After arriving at 2am and just a few hours of sleep, I decided to go out and explore Almaty on foot. It would feel good after a long day of travel. Sure, there was the typical hustle and bustle of a city, but I was struck by the view that emerged as the sun rose. The city was surrounded by beautiful mountains, the streets are lined with trees and there are cozy coffee shops on nearly every corner.
My heart raced as I realized this place was even better than I had hoped and I knew that adventure was waiting out there in those mountains. What I didn’t yet appreciate is that you don’t need to even leave Almaty to find outdoor fun and adventure!
This 5-day Almaty itinerary is designed for outdoor lovers and adventure travelers with tips on how to make the most of your visit!
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Before You Go
Here are some essential tips to keep in mind before you go to Almaty:
- Many international flights land in the middle of the night. Ask about discounted early morning check-in at your hotel or short-term rental.
- Download and set up a payment method in the Yandex Go app for easy access to taxis upon landing. This is the primary way to get around Almaty.
- Verify that your phone qualifies for use of an eSIM and purchase in advance.
- Download Russian (and Kazakh, if available) in the Google Translate app.
- Be aware that English is not widely spoken. People speak primarily Kazakh and Russian. Be patient with communication.
- Almaty has significant rush hour traffic between approximately 8am-10am and 5pm-7pm on weekdays.
- It is common to book a private tour guide for day trips vs. self-driving. Many roads outside of Almaty require four wheel drive.
Day 1: Explore Almaty on Foot
While it will be tempting to sleep in if you arrived in the middle of the night, I recommend getting up in the morning to help reset your internal clock to the new timezone. Spend the day wandering the city, which will feel great after a travel day. All of the following stops are in walking distance of each other.
Green Bazaar
This isn’t a tourist stop, it’s truly where local people shop for things like fresh meat, spices, nuts, vegetables, honey, tea, and more. Plan at least an hour to just wander. Many vendors will offer free tastings.
The main hall is a large open room with many vendors in the center and small restaurants along the sides. Get a great view of the action from one of the mezzanines above the main hall. Be sure to wander beyond the main hall though too! You’ll find locally made clothing, shoes, home goods, and even home improvement items. It’s fascinating to see the hustle and bustle!
Central Mosque
From the Green Bazaar, it’s a short walk to the Central Mosque and you go through a beautiful park on the way. Walk around the building to take in the intricate design and, if it is not during prayer time, enter through the designated visitor entrance on the south side.
If you plan to go inside, prepare to remove your shoes and place them on one of the shelves. Also, women should be dressed modestly by avoiding tight clothing and covering their hair, arms, and legs.
Pro Tip: I carry a scarf with me to cover my hair and arms when visiting places of worship like this. However, there is a limited number of head coverings you can borrow inside the visitor entrance. During busy times, you may need to wait until one is available.
Panfilov Park
Next, make your way over to Panfilov Park. The park honors the 28 guardsmen that died under General Panfilov in World War II while delaying the German advance into Moscow. But, it’s also just a lovely park in the middle of the city with several places worth visiting!
In the middle of the park is Ascension Cathedral, which is a beautifully designed Russian Orthodox church and is said to be the second tallest wooden building in the world. What’s incredible is that it was completed in 1907 and then remained standing after a significant earthquake that occurred in 1911. The inside is meticulously designed and adorned in gold. Today, it remains an active place of worship. Again modest clothing and a head covering are required to go inside.
At this point, I was in need of caffeine and fortunately there’s a beautiful cafe in Panfilov Park as well! Agosto Coffee has a large outdoor patio surrounded by lush green trees. I opted for a seat indoors for the airconditioning and restrooms and absolutely loved the decor. This was the perfect place to rest and recharge for a bit.
Arasan Wellness & Spa
Just around the corner from Panfilov Park is Arasan Wellness & Spa. Visiting this historic Soviet-era public bathhouse is a unique cultural experience that I wouldn’t miss when visiting Almaty!
It’s important to understand that this is not a typical spa. This is a bathhouse frequented by locals as part of their daily or weekly routine. Inside you’ll find Russian and Finnish saunas, Moroccan and Turkish steam rooms, pools, and more. There are completely separate women’s and men’s areas and nudity is the norm.
