Charyn and Kolsai Lakes
Hiking Tour, 3 Days

I did two tours: the 3-day tour with lakes and canyon, and a day trip to Kok Zhailau. Both were really brilliant. The landscapes are really varied and stunning, and you get to properly hike if you want (which I did). I did them in the winter, which of course was cold but also stunning with snow, ice, and not crowded places. Damir is a great guide, very friendly and knowledgeable and keen to make sure you are having a great time. I 100% recommend.

When travelling to a country where English is not the primary language, you have no local contacts, and limited info, arranging out of city expeditions is always a concern. We were quite lucky to have found Mariya at Outfitters - all our queries were promptly answered, we got a great guide, Yelbossyn, who showed us around everything, was never rushed, has a lot of local knowledge, and went out of his way to ensure we had a great experience. It also helps that he knows how to use a DSLR well :) The vehicle was in good condition, and his driving is very safe - both of which were critical factors for us. We did the 3 day Charyn Canyons + Kolsoi Lakes + Kaindy Lake trip. Overall everything was great. The only change I would recommend is perhaps a better quality of guest house - this one only had one shower and one WC, shared between 10-12 people, which could get a little busy in the morning when everyone has to leave. If we come back to Kazakhstan again, we would definitely do a trip with Outfitter KZ!

My husband and I took a short break to Kazakhastan ans spent about 8 days in Almaty, of which we spent 3 days with Nomad Outfitters. This was probably the highlight and the best decision of our trip. We would have never been able to explore, indulge and enjoy in the Kazakh land by ourselves or with any other tour operator the way we did with them. Vlad was amazing, and made us at ease while camping in the woods, through the canyons, lakes and forests. Natalya was kind enough to respond back to each of my Whatsapp query and planned our trip superbly. I have no words to describe the scenic beauty of this country, and the sites we witness through Charyn, Kolsai and Kandy. We trekked, we camped, we stayed in Saty Village, and we absolutely enjoyed the tales of the Kazakh land through Vlad's conversations. Definitely returning back to Kazakhastan, maybe during the snow and will plan another trip with Nomad Outfitters. Definitely recommended.

We had an absolute blast on our 2-night/3-day trip throughout Charyn Canyon and beyond. We were a culturally diverse group of about 15 grad students from all over the world - no easy feat for a tour operator to look after as we were like a herd of cats. Azamat and his team were extremely professional and gave us a top notch experience. We had a squad of 8 vehicles and they were very safety conscious, staying in touch with one another throughout the drives by walky-talky, advising on upcoming pot holes, rocks, mud, cars coming in the opposite direction on narrow roads, etc. They have visited these areas hundreds of times in various weather and we could not have been in better hands. They took loads of photos of us as per our request, were patient when we took more time than planned at certain stops, and incredibly efficient when we arrived at each of our campsites. They did not allow us to lift a finger - they set up all of our tents quickly and arranged for a chef to prepare delicious meals for us which they then served and cleaned up seamlessly. They treat their clients like VIPs and the team miraculously never showed signs of fatigue even though we were all exhausted after such an adventure. Irina is a powerhouse guide - she happened to be the only female driver and was an absolute pro. She was lovely to talk to on the drives and is patient and caring. The group of staff had a great team dynamic amongst themselves. On some of the hikes my fear of heights kicked in and whenever I hesitated, Maxim's hand was right there for me to grab onto. He always stayed nearby in case I slipped or spooked. If I were to have the opportunity to go back to Kazakhstan which I hope I do, I would 100% recommend this company, Azamat's team, and specifically request Irina as a driver-guide! Thank you Nomad Outfitters for a once in a lifetime experience!

We were a group of approximately 20 adult international student tourists from a school in the USA. Our organizers hired Nomad Outfitters for 3 days and two nights to take us to Bestamak, Temirlik, Lunar Canyons and various other other-worldly and beautiful places (The Austrian spot, Napoleon, the Stone Shelf, the Valley of the Castles, Saty Mountain Gorge, Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake, Saty Village, etc.). Not only was the scenery incredible, but the drivers friendly, cars comfortable, tents fun, and the cooking pretty amazing for outdoor camping dining. Azamat was very knowledgable when answering the many questions our inquisitive group pummeled at him, and the whole operation moved like clockwork, in a completely professional manner. If I were to go back to Kazakhstan on my own to do more nature treks, I would easily hire Nomad Outfitters again.