Very Hard
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Abaya (4,010 m) – Four-Thousander on the Southern Ridge
From $169/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Oktyabrenok (3,650 m) – The Training Wall of Tuyuk-Su
From $166/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Khrishatogo (3,950 m) – The Most Popular Beginner Alpine Route in Tuyuk-Su
From $145/person
Moderate
Guided Hike to Lunar Meadow & Shukur Waterfall – The Gateway to Big Almaty Lake on Foot
From $61/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 Uchitel (4,045 m) – The Easiest 2A in the Tuyuk-Su Cirque
From $169/person
Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Pioneer (4,031 m) – Long Approach, Short Climbing in the Tuyuk-Su Cirque
From $169/person
Very Hard
Guided Climb of Peak Molodaya Gvardiya (4,400 m) – The Crown of Big Almaty Gorge
From $183/person
Hard
Guided Hike to the Cosmostation (3,340 m) – Soviet Cosmic-Ray Research Station Above Big Almaty Lake
From $71/person
Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world, and its landscapes change completely as you cross it - glaciated peaks on the Chinese border, red sandstone canyons, singing dunes, chalk deserts on the Caspian, and pine-covered granite in the Altai. These are the routes we guide, region by region.
Most visitors start in the Ile (Zailiysky) Alatau above Almaty, where the trailheads are 30-60 minutes from the city and the peaks pass 5,000 m. It is the most accessible serious mountain range in Central Asia, and where the majority of our tours run.
East of the city, Charyn cuts a 150 m deep canyon of red sandstone through the steppe, and the Kolsai Lakes hold three turquoise lakes in Tien Shan spruce forest, an easy pairing with the sunken forest at Kaindy. North-east, Altyn-Emel has the Singing Dune, the striped Aktau chalk mountains and Przewalski horses. Turgen Gorge adds waterfalls and hot springs in a single valley.
Further out, Mangystau on the Caspian is the strangest landscape in the country - chalk cliffs, stone spheres and salt flats reached by 4×4 - and the Kazakh Altai in the east offers granite-framed lakes and deep-powder skiing.
Every tour is private, guided in English, and includes transport from the nearest city, lunch and park fees. Browse the routes below, or see all national parks of Kazakhstan.
Planning a trip across Kazakhstan
Distances are large and the seasons differ sharply between regions. The mountains around Almaty are at their best from mid-June to mid-September for high routes, with May and October ideal for lower trails and autumn colour. The desert regions - Charyn, Altyn-Emel, Mangystau - are far more comfortable in spring and autumn than in the summer heat.
If you have a week, our 7-day Almaty itinerary combines mountains, canyon and lakes without backtracking. For shorter visits, the best day trips from Almaty reach most of the headline sights and return the same evening.
All tours are 100% private, with an English-speaking guide, round-trip transport, lunch and national park fees included. You pay nothing until we confirm your date - see booking and FAQ.