You can pay for a certain amount of time and just wander around to enjoy at your own pace, or you can have a treatment as well. I did a seaweed body wrap and then paid for 1 additional hour for the bathhouse. I’ll write a full blog post on what to expect and how to navigate Arasan soon, just know that communication was challenging and led to some funny situations but I’m so glad I went here!
Arba Wine
Continue the chill vibes with a stop around the corner at Arba Wine for a Kazakh wine tasting. I really didn’t know what Kazakh wines would be like, but I was honestly really impressed. The tasting included three white wines (Chardonnay, Rkatsiteli, Riesling) and three red wines (Merlot, Cabernet France, Saperavi) in a cozy brick tasting room in the heart of the city.
The vineyards for Arba Wine are located in southeast Kazakhstan near the Alatau mountains, which apparently has ideal conditions for growing grapes. I enjoyed the Saperavi so much that I bought a bottle to take with me!
Pro Tip: In the afternoon on a weekday, walk-ins are fine but I would recommend a reservation in the evening or on weekends. Try messaging them on Whatsapp to make a reservation.
Dinner at Cece
Since it’s your first night and you may be tired, I recommend a low key but delicious dinner at Cece (pronounced sho-sho). Find this Japanese inspired speakeasy entrance tucked away in an alley across the street from the Green Bazaar.
Once you’re inside, Cece gives izakaya vibes, and so does the menu. I tried the marinated mushrooms, smashed cucumbers, and chicken karaage for a delicious and affordable meal. I also loved the Pretty Lady cocktail!
Rest
You’ll likely be exhausted after a day of exploring Almaty, so head to bed early to get some rest for the next day’s adventure!
Days 2-3: Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake (overnight)
Any outdoor lover that visits Almaty, should be sure to visit Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake and Kaindy Lake. While this can be done as a very long day trip (~18 hrs), I recommend planning this as an overnight excursion.
Pro Tip: It is both very common and I recommend booking a private guide for tours and excursions in Kazakhstan. I cannot recommend my guide, Mahambet, enough! He was just so kind and helpful, plus captured some great photos and videos for me. Find him on Instagram at @qqtravel.kz.
Day 2: Kolsai Lakes & Kaindy Lake
Drive 4-½ hours to Kaindy Lake to see the beautiful crystal clear turquoise water and sunken spruce forest. Getting to Kaindy Lake is part of the adventure, though! If you are with a private guide in a 4×4 vehicle, they can take you straight to the Kaindy Lake parking lot. However, if you are in a tour bus or other vehicle, you will need to go to Saty Village and ride a Soviet era 4xr truck 12km down a bumpy dirt road to the parking lot.
From the parking lot, it’s a 1.5km hike each way to Kaindy Lake. If you’re feeling adventurous and have the time, you can also hike the 12km dirt road from Saty Village.
From Kaindy Lake it’s about a 45 minute drive to the next stop! Kolsai Lakes are a chain of three alpine lakes in the Northern Tien Shan mountains. Each of the lakes is at progressively higher altitude. Most visitors go to Lower Kolsai, as it is the most accessible. You can hike or grab a ride from the parking lot down to the lake and then hike along the lake. There are also pedal boats available to rent.
Middle Kolsai is said to be beautiful if you have the time to hike the 3-5 miles each way from Lower Kolsai (depending on the route you take). Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time for this hike but would prioritize this on my next visit! Upper Kolsai is a much longer and more challenging hike.
Pro Tip: If you are facing Lower Kolsai from the parking lot, go to the left when you reach the trail along the shoreline and follow that until you reach the boat rentals. From here take the 225 steps up to Tary Cafe for a coffee shop with an incredible view (and nice bathrooms)!
Day 3: Charyn Canyon National Park
Think of this as the Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan! Also known as Valley of Castles, Charyn Canyon can be experienced from the rim of the canyon or from within the canyon. For stunning views from above, hike the 2-3.5 miles along the rim of the canyon. This is unpaved loose rock that is relatively flat. For incredible views from within the canyon and of the Charyn River, hike the 3-4 miles round trip down into the canyon.
