★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Jeep tour · Nature
Tour to the Assy Plateau: Observatory and Waterfall
4.9 · 21 reviews
Spend a day in the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau: visit the high-altitude observatory, see the Turgen Waterfall, and try cheese at a farm. An ideal format for those who want to see space, waterfalls, and Kazakh cuisine in one day.
WhenWed, Sat, Sun — departure at 07:00
Duration11 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $78/person
Program
Tour program on the Assy Plateau by the hour
06:30
Meeting and departure from Almaty
We meet at the Palace of the Republic. Boarding a comfortable minibus, briefing.
07:00
Departure towards Turgen
The road through picturesque foothills, a short stop for photos.
09:00
Arrival at the Turgen Waterfall
Walk to the 30 m high waterfall. Time for photos and rest.
10:30
Visit to the Assy Observatory
Excursion around the observatory, story about stars and telescopes.
12:30
Lunch at the cheese farm
Tasting of local cheeses and homemade lunch.
14:00
Free time and walk
Walk across the plateau, enjoying the views.
16:00
Departure to Almaty
Return with a stop in the Turgen Gorge.
18:00
Arrival in Almaty
End of the tour at the Palace of the Republic.
What's included
What is included in the cost of the tour to the Assy Plateau
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer by comfortable minibus from Almaty and back
- Services of a guide-escort
- Entrance tickets to the observatory and the waterfall
- Lunch at the cheese farm (hot dish, cheese tasting)
- Bottled water on the bus
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Insurance (arranged upon request)
- Tips for the guide
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes for mountain walks
- Warm jacket (it's cool in the mountains even in summer)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera or phone for photos
- Water bottle (can be refilled)
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 the Assy Plateau Tour
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Nurzhan M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Liked the tour, everything is organized. The road was a bit difficult, but the views are worth it. With Aleksandr's help everything went well. We went with our family, especially the observatory was interesting for the children. The delicious food at the cheese farm also pleased us.
Saule K.
Our website ·
★★★★★I had long wanted to visit the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, and when I saw this route, I immediately got excited. We went with my sister, we both love stars and nature. The waterfall amazed us: the noise, the splashes, the power! Then we went up to the observatory, and the guide told us about the stars so enthusiastically that even the clouds didn't spoil the impression. At the cheese farm we tried homemade cheese — finger-licking good. We got a bit tired from the road, but it was worth it. We will definitely come back again.
Ivan N.
Our website ·
★★★★★Chose the tour based on reviews, didn't disappoint. The guide knows a bunch of stories
Askhat T.
Our website ·
★★★★★I was choosing among several tours, and this one seemed the most packed. I wasn't wrong, especially liked the observatory. Madina answered all my questions.
Aidos Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★My name is the guide's name, haha. But the guide was different. The tour was fire, I saw both the observatory and the waterfall. The road killed the suspension but it was worth it.
Marat Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★I wanted to see the stars, but it was cloudy during the day. However, the hike to the waterfall was memorable.
Tatiana I.
Google ·
★★★★★The tour met expectations, the waterfall was beautiful, the plateau was huge. The only thing was it was cold at the observatory.
Ruslan M.
Our website ·
★★★★★Departure was delayed by half an hour, but it didn't spoil the impressions. The waterfall is amazing.
Aliya R.
Our website ·
★★★★★The hike to the waterfall is a bit tough but the views are worth it. The guide is very caring
Arman B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★The tour is good, but the road to the plateau is very bumpy. But the views from the plateau are stunning. The waterfall also liked. Madina helped with the choice. We went with colleagues, wanted to unwind after the work week. At the observatory it was cool, but interesting: they told us about telescopes and stars. Lunch at the farm is a separate pleasure, the cheeses are beyond praise. We got a bit tired from the shaking, but the impressions outweigh everything. Thanks for the organization!
Alexey P.
