Almaty: Jeep Private Huns Ethno Village & Issyk Lake Day Tour
Description
At 10:00 AM, hotel pick-up by comfortable jeep or SUV. Drive to Huns Ethno Village takes about 1 hour. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM: cultural program including the traditional “Shashu” ceremony, baursak-making masterclass with tea, introduction to nomadic life, “Besikke Salu” ceremony, equestrian show, and photos with horses (short queues possible). Buffet lunch with traditional Kazakh dishes, followed by an archery masterclass. Then transfer to Issyk Lake (about 1 hour). Walk along the shore and optional light trekking. Return to Almaty (about 2 hours). Arrival at the hotel around 7:00 PM. All entrance fees and activities included — no hidden costs. Feel free to ask your guide to take photos. Guides speak English, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish — please indicate your preferred language when booking. Customized tours across Kazakhstan available upon request.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your journey with a visit to Huns Ethno Village, where you’ll be greeted with the traditional “shashu” ceremony. Dive into hands-on experiences like learning how to prepare Kazakh delicacies in a cooking masterclass and watching a thrilling horse show performed by skilled riders. Explore traditional yurts, try your hand at archery, and get a real taste of nomadic life.
Afterward, continue to the serene Issyk Lake, nestled in the mountains of the Ili Alatau. Take in the stunning views as you walk along the lake’s shore, surrounded by the peaceful natural beauty of pine-covered peaks and clear waters. Enjoy your time while admiring the scenery and, if desired, take a gentle hike around the area to fully absorb the calm atmosphere of this historical site.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The day before your tour begins, our team will reach out to provide you with all the necessary details about your guide, including their name and contact information, as well as the car assigned for your transfer, including its license plate number. A comfortable jeep or SUV will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off back at your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(7)
The experience with the people at Hun Ethno village was great. The demonstration of how their daily life from cooking their food to how their hut (yurk), was made was amazing. We tried archery & horse riding. The lunch could be improved as the meat served was greasy & has a strong smell. The trip to the Issyk Lake was good. Our guide, Nikita is helpful & friendly. Will definitely recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience at the Huns Ethno Village and that the demonstrations, archery, horse riding, and traditional culture made such a positive impression. It's also wonderful to know you enjoyed the visit to Issyk Lake and that Nikita helped make your day memorable. We truly appreciate your feedback about the lunch. We'll share your comments with our partners at the ethno village so they can review the quality and preparation of the meat and continue improving the experience for future guests. Thank you again for choosing us and for recommending our tour. We hope to welcome you back to Kazakhstan for another adventure in the future! 😊
I had a spirited adventure with Bogdon. We first went to an ethnic village surrounded by yurts, great food, followed by an excellent show of trick horse riding. It really captured the spirit of Kazakhstan, and helped me envision what it must have been like for my own Russian grandfather who was a Cossack teaching trick riding at the military academy on the river Don. So many waves of history and culture came alive for me. Then we picked up the best Kebob sandwiches I have ever had, and headed up to Lake Issyk. A fantastic picnic in front of lofty snow capped peaks and the emerald turquoise lake. It felt like stepping into a fairytale with Bogdon candidly sharing his stories and adventures throughout the region. Completely inspiring and highly recommended. Thank Golden Man!
Thank you so much for this beautiful and heartfelt review! We’re truly happy to hear that your day with Bogdan was not just a tour, but a meaningful journey through history, culture, and personal connection. Your story about your grandfather adds such a special dimension — it’s amazing how Kazakhstan can bring those memories and emotions to life. The combination of the ethnic village, traditional horse show, and peaceful time at Lake Issyk really is something special, and we’re glad Bogdan could make it even more memorable with his stories and energy. And we couldn’t agree more about those kebabs 😊 It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Kazakhstan! Warm regards!
