The Great Almaty Loop
- 3 days · 2 nights3 days
- Hotel pick-up in AlmatyHotel pick-up
- from $400 per person
Itinerary
The Great Almaty Loop is a 3-day private tour from Almaty: Lake Issyk, Bear Waterfall, the Assy Plateau, Charyn Canyon and the Kaindy and Kolsai lakes, with a night in yurts at Aul Tumar.
Leave Almaty
Lake Issyk, with a short walk to the lake (1 km each way)
Drive to the Turgen Gorge
Bear Waterfall: a 4 km trek, round trip
Drive to the Aul Tumar ethno-village
Check in to the yurts; lunch
Drive to the Assy Plateau and the observatory
A walk and photos on the plateau
Back to Aul Tumar
Dinner, free time and rest
Breakfast
Drive to Charyn Canyon
Viewpoints 1 and 2: the Valley of Castles, with a short trek of 2 km each way
Lunch at a local cafe
Viewpoint 3: Lunar Canyon
Viewpoint 4: the Stone Shelf
Viewpoints 5 and 6: Napoleon and the Austrian viewpoint
Leave Charyn for Saty village
The Black Canyon, part of the main Charyn River canyon
Check in at the guest house; dinner
Overnight at the guest house
Breakfast at the guest house
Drive to Kaindy Lake (15 km)
A short walk to the lake (2 km)
Three spots at Kaindy Lake
Walk back to the car (2 km)
Back to the guest house, stopping at a viewpoint over the Chilik River valley
Lunch at the guest house
Drive to the lower Kolsai lake (15 km)
A short walk along the shore
Drive back to Almaty (300 km)
Arrive in Almaty
April to November
April to November, when the Assy Plateau is open (the park can shift its dates depending on the weather). Outside these months we run a version that skips the plateau.
Moderate
Walks include about 4 km to Bear Waterfall and back, 2 km each way at Kaindy and 1 km each way at Lake Issyk.
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
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.
Questions about this tour
When is the best time for this tour?
April to November, when the Assy Plateau is open (the park can shift its dates depending on the weather). Outside these months we run a version that skips the plateau.
How hard is the walking?
Moderate. Walks include about 4 km to Bear Waterfall and back, 2 km each way at Kaindy and 1 km each way at Lake Issyk.
Is it suitable for children or older travelers?
Yes for children who don't mind bumpy roads. Parts of the route are off-road and bumpy, so we don't recommend it for travelers with back problems.
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
- A change of clothes and toiletries
- Cash for personal expenses
We provide drinking water on every tour.
Where do we stay in Saty?
In a trusted guest house in Saty village, in a private room with a private bathroom. Twin beds are available. On request we can arrange a stay in a traditional Kazakh yurt in Saty instead.
Can I ride a horse at Kolsai instead of walking?
Yes. Each person gets their own horse, led and controlled by a professional from start to finish. Let us know when you book.
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 $400 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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