★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Rafting · Whitewater rafting
Ili River rafting tour from Almaty
4.9 · 23 reviews
Active one-day tour: rafting on the Ili River. Start from Almaty, route passes along picturesque banks with a picnic lunch. Thrill of rapids and calm sections for swimming — ideal for beginners and groups.
WhenApr–Nov
Duration11–12 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $30/person
Program
Ili River rafting itinerary by hour
06:30
Meeting in Almaty
Departure from the city center, transfer to the starting point on the Ili River.
09:00
Arrival and briefing
Arrival at the base, changing clothes, safety and raft handling instructions.
09:30
Start of rafting
Launch with medium-difficulty rapids, first adrenaline rush from splashing water.
12:00
Lunch stop
Picnic on the shore — hot meal, tea, rest, and swimming.
13:30
Continue rafting
Calmer section, perfect for photos and enjoying the scenery.
16:00
Finish and transfer
End of rafting, changing clothes, return trip to Almaty.
18:30
Return to Almaty
Estimated arrival time, drop-off in the city center.
What's included
What's included in the Ili River rafting tour price
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Transfer from Almaty and back
- Services of an experienced instructor-guide
- Raft rental, life jacket, and helmet
- Lunch and drinking water
- Organizational fees and permits
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Accident insurance (optional)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Swimsuit or change of clothes
- Waterproof shoes (sneakers or sandals)
- Towel and dry clothes for the return trip
- Sunscreen and hat
- Camera in a dry bag (if available)
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 Ili River rafting
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Olga F.
Google ·
★★★★★The Ili River rafting was super. The nature is gorgeous. We only waited about 20 minutes in line at the start, but the organizers apologized.
Yerzhan T.
Our website ·
★★★★★Our department had long wanted to go somewhere together, but not just for shashlik. A colleague suggested rafting, and we agreed. In the morning we got on the bus and set off, the road took a while, but it wasn't a burden on the way. At the place we were given life jackets and helmets, and a briefing on paddling was conducted. The descent down the river was thrilling, especially on the rapids, everyone squealed and laughed. Then we stopped on the shore, ate hot food, some even swam. The atmosphere brought the team closer, after this it's easier to work together. Everything went smoothly, without hitches.
Daniyar E.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great weekend. The 25 km rafting flew by. Lunch by the cliffs was a fairy tale. Just didn't have enough time for swimming.
Elena N.
Google ·
★★★★★I really liked the rapids and swimming. Thanks to the instructor for the interesting story. The rafting is calm, the water is warm. I recommend it to everyone.
Arman D.
Our website ·
★★★★★Friends recommended this tour. I didn't regret it. Rafting along the Ili is unforgettable. The instructor steered the raft excellently. We swam and took photos. The downside is the queue for the descent. But still awesome.
Damir S.
Google ·
★★★★★We had a great time. The rafting went by unnoticed. Anzhelika told us the meeting point and kept in touch on the road. Only the departure was delayed by an hour.
Aizhan Zh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★We celebrated the end of the season with colleagues, wanted something unusual instead of a regular banquet. We chose rafting and hit the spot. Organization is top-notch — the bus arrived on time, the instructor showed and explained everything, no one was rushed. Madina picked a convenient date, thanks to her. On the river it was great: the rapids tickle your nerves, and on the calm sections you can just admire the banks and chat. Lunch in nature is a nice bonus, though for me the food was a bit plain, I expected more. Overall the day went great, everyone was satisfied.
Asan K.
Google ·
★★★★★My sister and I went, she had long wanted to try rafting, while I prefer a quiet holiday. But we decided and didn't regret it. In the morning we gathered in the center, got to the place fine, on the way the group coordinator explained everything and handed out water. The briefing was quick, without unnecessary fuss. On the water at first it was a bit scary, but we went through the rapids with excitement, splashes flew in all directions, we laughed like children. Then there was a calmer section, where we could relax and look at the banks. At the stop we had lunch and even managed to swim, the water was pleasant. We returned tired but happy. I will definitely come again with friends.
Bauyrzhan S.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I liked the tour. The nature is amazing. The guide is great. We saw the riches. There was a lot of meat for lunch. We enjoyed it cheaply. The downsides are the road dust. But it's worth it.
Aliya S.
Google ·
★★★★★Beautiful place! The rafting on the Ili River will be remembered for a long time. The guide gave great historical insights. I recommend it to everyone.