If you don’t like the idea of hiking back up out of the canyon, there is a workaround. At the bottom of the canyon there is an eco-taxi pickup area. For about $2 (cash only) you can hop on an open-air 4×4 vehicle and ride back up. However, there can be a lot of people waiting for the eco-taxis and there is no system or line to wait in. So, expect to force your way on and/or wait for a bit until you can get a seat on one. This isn’t a great option if you are on a tight schedule.
There are toilets, a cafe, archery, and small shop at the visitor center.
Pro Tip: The terrain at the rim and down in the canyon is made of loose rock and can be slippery. I recommend wearing hiking shoes or boots to safely navigate the trails. I unfortunately wore tennis shoes and found it difficult to get around at some of the viewpoints.
I recommend this stop on the morning of the second day of this excursion so that you visit before the hottest part of the day. Charyn Canyon has very little shade and can be quite unrelenting in midday and afternoon sun. Also, it’s located between Almaty and Kolsai Lakes so it the perfect stop on the way back to the city.
After you’re done enjoying the canyon, make the 3-4 hour drive back to Almaty!
Day 4: Big Almaty Lake & Kok Tobe
As an outdoor lover myself, the Big Almaty Lake hike was so high on my list and I had even planned it out in detail. It’s one of the most recommended hikes in the area, but I was there for a conference and those activities prevented me from making this happen. Here is what I learned through my research!
There are several ways to get to the trailhead and, depending on which you choose, the distance will be different.
- Public Transport only: Take local bus #28 to the park entrance. Bus stops along this route in Almaty are very limited, so it can be difficult to get from where you are staying in Almaty to one of them. Hiking distance: 10 miles each way
- Public Transport + Taxi: Once you reach the park entrance on the bus, you can then take a taxi to the Big Almaty Lake trailhead. Hiking distance: 6 miles each way
- Taxi: Take a Yandex taxi (their version of Uber) to the Big Almaty Lake trailhead. You will need to pay the national park entry fee and the taxi fee. Then ask the driver to take you as far as they can (past the e-bike rentals). Hiking distance: 3.5 miles each way
- Group tour: The distance of this will completely depend on the tour, but if you don’t want to figure out the logistics yourself, try a tour like this one.
For a day trip, I recommend option 3 for a total 7 mile hike.
Pro Tip: Cell phone service can be limited, which may make calling a taxi back to Almaty difficult. Using an eSim, if your phone is compatible, will help avoid this issue. The visitor center also has wifi available. For trail navigation, downloading an offline map in Google Maps or All Trails is recommended.
There is a small shop if you need water, coffee or snacks before you begin the hike.
Ayusai Visitor Center
On the way back to Almaty, stop at the Ayusai Visitor Center in Ile-Alatau National Park. Not only does this stop offer beautiful views of the mountains and Ayusai Gorge, it’s also an educational stop with great coffee shops, Kazakh food, and a 20 minute hike to a waterfall.nBut, one really unique thing to do here is to go for a ride on the rainbow slide!
Optional: Kok Tobe
Depending on how you’re feeling and what time it is, you could make one final stop of the day at Kok Tobe for breathtaking sunset views of the city from over 3500 feet of elevation. Here you’ll find the iconic ferris wheel seen in most images of Almaty! Grab a bit from any of the street food vendors or enjoy a meal at one of the higher end restaurants.
To get back to Almaty, I recommend taking the cable car right into the city center!
Day 5: Choose-Your-Adventure
For the final day in Almaty, I’ve put together a choose-your-own-adventure so you can decide what most interests you!
Whatever you choose to do, I recommend ending your last day in Almaty by sipping a cocktail and enjoying the view from the 30th floor bar at the Ritz-Carlton. The inventive cocktails are both beautiful and tasty (I went more than once just to try more of them!)
Option A: Agritourism at Bizdin Auyl Eco-Farm
Visit a modern working farm just one hour outside of Almaty with beautiful mountain views. The name Bizdin Auyl means “our village” in Kazakh and it reflects the owners commitment to building a farm that serves the community in many ways.
During your visit you can pick fresh raspberry, try baursak (Kazakh fried bread), taste the local delicacy of fermented horse milk, taste fresh honey and watch them train horses. They are also just getting ready to open an eco-lodge on the property!
