The best day trips from Almaty take you to canyons, mountain lakes and a desert with a singing dune, all within 1-5 hours of the city. Below are eight places with travel times, and full tour programmes are on our Almaty tours page.
For each place: what to see, how long the drive takes and where to read more. At the end: a tour comparison, seasons, a packing list and the mistakes that most often ruin a trip.
How to choose a day trip from Almaty
The main factor is time. The mountain lakes above the city take half a day. The canyons take a full day. Kolsai, Kaindy and Altyn-Emel mean an early start and a return late in the evening. The second factor is physical effort: at some spots you drive right up to the water, at others you walk along a dirt track.
Half-day trips: the mountains above Almaty
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise lake at 2,500 metres, 1-1.5 hours from the city centre. You are driven almost to the shore and there is no uphill hike, so the trip suits children and older parents. Our Big Almaty Lake tour runs daily and also includes the Alma-Arasan Gorge and the Ayusai visitor centre, with a return to the city around 3 pm. For the road and entry rules, see our guide on how to get to Big Almaty Lake.
Issyk Lake and Bear Falls
A mountain lake in the Issyk Gorge, 70-80 km east of the city, and a waterfall in the Kotyrbulak Gorge. Both fit into one day, and the drive to the lake takes 1.5-2 hours. The lake survived the 1963 mudflow, and a nearby museum tells its story. A path along a mountain stream leads to the waterfall: an easy walk with no hard climb, and it stays cool by the water even in July. Read more in our article on Issyk Lake and Bear Falls, and see the programme on the Issyk Lake and Bear Falls tour page.
Medeu, Shymbulak and Kok-Tobe: for a free evening
These spots are in or next to the city, and a couple of hours is enough. Medeu is a high-altitude skating rink in a gorge above Almaty, with a long staircase up to the dam. Shymbulak is a ski resort above Medeu, reached by cable car; in summer people come to walk and ride the lifts for the views. Kok-Tobe is a hill with a viewpoint over Almaty, and a cable car runs up from the centre. This combination works well on your arrival or departure day.
Charyn Canyon
The symbol of the region lies about 195 km from Almaty, a 3-4 hour drive. The canyon stretches for about 154 km along the Charyn River, and its rocks are around 12 million years old. The main section is the Valley of Castles: about 2 km of weathered cliffs that look like towers and walls, with a path down to the river. Getting there on your own is covered in our guide on how to get to Charyn Canyon, and the programme is on the Charyn Canyon tour page.
The Black and Moon canyons near Charyn
Both canyons lie on the road to Kolsai and are rarely visited separately. The Black Canyon is part of the Charyn canyon system, with dark sheer walls and a river at the bottom. The Moon Canyon has pale smooth slopes that resemble the surface of the Moon. There are few signs and the last stretch is a dirt road, so without a guide these spots are easy to miss. The Black Canyon is part of the 6-location day tour, and the Moon Canyon is included in the VIP 7-location tour and the two-day tour.
The Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy
Kolsai Lakes
A cascade of three lakes near Saty village, 300 km from Almaty, 4-5 hours one way. You can drive to the first lake, while a hiking trail leads to the second and third. How the lakes differ and which one you can reach in a day is explained in our article on the first, second and third Kolsai lakes. The one-day programme is on the Kolsai Lakes tour page.
Lake Kaindy
A lake with a sunken spruce forest that formed after the 1911 earthquake. Tian Shan spruce trunks rise out of the turquoise water. The last part of the road is off-road: on the 6-location tour the 4x4 UAZ ride is paid separately, while on the VIP tour and the two-day tour the UAZ is included.
Altyn-Emel: the desert in one day
A national park with the Singing Dune, about 150 metres high, the chalk Aktau Mountains striped in white, red and ochre, and the volcanic Katutau rocks. The drive to the park takes about 5 hours, and the sights are linked by dirt tracks. The tour runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a 4:30 am pick-up, and you must bring your original passport or ID card. What to see in the park is covered in our article Altyn-Emel: what to see, and the programme is on the Altyn-Emel tour page.
| Place | Travel time one way | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Medeu, Shymbulak, Kok-Tobe | in or near the city | 2-4 hours |
| Big Almaty Lake | 1-1.5 hours | half a day |
| Issyk Lake and Bear Falls | 1.5-2 hours | full day |
| Charyn Canyon | 3-4 hours | full day |
| Kolsai and Kaindy | 4-5 hours | long day or 2 days |
| Altyn-Emel | about 5 hours | long day |
Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy in one trip: which tour to choose
The eastern sights are best combined, since the road to Kolsai passes the canyons. Panda Travel runs three programmes that differ in transport, the set of stops and the pace.