Viktoriya D.
Google ·
★★★★★Friends invited me along, I had never sat in a raft before, was a bit worried. But the instructor turned out to be fun, joked, encouraged, so the fear quickly passed. The rafting is not extreme, just right for beginners, the rapids invigorate but don't scare. The water is warm, at the stop we swam to our heart's content. The weather also pleased. The downside — at the start we had to wait about twenty minutes while everything was prepared, but it didn't spoil the impression. Overall a good day, I recommend it to those who want to try for the first time.
Nurlan B.
Our website ·
★★★★★Awesome rafting, I recommend it. The instructor explained the paddling technique perfectly. Delicious lunch with big portions. We'll be back!
Katya Z.
Google ·
★★★★★We rafted with colleagues. It really brought us together. Anzhelika organized everything perfectly. The rapids were impressive. The only thing is the road from the city to the spot is bumpy, but that's not the organizers' fault.
Maksim Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★We gathered as a group for the weekend, wanted to escape the city. A friend recommended this rafting, and we didn't go wrong. The banks of the Ili are incredible, rocks, greenery, the water sparkles in the sun — we took photos almost non-stop. The instructor is knowledgeable, along the way he told us about the river and the surroundings, answered questions. We swam in a calm spot, the water refreshed us after the heat. The road to the place and back is bumpy, but it's part of the adventure, we were ready. We ate lunch in nature with appetite. We returned tired but with a sea of emotions.
Gulnara K.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went rafting with the family. The kids really enjoyed it. The captain was the captain of the boat, he made everyone laugh. The lunch was delicious. We'll go again next year!
Sveta L.
Google ·
★★★★★The rafting was super. Nature, water, lunch — everything was top-notch. The departure was slightly delayed, but that's minor.
Irina M.
Google ·
★★★★★The rafting went great. The nature of Kazakhstan is beautiful. Lunch on the shore is very atmospheric. Only the departure was delayed by half an hour. But overall we're satisfied.
Anzhelika P.
Our website ·
★★★★★Vse ochen ponravilos. Spokojny spusk, krasivye vidy. Gid och pozabotilsya o nas. Edinstvennoe, obed hotelos by pomyasnee. No v osnovnom otslichno.
Larisa G.
Our website ·
★★★★★First time on a raft. Really liked it. The guide explained everything, we felt safe. I'll come back with my kids.
Ruslan P.
Google ·
★★★★★Good tour, only downside was too little time at stops. Would've liked more time for photos. But overall fine.
Aigul K.
Google ·
★★★★★The Ili River rafting was out of this world! The water was warm, the views were beautiful. Lunch at the Nomad's Castle was delicious. Thanks to the guide for the awesome organization!
Talgat R.
Our website ·
★★★★★The reason I chose the tour was my friend's advice. The rafting was amazing. The instructor was a guide and explained everything. The rapids and nature made an impression. I'll come again!
Marina V.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I really liked the rapids and the calm sections on the Ili. The instructor told us a lot. The only downside is the bumpy road, but it's worth it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about rafting tours
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 main thing is a change of clothes and footwear that you don't mind getting wet: sandals or sneakers. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, a dry set for the way back, a hat and sunscreen. Bring a camera only in a waterproof case — on the rapids the spray flies actively.
Yes, the route is designed for beginners as well: before the start the guide explains how to behave on the water and work with the raft. Rapids of medium difficulty alternate with calm sections, so your strength is distributed comfortably. No special physical training is needed.
The rafting starts around 09:30, the finish and changing — at 16:00, after which the bus goes back. In Almaty, drop-off in the center is approximately at 18:30. The exact arrival time may shift due to the road, the guide will tell you before departure.
This amount includes transfer from Almaty and back, an instructor-guide, a raft, a life vest and a helmet, as well as lunch and drinking water on the route. Only personal expenses are paid separately — souvenirs or additional drinks. Accident insurance can be arranged optionally.
The tour format is group, but write to us on WhatsApp — we'll check whether it's possible to arrange a departure for your company on the chosen date. We book via a WhatsApp message, without prepayment. Payment on the day of the trip — Kaspi, card or cash, cancellation of the booking is free.
Rafting departures on the Ili run from April to November. The water in the river is cool even on warm days, and on the rapids you will definitely get wet, so a change of clothes is useful in any month. The guide will tell you the specific forecast for your date before departure.
