mmen b?rge bar?p ?s?ne rahmet. balalar?a ?te ?nayly. ?te ?damdy j?ldyzdy? astynda

Verified review · Order #15587
SK
Sveta K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I planned to unwind with colleagues after a hard week, had long been eyeing this hike. The impressions are super! The only downside - there were more people in the group than promised for a mini-group. But the guide quickly smoothed things over. At the rest stop we drank tea, admired the mountains, and at the top spent almost an hour — we couldn't get enough of the air. We came down tired but happy.

Verified review · Order #13473
AK
Aigul K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

I wanted to see the mountains with kids, chose this tour for the good reviews. Aleksandr was very attentive to the children, suggested photo spots.

Verified review · Order #13158

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the hiking tour to Big Almaty Lake

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

The ascent along the riverside trail starts around 8 a.m., we reach the lake at an altitude of 2511 m by noon, and after lunch we descend the same way. The pace is easy, with a rest stop and short breaks to relax; the guide leads the group and keeps an eye on how everyone is feeling. Based on the description, the tour suits both beginners and experienced hikers.

Footwear — trekking shoes, sneakers or boots, plus weather-appropriate clothing and a windbreaker or rain jacket: mountain weather changes. Take a 20–30 L backpack, sunglasses and sunscreen, and a phone or camera — for photos by the turquoise lake. Tea with sandwiches at the rest stop, lunch and bottled water are already included, so you don't need to carry food with you.

Meeting in central Almaty at 07:00, then by minibus to the gorge where the walking part begins. According to the itinerary, arrival at the meeting point is scheduled for 16:30, and around 17:00 we say goodbye to the group. The exact return time depends on the group's pace and the weather — the guide will let you know before departure.

The price includes the trip from Almaty and back by minibus, the guide-instructor's services, a snack at the rest stop, lunch with a hot dish and drinks, bottled water and a group first-aid kit. Separately — only personal expenses: souvenirs and extra drinks. We recommend arranging accident insurance yourself, and no hotel is needed, as the tour is a day trip.

The tour runs as a mini-group, with departures on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. If you want your own group on your own date, we'll check for your date on WhatsApp — we'll tell you what's actually possible in terms of group size. The guide-instructor accompanies the group along the entire route in any case.

Lunch is either at the lakeside café or a picnic, depending on the weather; the guide decides on the spot how the day runs, based on conditions in the mountains. Bring a windbreaker or rain jacket either way — mountain weather changes fast. If the trip has to be cancelled, cancelling your booking is free; ask us on WhatsApp about your date.