I really enjoyed this opportunity to learn about farming practices in Kazakhstan and the property is beautiful. Again, you can book a tour, rent a car, or take a Yandex. If you decide to rent a car, download the Yandex Maps app instead of Google Maps as it will be more accurate in this area.
Option B: Hike Furmanov Peak (for the strong hiker who wants a big day)
Looking for a challenge for your last day in Almaty? There are two ways to tackle the 9.5 mile Furmanov Peak loop trail for incredible views of the city skyline and mountains.
The shorter version of the hike is 5.8 miles round trip and takes you from the trailhead to the Furmanov Swing (also called the Heavenly Swing). After taking photos on the swing, you can turn around and head back to the parking lot. The longer version is 8.5-9.0 miles to Furmanov Peak. This will include steep inclines and some rocky scrambles, but the views of city and the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains make it worthwhile!
The trailhead to this hike can be found in the Medeu parking lot, which is about 30 minutes from Almaty.
As with any hike, make sure you are prepared with these day hike essentials and bring plenty of water and layers of clothing.
Option C: Medeu, Shymbulak & Butakovka Waterfall (big views with lighter hiking)
This option combines a shorter hike, cable car rides, and a high altitude skating rink in the mountains surrounding Almaty.
First, stop at Medeu to check out the high altitude ice skating rink that’s open in the winter! If you want to give it a go, find ice skate rentals just inside. In the warmer months, you can rent bikes, roller blades, and more. Note that from 2025-27, this part of the complex is going through renovations, so the activities may vary.
But, that’s ok because really the next stop is to take the cable car up the mountain to Shymbulak Ski Resort. From there you can do some light hiking and exploring or you could take additional cable cars further up the mountain! The highest point is Talgar Pass, where you can hike to a glacier, go paragliding, and grab a bite to eat.
Pro Tip: Check the conditions and cable car schedule before you visit Medeu and Shymbulak.
One your way back into the city, make a stop at Butakovka Waterfall (the Lower Waterfall). Technically, you can hike all the way here from Medeu but that is nearly 9 miles and that would make a really long day. The shorter hike to the Lower Waterfall is just 2.8 miles round trip from the Butakovka Gorge final parking lot/Visitor Center.
One thing that makes this hike unique is that there is a ledge you can walk along that goes behind the waterfall! While most of the hike is relatively flat, the section near the waterfall is notoriously slippery so wear appropriate shoes and be careful.
Pro Tip: There is not reliable cell phone reception at the trailhead, so I recommend pre-booking a return taxi before you arrive.
Have more time? Extend Your Kazakhstan Itinerary
There is so much to do and see in Kazakhstan for people who love the outdoors and adventure. If you have more than 5 days and want to explore beyond Almaty, here is what I recommend:
Altyn-Emel National Park
While you can technically do a day trip here, I strongly recommend spending more time in Altyn-Emel National Park because it is massive and getting around the park is slow moving. The roads inside the park require 4×4 and even still we got a flat tire. While you’re there, don’t miss Besshatyr burial mounds, Singing Dunes, and the Aktau Mountains.
Koksu River Whitewater Rafting
Located near Altyn Emel National Park in the Zhetysu region, the Koksu River is a great place for whitewater rafting for people of all skill levels. Our raft had a mix of new and experienced rafters and we had a great time!
Paragliding at Tau Zhetysu
Run right of the side of a mountain and experience paragliding at Tau Zhetysu! This was my first time paragliding and it’s safe to say that I am hooked.
4×4 Riding & Wild Camping in Mangystau
I tried so hard to fit this into my itinerary but just wasn’t able to make it happen. This is THE reason I will be going back to Kazakhstan someday. Mangystau is like being transported to another planet. Take a flight from Almaty to Aktau and then head out for some 4×4 overlanding and wild camping among the otherworldly rock formations.
Is 5 Days in Almaty Enough?
Well, not really. My days in Almaty were jam-packed and there is still a long list of things I wanted to do and explore. It’s an affordable, safe, and beautiful city filled with green spaces for outdoor lovers to enjoy. And, because it’s surrounded by mountains, adventure is literally on Almaty’s doorstep.
Related content to read next:
How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking
What to Wear When Hiking in Summer: A Prepared Girl’s Guide
Visit my Prepared Girl’s Guide page for more practical tips and gear lists for outdoor adventures!
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