★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Mini-group · Almaty
Tour to the Assy Plateau, Waterfall and Issyk Lake from Almaty
4.9 · 21 reviews
In one day, you will see three gems of the Zailiysky Alatau: the picturesque Assy Plateau, a roaring waterfall, and the turquoise Issyk Lake. The route is designed so you can enjoy nature, take hundreds of photos, and return to the city by evening.
WhenWed, Sat, Sun — departure at 07:00
Duration10 h
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $83/person
Program
Hourly program of the tour to the Assy Plateau, Waterfall and Issyk Lake
07:00
Meeting and departure from Almaty
We meet in the city center, board a comfortable minibus, and head towards the mountains.
08:30
Stop at the viewpoint
First photo stop — panorama of the mountains and the Issyk River valley. Brief route briefing.
09:30
Issyk Lake
Arrival at Issyk Lake — turquoise water against a backdrop of spruce forest. Walk along the shore, take photos.
11:00
Waterfall
Transfer to the waterfall (15-minute walk). Listen to the sound of water and enjoy the coolness.
12:30
Assy Plateau
Ascend to the Assy Plateau — endless green meadows with views of snowy peaks. Picnic with a panorama.
14:00
Lunch
Stop at a national cuisine cafe (paid separately). We recommend beshbarmak or lagman.
16:00
Return to Almaty
Departure back. Short stop along the way to buy souvenirs. Estimated arrival in the city at 17:00.
What's included
What is included in the tour to the Assy Plateau
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back in a comfortable minibus
- Services of a Russian-speaking guide-driver
- Environmental fees and permits for visiting
- Bottled water in the car
- Insurance for the trip duration
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Lunch at a cafe (approx. $7-$11)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Additional excursions upon request
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
- Camera or charged phone
- Sandwiches or snacks for a break
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 tour to the Assy Plateau
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Bek A.
Google ·
★★★★★The plateau is fire. The road is a serpentine. The driver drove carefully
Zarina T.
Google ·
★★★★★I vacationed with family. The kids were thrilled with the lake. The water was icy, but we swam. The guide warned us to be careful. The road wasn't great, but the experience made up for it.
Talgat U.
Our website ·
★★★★★Second time with this company. Reliable. I recommend the Assy Plateau to everyone.
Mira L.
Our website ·
★★★★★I wanted a quiet vacation. Chose this tour and wasn't wrong. The group is friendly, the guide is super. The waterfall roars, it calms you down
Andrey V.
Our website ·
★★★★★Decided with my brother to go out into nature, chose this tour because of the lake. Lake Issyk is super, the water is crystal clear, but departure was delayed by 20 minutes. Otherwise everything was great: the waterfall, the Assy Plateau, and lunch.
Zhanna D.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I chose the tour for the plateau. The views are mesmerizing. The guide did an excellent job
Arman K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Beautiful but cold at altitude. Guide Anzhelika suggested bringing a jacket.
Albina Sh.
Yandex ·
★★★★★We went as a group of three. The plateau is beautiful, the wind is strong. The guide told us where to hide. Thanks
Lyudmila M.
Google ·
★★★★★Went with a friend to take our minds off work. Lake Issyk is simply mesmerizing with its rich color, the photos turned out great. Aleksandr helped take a few good shots. The journey took almost the whole day, but it was worth it.
Aleksandr G.
Our website ·
★★★★★I'm traveling alone. Took a tour to the plateau. The places are wild and beautiful. The guide showed the viewpoints. I took little water with me, but that's my mistake
Daniyar N.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Went with my wife. The Assy Plateau is a fairy tale. Thanks to the guide for the patience
Aigul Zh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We chose the tour because of the waterfall, as friends had told us a lot about it. My wife and I went together, we wanted to take a break from the city bustle. No regrets: the organization was clear, the minibus arrived on time. Ilyas is a true professional, he told us everything and suggested the best spots for photos. Lake Issyk is very beautiful, the water is cold, but we didn't swim. On the Assy Plateau we made a stop, the weather was sunny. We liked lunch at the cafe, although it was at an extra cost. Overall, we were satisfied, we recommend it.
