Sibin Lakes Tour – Five Granite-Framed Lakes in the Kazakh Altai Foothills
From $75/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Molodaya Gvardiya (4,400 m) – The Crown of Big Almaty Gorge
From $183/person
Moderate
Guided Hike to Lunar Meadow & Shukur Waterfall – The Gateway to Big Almaty Lake on Foot
From $61/person
Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Uchitel (4,045 m) – The Easiest 2A in the Tuyuk-Su Cirque
From $169/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Amangeldy (3,999 m)
From $145/person
Hard
Guided Hike to Peak Turan / IYaF (3,970 m) – The Nameless Near-Four-Thousander
From $91/person
Hard
Guided Hike to Kumbel Peak (3,200 m) via Gorelnik Gorge – Waterfalls, Hot Springs & Summit
From $65/person
Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Chkalova (3,932 m) – 1B Route in the Tuyuk-Su Cirque
From $166/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Molodezhnaya (4,147 m)
From $145/person
Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Pioneer (4,031 m) – Long Approach, Short Climbing in the Tuyuk-Su Cirque
From $169/person
Hard
Guided Hike to Peak Skalistyi (3,332 m) – The Best View of Big Almaty Lake
From $73/person
Hard
Guided Hike to Peak Karniznyi (4,017 m) – A Four-Thousander via Prohodnoe Gorge
From $73/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Khrishatogo (3,950 m) – The Most Popular Beginner Alpine Route in Tuyuk-Su
From $145/person
Medium
Day Hike to Sarkyrama Waterfall near Medeo
From $54/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Abaya (4,010 m) – Four-Thousander on the Southern Ridge
From $169/person
Find your next trail in the FriendHike app
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.