Almaty Tours & Things to Do
Discover the best Almaty tours and things to do in Kazakhstan’s mountain-ringed former capital: hike to the turquoise Big Almaty Lake, marvel at the layered rock walls of Charyn Canyon, journey to the alpine Kolsai and sunken-forest Kaindy lakes, ride the cable car up Kok Tobe, ski or skate at Shymbulak and Medeu, and browse the bustling Green Bazaar. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
Explore Almaty by interest
Whatever brings you to Almaty — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Almaty
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Charyn Canyon
Valley of Castles.
Kolsai Lakes
Alpine jewels.
Kaindy Lake
Sunken forest.
Big Almaty Lake
Turquoise lake.
Shymbulak
Ski & cable car.
Green Bazaar
City market.
Singing Dune
Altyn-Emel.
Ile-Alatau
Mountain park.
Almaty in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & Medeu
- 2Day 2: Charyn Canyon
- 3Day 3: lakes
- 4Big Almaty Lake
Almaty nature adventure
- 1Charyn Canyon
- 2Kolsai Lakes
- 3Kaindy Lake
- 4Yurt stay
3 hr awayCharyn Canyon
Valley of Castles.
4 hr awayKolsai Lakes
Alpine jewels.
1 hr awayBig Almaty Lake
Turquoise lake.
40 min awayShymbulak
Ski & cable car.
Overnight awayAltyn-Emel
Singing dunes.
City awayGreen Bazaar
Central market.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Almaty visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–May)
Green and blooming, with snow lingering on the peaks.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Warm and ideal for canyons, lakes and hiking.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden colours and clear skies — beautiful.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and snowy — prime ski season at Shymbulak.
For the lakes
June to September is best for Kolsai and Kaindy.
Best overall
Summer and early autumn are ideal.
One day
The city and Medeu-Shymbulak.
Two days
Add Charyn Canyon.
Three days
Add the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes.
For scenery
The canyon and lakes.
For skiing
Shymbulak in winter.
With kids
Kok Tobe and Medeu.
On foot
The green city centre is pleasant to explore on foot.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours are easiest for the canyon and lakes.
Taxis
App taxis are cheap and handy around the city.
Metro & buses
A small metro and buses serve the city.
Where to stay
Stay in the city centre near Panfilov Park.
Tenge
Kazakhstan uses the tenge; carry some cash for trips.
Book canyon trips
Charyn Canyon and lake tours sell out — reserve ahead.
Layer up
Mountain weather is cold; bring warm, waterproof layers.
Wear good shoes
Sturdy shoes help for the canyon and lake hikes.
Sun & altitude
The mountain sun is strong — bring sunscreen and water.
Try the bazaar
Sample local food and dried fruit at the Green Bazaar.
Summer & autumn
Visit June to October for the lakes and canyons.
Charyn Canyon
Canyon day trips sell out — book ahead.
Lake tours
Kolsai and Kaindy tours fill up — reserve early.
Big Almaty Lake
Lake trips book out in summer — reserve ahead.
Ski trips
Shymbulak ski tours fill up in winter — book early.
Altyn-Emel
Overnight desert trips have limited spots — reserve ahead.
Peak seasons
Summer and ski season are busiest — book everything ahead.
Charyn Canyon
Around €40–70 for a Charyn Canyon day trip.
Lakes tour
About €50–90 for a Kolsai and Kaindy lakes day trip.
Big Almaty Lake
Roughly €35–60 for a Big Almaty Lake trip.
Medeu-Shymbulak
Around €30–60 for a mountain and cable-car tour.
City tour
About €25–50 for a city tour.
How to save
Join group tours and combine the canyon with the lakes.
Almaty through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Green & blooming.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Fresh.
- Best for
- Lakes & canyons.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best.
- Best for
- Golden colours.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Skiing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold.