Almaty region tour
🏞️ ALMATY REGION TOUR
This 8-day cultural and adventure tour invites you to discover the diverse landscapes of southeastern Kazakhstan. From the surreal silence of the Singing Dune and colorful Aktau Mountains to the alpine serenity of Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes, and the dramatic canyons carved over millennia—this itinerary is an immersive journey through Kazakhstan’s natural wonders and cultural gems. It begins and ends in Almaty, blending wilderness exploration with city charm.
📌 QUICK FACTS
| 🔍 FEATURE | ✅ DETAILS |
|---|---|
| TOUR TYPE | Cultural & Adventure |
| REGION | Almaty Region |
| DURATION | 8 Days / 8 Nights |
| SEASON | Year-round (best from May–October) |
| GROUP SIZE | 1 to 16+ pax |
| START/END | Almaty City |
| FITNESS LEVEL | Easy to Moderate |
| ACCOMMODATION | Guesthouses, Camps |
| TRANSPORT | Private Vehicle |
| GUIDE | English-speaking local guide |
| MAIN ATTRACTIONS | Altyn Emel, Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes, Almaty |
| PRICE RANGE | $1470–$2650 per person |
🌟 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
🏙️ ALMATY CITY TOUR
Explore Soviet-era parks, colorful cathedrals, and local markets in Kazakhstan’s cultural capital.
🗿 TAMGALY TAS PETROGLYPHS
Ancient Buddhist carvings along the Ili River with spiritual and artistic significance.
🌊 KAPSHAGAI LAKE
A peaceful reservoir offering swimming, photography, and desert-meets-water views.
🌬️ SINGING DUNE IN ALTYN EMEL
Hike up a dune that hums like an organ when dry—one of Central Asia’s rare sound phenomena.
🏜️ AKTAU & KATUTAU MOUNTAINS
See fossilized seabeds and lava-formed rock sculptures in Kazakhstan’s painted desert.
🏰 CHARYN CANYON
Hike through the “Valley of Castles” carved over 12 million years—like a mini Grand Canyon.
🏞️ KOLSAY LAKES
Trekking, boating, and wildlife near high-altitude lakes surrounded by alpine forest.
🌲 KAINDY LAKE
Photograph haunting submerged trees in a crystal-clear earthquake-formed lake.
🥾 ACTIVITY PACE
🟢 DIFFICULTY: Easy to Moderate
🚶 DAILY ACTIVITY TIME: 2–4 hours of light hiking, walking, or exploring
🚐 DRIVING TIME: Medium to Long (Day 3–5 have longer drives)
🏡 ACCOMMODATION: Guesthouses, yurts, and campsites (basic but comfortable)
🧘 PACE: Balanced – enough time to explore, relax, and connect with nature and local life
🎒 WHAT TO BRING
👕 CLOTHING
Layers (hot days, cool evenings in mountains and desert)
Comfortable hiking shoes
Hat & sunglasses
Swimwear (Kapshagai or guesthouse pool)
Raincoat or windbreaker
🧳 GEAR
Daypack
Camera or drone for lakes and canyons
Power bank
Sunscreen & insect repellent
Personal hygiene kit (some guesthouses have shared bathrooms)
Reusable water bottle
Snacks for long drive days
❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
🗓️ WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE THIS TOUR?
May to October is ideal—pleasant weather and clear views. Winter options are limited due to snow in mountain roads.
🧍 IS THIS TOUR OK FOR BEGINNERS OR OLDER TRAVELERS?
Yes! No intense hiking, just light walks and optional treks. Suitable for ages 10+.
🏕️ WHAT IS THE ACCOMMODATION LIKE?
Local guesthouses or basic camps with meals prepared on-site. Clean and authentic, but not luxury.
📶 IS THERE INTERNET OR SIGNAL IN REMOTE AREAS?
Limited or no signal in Altyn Emel and mountain regions. Almaty has strong Wi-Fi and mobile service.
🚿 DO GUESTHOUSES HAVE PRIVATE BATHROOMS?
Some do, but shared bathrooms are common in smaller guesthouses.
🍽️ ARE MEALS INCLUDED?
Yes—most meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included unless stated. You’ll try authentic Kazakh food.
🐴 IS HORSE RIDING AVAILABLE?
Yes, optional horse riding is available at Kaindy Lake and Kolsay Lake.
🚗 HOW BUMPY ARE THE ROADS?
Some stretches (especially near Kaindy) are unpaved and bumpy. 4x4 vehicles are used.
ALMATY TOUR PACKAGE PRICE
| Group size | 1 pax | 2-3 pax | 4-6 pax | 7-9 pax | 10-12 pax | 13-15 pax | More than 16 pax |
| Price/Per person | 2650$ | 1970$ | 1880$ | 1750$ | 1630$ | 1550$ | 1470$ |
| No | Include service | Exclude service | Include service of Meals |
| 1 | Vehicle with a driver. | Items of personal nature | Lunch, Dinner |
| 2 | English speaking guide | Beverages, alcoholic drinks, bar bills, laundry | Per day 3 bottle water for per person /1,5 liter/ |
| 3 | Airport shuttle | Travel and insurance | One time Kazakh traditional food /Bes barmaq/ |
| 4 | Lunch, Dinner | International transportation | |
| 5 | Museum tickets. | Taxi | |
| 6 | Accommodation/Tourist camps and Hotel/ | Optional activities | |
| 7 | Single supplement /For Hotel or Tourist camp/ | ||
| 8 | Gratuity for the tour team |
ALMATY TOUR ITINERARY
📍 Day 1: Almaty City Tour
Start your journey in Kazakhstan’s cultural capital, Almaty.
