Shymbulak Almaty: Trail Overview, Skiing, Prices, and More
From $87/person
Easy
Alma-Arasan Hot Springs in Almaty Mountains
From $60/person
Easy
Medeo in Almaty: The Ultimate Ice Skating Rink
From $62/person
Easy
Charyn Canyon Day Tour from Almaty – Valley of Castles & Prices (2026)
From $62/person
Easy
Day Tour to Issyk Lake from Almaty
From $82/person
Easy
Chundzha Hot Springs: Day Trip or Weekend Getaway from Almaty
From $82/person
Easy
Oi-Qaragai (Lesnaya Skazka) Mountain Resort near Almaty
From $72/person
Easy
Ak-Kayin Birch Grove: Guided Walk from Almaty
From $72/person
Easy
Day Tour to Assy Plateau from Almaty (Bear Waterfall & Highland Meadows)
From $80/person
Easy
Kok-Tobe: Almaty’s Highest Viewpoint and Gateway to the Mountains
From $56/person
Easy
Day Tour to Lake Kaindy (Sunken Forest) from Almaty
From $99/person
Easy
Day Tour to the City of Nomads from Almaty
From $70/person
Easy
Guided Tour to Altyn-Emel National Park from Almaty – Singing Dune, Aktau Mountains & Ancient Burial Mounds
From $184/person
Easy
Mangystau Expedition – Boszhira, Torysh & the Alien Landscapes of Western Kazakhstan
Easy
Sibin Lakes Tour – Five Granite-Framed Lakes in the Kazakh Altai Foothills
From $75/person
Easy
The Helipad Walk
From $43/person
Easy
Bestamak Canyon Tour from Almaty – The “Little Charyn” Without the Crowds
From $78/person
Easy
Tamgaly Petroglyphs Tour from Almaty – UNESCO Bronze-Age Rock Art at Tanbaly
From $79/person
Easy
Tuzkol Lake Tour from Almaty – The Salt Lake That Mirrors Khan Tengri (7,010 m)
From $190/person
Easy
Medeo to Shymbulak on Foot: the Small Almaty Gorge Walk
From $60/person
Easy
Tamgaly-Tas: Buddha Carvings & Climbing on the Ili River
From $70/person
Easy
Terrenkur in Almaty: The City’s Riverside Health Trails
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GPS routes, trail conditions, and hiking partners for the Almaty mountains
We run private guided hiking tours in the mountains above Almaty - from gentle half-day walks through spruce forest to multi-day expeditions on the four-thousanders of the Ile (Zailiysky) Alatau. Every tour is 100% private: your group only, and the pace is set by you.
Every route below is one we have walked ourselves. Each is graded from 1/5 - families and first-timers, no experience needed - up to 5/5, roped alpine ascents with a certified guide, so you can choose by difficulty instead of guesswork.
Day hikes start at $100 per person and the price drops as your group grows, to around $50 each for six people. Every tour includes an English-speaking guide, round-trip transport from Almaty, lunch on the trail, national park fees and a first aid kit. You pay nothing until we confirm your date.
Not sure where to start? The easiest hikes near Almaty are a good first look - or tell us your dates and fitness and we will suggest a route.
When to hike near Almaty
Altitude decides everything here. Almaty sits at about 800 m while the trails climb to 3,000-4,500 m, so the foothills and the high peaks are often in completely different seasons on the same day.
Mid-June to mid-September - the main season. High passes, alpine lakes and the four-thousanders are open.
May and October - best for lower trails, waterfalls and autumn colour, while the high passes are still, or already, under snow.
December to February - snowshoeing, the ski resorts, Medeo skating and the hot springs, plus serious winter ascents for experienced mountaineers.
Our month-by-month guide covers this in detail, and we watch the forecast right up to your date.
How booking works
Pick a tour and a date - or just tell us your dates and fitness and we will suggest a route. We confirm the guide, the transport and the conditions, then a small deposit reserves the day and the balance is paid on the day of the hike. Cancel free up to 48 hours before for a full refund. If we cancel for weather or safety, you choose a free reschedule or a full refund.