| Tour | Transport and departures | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 6-location day tour | Setra coach, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | Valley of Castles, Charyn River, Black Canyon, Kolsai, Kaindy (UAZ at extra cost) |
| VIP 7-location tour | Mercedes Sprinter for up to 16 people, daily | Charyn, Moon Canyon, Black Canyon, Kolsai, Kaindy, UAZ included |
| Two-day 7-location tour | overnight stay in Saty | day 1: Charyn and Kolsai, day 2: Kaindy, Black Canyon, Moon Canyon |
The Moon Canyon is not part of the 6-location tour. If you want to see all the canyons in a smaller group, choose the VIP tour. If a there-and-back trip in one day is too tiring for you, take the two-day option and travel without rushing.
Where to go from Almaty with 2-3 free days
- Two days. Day one: Big Almaty Lake in the morning and Kok-Tobe in the evening. Day two: the VIP 7-location tour or the 6-location tour, covering the canyons, Kolsai and Kaindy in one go.
- Three days. Big Almaty Lake and the city, then the two-day tour with a night in Saty: Charyn and Kolsai on the first day, Kaindy, the Black Canyon and the Moon Canyon on the second.
- Three days with the desert. Charyn or the combined tour, Altyn-Emel on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, and a rest day in between with Issyk or Medeu.
Two long trips in a row are exhausting, as each involves 8-10 hours on the road. Put a short trip into the mountains above the city between them.
Day trips from Almaty: on your own or with a tour
Medeu, Kok-Tobe and Shymbulak are easy to reach by taxi or bus, and you do not need a guide. Private cars have limited access to Big Almaty Lake, so a tour that drives you up to the water is more convenient. The scheduled bus to Charyn drops you at the turn-off from the highway, and from there you walk. Getting to Kolsai, Kaindy and Altyn-Emel on your own requires a 4x4, spare fuel and knowing where to turn. A tour solves this: transport, guide, eco fees and timing are set in advance.
Best season for day trips from Almaty
Spring brings green slopes and full rivers. Summer means warm water in the lakes but heat in the canyons and the desert. Autumn brings yellow larches and birches around Kolsai, settled weather and the best season for Altyn-Emel. In winter Kaindy freezes, and the spruces locked in ice make for unusual photos; allow extra time for the road. A month-by-month breakdown is in our article on the best time to visit Charyn and Kolsai.
What to pack for a day trip from Almaty
- passport or ID card, and the original for Altyn-Emel;
- a warm layer even in summer: it is cool and windy at altitude;
- sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat;
- comfortable shoes with a good grip for dirt-track descents;
- water, snacks and cash for small purchases;
- spare socks for the dune and a bag for rubbish;
- a charged phone and a power bank: mobile signal in the canyons is weak.
Day trips from Almaty with children
With young children, pick places without long drives or climbs: Big Almaty Lake, Medeu, Kok-Tobe and the first Kolsai lake. Charyn suits older children who can handle 3-4 hours in a car and a walk down a trail. Altyn-Emel, with its early pick-up and the climb up the dune, is for school-age children and adults.
Common mistakes when planning a day trip from Almaty
- Planning Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy on your own in one day: hours are lost on dirt roads and looking for turn-offs.
- Driving to Kaindy in a city car: the last stretch is for 4x4 vehicles only.
- Forgetting your ID: documents are checked in the national parks.
- Going to Altyn-Emel in the height of summer in dark clothes and without water.
- Booking a long trip on your departure day: you get back late in the evening.
FAQ: day trips from Almaty
Where can I go from Almaty for half a day?
Big Almaty Lake: 1-1.5 hours of driving, and you are back in the city by 3 pm. That leaves the evening free for Kok-Tobe or Medeu.
Can I see Charyn and Kolsai in one day?
Yes, on a combined tour with an early start: the 6-location day tour or the VIP 7-location tour.
Where can I go from Almaty with children?
Big Almaty Lake or the first Kolsai lake, as you can drive right up to both.
Which place is the most unusual?
Lake Kaindy with its sunken forest and the Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel.
How is the VIP tour different from the 6-location tour?
A Mercedes Sprinter for up to 16 people instead of a coach, daily departures, the Moon Canyon on the route and the UAZ ride to Kaindy at no extra cost.
Which day trips from Almaty run every day?
The Big Almaty Lake tour and the VIP 7-location tour depart daily. Altyn-Emel runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Do I need a passport or ID for the trip?
Yes. ID is checked in the national parks, and for Altyn-Emel you need the original document.
Every place is available with a guide and transfer from the city centre. Pick your route on our Almaty tours page by Panda Travel.
