Tanbaly Petroglyphs
Private Tour from Almaty
- 1 day
- Hotel pick-up in AlmatyHotel pick-up
- from $80 per person
Itinerary
Our Tanbaly Petroglyphs private tour from Almaty visits a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 4,000 Bronze Age rock carvings, about 170 km from the city.
Pick-up from your hotel; drive to Tanbaly (170 km)
Arrive at Tanbaly, home to over 4,000 petroglyphs
A guided walk among the Bronze Age carvings and what they mean
A short hike to the main petroglyph groups and viewpoints
Picnic lunch near the petroglyphs or in the shade
Free time for photos and a quiet walk in the Anrakay Mountains
Drive back to Almaty
Back in Almaty; drop-off at your hotel
All year, best April to October
We run this tour all year. April to October is the best time. Spring is the prettiest, when the steppe turns green and poppies flower in May. On summer days we start early, before the midday heat.
Easy
You walk about 2 km in total on dirt paths between the carving groups, with a few rocky steps up to the viewpoints.
Where the road takes you
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By roadRoutes are shown approximately.
Moments from this route
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What our travelers say
An unforgettable tour. Outfitters KZ is top notch.
If you're looking for a tour from Almaty look no further than the top notch Outfitters KZ. They accommodated us on short notice and kept in touch as to our itinerary and relevant details. Damir, our driver/guide for the Charyn Canyon, Kaindy and Kolsay Lake tour was well trained, professional and courteous. He went above and beyond. He arranged an early breakfast so we could arrive early at Kaindy Lake, before others tourists came. He also made sure that my husband who has leg problems had transportation as close to the sights as possible. Damir even brought sunscreen and raincoats for us. On top of all this Damir has an encyclopedic knowledge of Kazakhstan creating an immersive experience on many levels. Our accommodations on the tour were comfortable and the home cooked meals delicious. The picnic lunch was a real treat. Our day trip with Alex to the Tambaly Petroglyphs was also very enjoyable. Outfitters KZ helped create unforgettable memories of our travels in Kazakhstan.
Amazing Tambaly petroglyphs trip
We had an amazing trip to Tambaly petroglyphs with Andrey! We were the only tourists on that day. It's a 2 km walk around hills with petroglyphs. We also stopped at the museum before entrance. The petroglyphs are mind blowing! The driver and the guide Andrey is a great person - we highly recommend him! Thank you Andrey!
Reliable and professional operator
We took two different one day trips with Yeldar: one to the petroglyphs of Tanbaly and other to the Charyn canyons. He did a great job driving, guiding us and sharing insights and history about the country. Unfortunately in the Tanbaly tour we didn't have the support from Mr. Boris Zheleznyakov, PhD in history, as he was out of town and we had to rely on the explanation of a local shared tour guide. This is the only reason why I wouldn't not rate this as 5 stars. Other than that it was a great experience!
Questions about this tour
When is the best time to visit Tanbaly?
We run this tour all year. April to October is the best time. Spring is the prettiest, when the steppe turns green and poppies flower in May. On summer days we start early, before the midday heat.
How hard is the walking?
Easy. You walk about 2 km in total on dirt paths between the carving groups, with a few rocky steps up to the viewpoints.
Is it suitable for children or older travelers?
Yes. It is one of our easiest day trips and a good choice for children and older travelers. The drive is about 2.5 hours each way.
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
- 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 $80 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.
Anything else? Message us on WhatsApp
Place guideTanbaly Petroglyphs: UNESCO Rock Art near AlmatyThe carvings, tickets, the walk and the best time to go.Read the guide 