Our website ·
★★★★★I took the tour for the observatory — didn't regret it. Ilyas showed the route perfectly. The only downside: departure was delayed by 20 minutes. But that's minor compared to what we saw. The waterfall is powerful, especially after a little rain. On the plateau there's space, the air is clean, even my head spun. At the observatory the guide told about the stars, showed telescopes — very informative. I liked lunch at the cheese farm, especially the homemade cheese. The way back passed unnoticed, everyone shared photos. Overall a great day, I recommend.
Natalya P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I had long dreamed of seeing mountains in real life, and here also an observatory and a waterfall — how could I miss that? We went with my husband, he is an astronomy enthusiast, so it was a surprise for him. The waterfall impressed: it stands, roars, greenery around. At the observatory they showed us telescopes, told about constellations — even during the day it was interesting. Lunch at the farm was hearty, cheeses tasty. The only thing, I would like more time on the plateau to just sit and look. But overall I didn't regret a single minute, I recommend to everyone who wants to distract from the city.
Viktor F.
Google ·
★★★★★vzyal tur potomu chto davno hotel uvidet' observatoriu. plato assy i vodopad tozhe poradovali. edinstvennoe vyezd zaderzhali na 10 minut. Gid pomog s marshrutom
Elena F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We went for beautiful photos, but the weather let us down — cloudy. However, the waterfall was powerful and guide Sergey told us a lot of interesting things about the plateau.
Vladimir D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Assy Plateau is like another planet, the observatory impressed me.
Daniyar S.
Our website ·
★★★★★I've been wanting to see the high plateau for a long time. I chose this tour and didn't go wrong. The Assi Plateau is out of this world, the observatory is interesting, the waterfall is powerful. Downsides: departure was delayed by 15 minutes, but guide Andrey smoothed it over with his humor.
Aigul R.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went to the Assy mountains, it's very beautiful. The observatory is good too. The waterfall is amazing. The guide gave a lot of information
Svetlana G.
Our website ·
★★★★★I wanted a break from the city, and this tour helped. Assa Plateau is peaceful and quiet, with the waterfall roaring. The guide told me the best spot for photos.
Temirlan A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Organization is super, saw the observatory and the waterfall. Thanks to the guide for the company
Dinara K.
Google ·
★★★★★The Assy Plateau is incredible, the waterfall is powerful! The tour is very eventful, I recommend it.
Olga V.
2GIS ·
★★★★★went with a friend, chose the tour because of the photogenic places. The guide told very interestingly, the road is bumpy but it was worth it
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Assy Plateau 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 questionBring a warm jacket: it's cool in the mountains even in summer, and your day is long — a waterfall, an observatory, a walk across the plateau. You'll need comfortable shoes for walking on mountain trails, plus sunglasses and sunscreen. A camera and a water bottle will also come in handy — you can refill on the bus.
The walking sections here are short: a stroll to the waterfall and an unhurried walk across the plateau, with no overnight stays. If your companions handle the road fine and are ready to walk a little, the day will go smoothly. The guide will advise you before departure on how best to pace yourselves.
The whole tour takes 11 hours: departure from Almaty at 07:00, return to the Republic Palace at around 18:00. The road goes through the foothills with a short photo stop, and the last stretch includes a stop in the Turgen Gorge. The exact timing depends on the road and the weather — the guide will keep you updated on the way.
We meet at 06:30 at the Republic Palace in Almaty, departing at 07:00 — on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. At the observatory you'll have a tour with a talk about the stars and telescopes. This is the high-mountain part of the route, so a warm jacket will be especially useful.
You won't have to pay for entry on the spot — the pass to the waterfall and the observatory is already included in $78 per person. You only pay separately for personal expenses such as souvenirs and extra drinks, optional insurance, and tips for the guide. There are no other mandatory extra charges on the route.
The tour runs as a mini-group on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, so message us on WhatsApp and we'll confirm whether places are available for your Sunday. We hold the booking without prepayment — just based on your message. On the day of the trip you pay for everyone at once via Kaspi, by card or in cash, and if your plans change, cancellation is free.