We had an amazing day on this tour! It was really fascinating to experience and learn about Kazakh culture at Gunny Ethnic Village. From delicious baursak and impressive horseback stunts to a traditional wedding ceremony, music, and stories of nomadic life, it was a wonderful way to be immersed in Kazakh culture. Kudos to all talented staff! Next we headed to Issyk Lake. The view was really breathtaking! It was calm, peaceful, and perfect for taking in the scenery and serenity. Thank you to our guides Artem and Bogdan, who were friendly and easygoing and made our trip even more enjoyable! Highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly happy to hear that you had such a memorable day with us. Gunny Ethnic Village is a special place, and it’s great to know you enjoyed everything — from the baursak to the horseback performances and traditional ceremony. Sharing the richness of Kazakh culture with our guests is exactly what we strive for 😊 Issyk Lake is indeed a place of peace and beauty, and we’re glad you had the chance to fully take in its атмосфера. A special thank you for your kind words about Artem and Bogdan — we’ll be sure to pass your feedback along to them! We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another adventure in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
We had an amazing day on the huns ethno village and issyk lake! Our guide was friendly and full of interesting stories. Visiting the ethno village was fascinating, and the views at issyk lake were absolutely breathtaking. The tour was well-organized, comfortable, and gave us plenty of time for photos and exploring. Highly recommend it for anyone visiting Almaty!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly happy to hear that you had such an amazing day at the Huns Ethno Village and Issyk Lake. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed the stories, the cultural experience, and of course the breathtaking views of Issyk. Kazakhstan has so much to share, and we’re glad we could show you a part of it in a comfortable and well-organized way. Thank you for your recommendation — we really appreciate it! 🙌 You are always welcome back to explore more of Almaty and its beautiful surroundings with us.
We had an amazing day on the Issyk lake and Ethno village tour! The ethno village was fascinating - we watched a traditional horse-riding show, joined a baursak cooking class, and learned about the newborn dedication ritual. There was a delicious lunch, and we even got to take photos on horseback!! Later, visiting Issyk lake was pure magic the calm waters, breathtaking mountain views, and fresh mountain air made it so relaxing and refreshing. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole day seamless and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to experience both culture and nature in one day! Thank you, guys, for showing us Kazakhstan in such an amazing way!Your people are wonderful! Rakhmet!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly happy to hear that you had such an amazing day at Issyk Lake and the Ethno Village. It’s great that you enjoyed the horse-riding show, baursak cooking class, and the newborn dedication ritual — these traditions are very special to our culture, and we love sharing them with our guests. And of course, taking photos on horseback makes the experience even more memorable 😊 Issyk Lake really does have a magical atmosphere, and we’re glad you felt that peaceful mountain energy. Your kind words about our guide mean a lot — we always aim to make every tour seamless, informative, and heartfelt. Rakhmet for choosing us and for your warm words about our country and people. You are always welcome back to Kazakhstan!
Thanks so much for such an unforgettable day! Nikita was super attentive, answered all our questions, and you could really tell he genuinely enjoys what he does. His car was very comfortable for the trip, and there was even a bottle of water for each of us, which was a nice touch. The service was amazing, we honestly didn’t have to worry about anything. Kazakhstan left a lasting impression on me, the ethno village was beautiful, and Issyk Lake was just stunning. Thank you!
Wow, thank you so much for such a heartfelt review! 💛 It truly means a lot to hear that you had an unforgettable day with us. I’m really happy you felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the trip - from the small details like the water to the overall organization. For us, it’s important that you can just relax and enjoy the experience without worrying about anything. Issyk Lake and the ethno village are very special places, and I’m so glad they left a strong impression on you. Kazakhstan has so much beauty and culture to share - and it was a pleasure to show a part of it to you. You are always welcome back for more adventures!
Visited Gunny village and had a wonderful time. Due to border issues I wasn't able to visit Issyk but we visited a nice ski resort instead with a beautiful view
Thank you so much for your review! We're glad to hear you had a wonderful time in Hunny village. Sorry the border situation kept you from visiting Issyk, but it's great that the ski resort and its views made the experience special nonetheless. We’ll be happy to welcome you back anytime - and hopefully next time you’ll get to see Issyk too!