Ksenia L.
Our website ·
★★★★★I spent a long time choosing a tour, no regrets. Madina suggested the best route.
Olga P.
Our website ·
★★★★★Liked the lake. The water is crystal clear. The guide told a lot of interesting things
Sergey I.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went on this tour with friends, we had long wanted to check out what real highlands are like. The Assy Plateau at 2700 m is powerful, it takes your breath away. The air is intoxicating, breathing is easy. Andrey told legends about these places, very interesting. The road is gravel, but tolerable, the minibus is comfortable. At Issyk Lake we took a bunch of photos, the water is clear. The waterfall is not far from the parking lot, about a fifteen-minute walk. Lunch at the cafe was hearty, I recommend the beshbarmak. We returned to the city on time, tired but happy.
Denis P.
Google ·
★★★★★I had wanted to visit the Assi Plateau for a long time. Stumbled upon this tour by chance. Everything was great. Guide Sergey is knowledgeable. Too bad the weather let us down, it started raining. But I remember the views.
Erzhan B.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great place. The waterfall is loud and powerful. I recommend it to everyone.
Vladimir D.
Our website ·
★★★★★Gathered with colleagues to unwind after a busy week. Chose this route to see as much nature as possible in one day. Departure was set for 8 a.m., but the minibus was delayed by about half an hour. The guide immediately apologized and said we would make up time by shortening stops. And so it happened: we arrived at Lake Issyk even a bit earlier than planned. The water is turquoise, the forest around is indescribably beautiful. Then we were at the waterfall, the noise is so loud you have to shout. On the Assy Plateau we had a picnic, the weather was great. Overall everything went well, thanks for the organization.
Ekaterina F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I had long dreamed of seeing a mountain lake, and finally decided to go alone. Issyk exceeded all expectations: the color of the water is unreal, like in pictures. The guide showed and told everything, it was interesting. The only downside is little time for photos, I would have liked to stay longer by the shore. We went up to the Assy Plateau, the views are fantastic. The waterfall also impressed, especially its power. The road took about ten hours, but it was worth it. I returned with a lot of impressions and a hundred shots.
Sveta K.
Google ·
★★★★★Went with the class. The children are delighted with the waterfall. The guide is very kind
Gulmira S.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Was on the Assy Plateau for the first time. Very impressed. The guide showed everything
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 questionIn the mountains, even on a warm day, it can be windy, so bring a jacket or windbreaker and comfortable shoes for walking on uneven terrain. Sunglasses and sunscreen will also come in handy, as well as a camera or a charged phone. For food, you can bring snacks or sandwiches for a bite, and we provide water in the vehicle.
Most of the time you ride in a minibus between locations, and you walk very little. The walk to the waterfall takes about 15 minutes, plus leisurely strolls along the shore of Issyk and on the Assy Plateau. No special training is needed, but your shoes should be comfortable.
The short walking sections and the mini-group format make the trip comfortable for most people, including families with children and older travellers. But the day is long: departure at 07:00, return to the city around 17:00, with lunch and transfers. If you have doubts about a specific person, message us on WhatsApp and we will advise you on the route.
Our departures are on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 07:00 from Almaty. The weather in the mountains is changeable, so it is best to confirm the season and clothing for your date on WhatsApp. The guide will also tell you before departure what to prepare for.
The whole tour lasts about 10 hours, with departure from the city at 07:00. According to the programme, the approximate arrival back in Almaty is at 17:00, with a short stop for souvenirs along the way. The exact return time may shift due to the road and weather.
The price already includes transfer from Almaty and back, the work of the guide-driver, permits and ecological fees, insurance and water in the vehicle. Lunch at a national cuisine cafe and personal expenses such as souvenirs are paid separately. Booking is just a message on WhatsApp, with no prepayment: you pay on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash, and cancellation of the booking is free.