🗺️Highlights & History
Panfilov Park: Dedicated to WWII heroes, this park is named after the legendary Panfilov Division.
Zenkov Cathedral: One of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, built without nails, still standing strong since 1907.
Museum of Musical Instruments: Showcases rare instruments from Kazakh nomadic culture.
Green Bazaar: Experience local trade, spices, fruits, meats, and handcrafted goods.
Kok Tobe Hill: Panoramic views and a famous apple monument (Almaty comes from “Alma”—apple).
✅Things to Do
- Ride the cable car to Kok Tobe
- Try traditional Kazakh dishes
- Stroll through Panfilov Park and shop for local crafts
- Capture sunset photos over the Tien Shan Mountains
🚐Driving Time: Minimal, all within the city
🍽 Meals:
- Breakfast: Hotel
- Lunch: Local restaurant
- Dinner: Optional at traditional restaurant
📍 Day 2: Tamgaly Tas & Kapshagai Lake
Dive into ancient spirituality and modern leisure.
🗺️Highlights & History
Tamgaly Tas Petroglyphs: Buddhist images carved into cliffs in the 17th century by monks and travelers—rare in a Muslim-majority region.
Kapshagai Lake: A Soviet-era reservoir turned beach destination with crystal-clear water.
✅Things to Do
- View ancient rock carvings
- Hike around the Ili River canyon
- Swim or relax at the lakeside
- Photograph desert-meets-water scenery
🚐Driving Time: ~2 hrs each way
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Picnic at the lake
Dinner: Hotel or local café
📍 Day 3: Altyn Emel National Park – Singing Dune
Enter Kazakhstan’s largest and most mystical national park.
🗺️Highlights & History
Singing Dune: A natural sound phenomenon—this 150m high dune emits a humming sound in dry weather, compared to an organ or jet engine.
Altyn Emel Steppe: Home to endangered kulan, argali, and golden eagles. A sacred zone for ancient Turkic and Scythian tribes.
✅Things to Do
- Climb the Singing Dune for epic desert views
- Slide down and “listen” to the dune
- Watch for wildlife like wild donkeys and gazelles
- Camp under the stars in absolute silence
🚐Driving Time: ~5 hrs
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: At camp
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: At camp (prepared by our cook)
📍 Day 4: Altyn Emel – Aktau Mountains
Today you hike through Kazakhstan’s “painted desert.”
🗺️Highlights & History
Aktau Mountains: 60-million-year-old fossilized seabed with striking red, white, blue, and green mineral layers. A rare geological wonder in Central Asia.
Katutau Rocks (optional): Hardened lava formations eroded into surreal shapes.
✅Things to Do
- Hike the Aktau canyons
- Look for ancient marine fossils
- Photograph colorful sandstone cliffs
- Stargazing at night in the desert
🚐Driving Time: ~2 hrs
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: At camp
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: At camp (prepared by our cook)
📍 Day 5: Charyn Canyon – Valley of Castles
Feel the thrill of walking through Kazakhstan’s mini-Grand Canyon.
🗺️Highlights & History
Charyn Canyon: Formed 12 million years ago by wind and water, its sandstone towers resemble ancient fortresses—hence the name “Valley of Castles.”
✅Things to Do
- Hike the 3 km canyon trail
- Take panoramic photos from the top ridge
- Enjoy a riverside picnic
- Optional rafting on the Charyn River (seasonal)
🚐Driving Time: ~4.5 hrs
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: Guesthouse
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: At guesthouse (prepared by our cook)
📍 Day 6: Kolsay Lake
Journey into alpine heaven at one of Kazakhstan’s most beloved lake systems.
🗺️Highlights & History
Kolsay Lake (1st): Surrounded by spruce trees and snow-dusted peaks, it’s ideal for trekking, boating, or simply relaxing. The lakes were once part of the Silk Road supply route and are now protected.
✅Things to Do
- Row a boat on the lake
- Trek around the shore or to the 2nd Kolsay Lake
- Wildlife spotting (marmots, birds, bears in distance)
- Evening bonfire by the guesthouse
🚐Driving Time: ~2.5 hrs
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: Guesthouse
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: At guesthouse (prepared by our cook)
📍 Day 7: Kaindy Lake – The Submerged Forest
Visit one of the most surreal lakes on Earth.
🗺️Highlights & History
Kaindy Lake: Formed after an earthquake in 1911, the submerged forest still stands beneath the crystal waters—spruce trunks poking above the surface like ancient spears.
✅Things to Do
- Short hike through pine forest to reach the lake
- Photograph the ghostly sunken trees
- Horse riding (optional)
- Fly your drone for incredible aerial shots
🚐Driving Time: ~1.5 hrs (bumpy mountain roads)
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: Guesthouse
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: At guesthouse (prepared by our cook)
📍 Day 8: Return to Almaty City
Wrap up your journey with a scenic drive back to urban life.
✅Things to Do
- Shop for souvenirs or local chocolate in Almaty
- Visit a local bathhouse or spa
- Enjoy a farewell dinner in the city
🚐Driving Time: ~5–6 hrs
🍽 Meals:
Breakfast: Guesthouse
Lunch: Picnic en route
Dinner: Optional (not included)
OTHER TOURS
Discover the surreal beauty of Mangystau on this 7-day tour. Visit Bozzhyra, Tuzbair, Torysh, Karynzharyk, and ancient mosques carved into the desert cliffs
Discover southern Kazakhstan in 8 days—explore Altyn Emel dunes, Charyn Canyon, Kolsay and Kaindy lakes, plus Almaty’s vibrant city and culture.
Discover Central Kazakhstan in 10 days—visit Astana, Burabay, Bayanaul lakes, sacred caves, and experience the rich nomadic heritage and wild landscapes.