Big Almaty Lake Private Tour
- 1 day
- Hotel pick-up in AlmatyHotel pick-up
- from $75 per person
Itinerary
Our Big Almaty Lake private tour from Almaty goes up to the lake at 2,511 m by car or on foot, then on to the Alma-Arasan Gorge.
Pick-up from your hotel in Almaty
Drive up the Big Almaty Gorge
Big Almaty Lake (2,511 m): viewpoints over the water and time for photos
Drive down to the Alma-Arasan Gorge
Walk through the Alma-Arasan Gorge
Walk back to the car
Drive back to Almaty
Drop-off at your hotel
Pick-up from your hotel in Almaty
Start the hike up to Big Almaty Lake: about 9 km each way with around 1,000 m of climbing
Big Almaty Lake (2,511 m): rest, snacks and photos above the water
Hike back down (about 3 hours)
Drive to the Alma-Arasan Gorge
Walk through the Alma-Arasan Gorge
Drive back to Almaty
Drop-off at your hotel
All year
The lake is turquoise from June to September. From November to April it is frozen and snowy, which many people love. After heavy snow the road sometimes closes for a day, and then we move your tour to another day.
Easy by car, hard on foot
By car the only walk is through the Alma-Arasan Gorge, at a relaxed pace. On foot it is a real hike: about 9 km each way to the lake with around 1,000 m of climbing, roughly 3 hours up.
Where the road takes you
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By roadReturn or transferRoutes are shown approximately.
Moments from this route
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What our travelers say
Tour to Big Almaty Lake
Great day tour to Big Almaty Lake and Alma-Arasan Gorge with Outfitters KZ. Damir was an excellent guide, professional, friendly, knowledgeable and very patient. The winter scenery was beautiful, and everything was well organised from start to finish. Highly recommended.
Incredible time touring Big Almaty Lake, Assy plateau, Turgen gorge and Issyk lake
We had an incredible time touring Big Almaty Lake, Turgen Gorge, Issyk Lake, and Assy Plateau with Nomad Outfitters. Our tour lead and guides Damir and Dayana were one of the best tour guides we have experienced. They were knowledgeable - Damir shared amazing insights into Kazakhstan's culture, history, nature, and traditions. They were very friendly and a great company on one-day long tours. The areas we visited were beautiful and definitely worth visiting. Assy plateau is unique in its landscape and natural beauty. Both Damir and Dayana are excellent drivers, especially Dayana and made the visits comfortable. We would definitely be back touring with them when we are return to Kazakhstan.
Highly recommended tour of Big Almaty lake & Assy Plateau
We spent 2 days travelling across, and in and around Almaty with the Damir and Diana from the Outfitters KZ team. Our first expedition was to the big Almaty lake. The Outfitters KZ team assigned Damir who organised for our pickup from the hotel, our hike to the big Almaty lake, as well as gave us an incredible cultural and historical glimpse of the Kazakh people. Or second expedition was to Assy Plateau via Turgen Valley and Issyk Lake. The road to the plateau isn't the greatest (requires 4WD) but Damir's Lexus and Diana driving alongside the easy conversions (in their impeccable english) made the long journey incredibly comfortable. We enjoyed learning about all things Kazakstan in our two days spent with Damir and Diana.
Very good experience
Tours to Charyn Canyon and Big Almaty Lake were very beautiful. I recommend this Company especially for Charyn Canyon. You leave the paved road and explore a really stunning place. Yeldar and Jenya are excellent drivers, very professional and friendly. Go there, Kazakhstan is really beautiful!
Questions about this tour
When is the best time to visit Big Almaty Lake?
All year. The lake is turquoise from June to September. From November to April it is frozen and snowy, which many people love. After heavy snow the road sometimes closes for a day, and then we move your tour to another day.
How hard is the walking?
You choose. By car it is easy: the only walk is through the Alma-Arasan Gorge, at a relaxed pace. On foot it is a real hike: about 9 km each way to the lake with around 1,000 m of climbing, roughly 3 hours up.
Is it suitable for children or older travelers?
By car, yes: the walks are short and suit all ages. At 2,511 m the air is thinner, so if you have heart or breathing problems, check with your doctor first.
What should I wear and bring?
We recommend you bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen
- A warm layer, as mountain and steppe weather changes fast
- Snacks, as lunch is not included
- Cash for personal expenses
We provide drinking water on every tour.
Is this a private or shared tour?
Private: only your group travels in the car, with your own guide. The price per person drops as your group grows, from $75 per person. Group tours with set dates start in March 2027.
What if the weather is bad, or I need to cancel?
Cancellation is free for our standard tours. For special tours or large groups, where we book rooms or activities in advance or pay a deposit to a hotel or partner, there is a 20% deposit: we refund it if you cancel 5 or more days before the tour, and not if you cancel later. If snow, heavy rain or a road closure makes the route unsafe, we move you to another day or cancel at no cost.
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