Tours/Almaty/Lake Issyk with Turgen (Bear) Waterfall tour
Viator · group up to 25 pax

Lake Issyk with Turgen (Bear) Waterfall tour

4.8(87)Almaty1 hour
VIATOR4.6(17)TRIPADVISOR4.8(70)

Description

Discover the perfect mix of light adventure and breathtaking nature on this day tour from Almaty. Travel in comfort and enjoy a well-organized experience guided by a professional local expert. Start your day with a refreshing hike through the scenic Turgen Gorge. Walk along a picturesque mountain trail surrounded by lush forests and panoramic views as you head toward the beautiful Bear Waterfall. At the end of the trail, enjoy the cool freshness of glacial water and the peaceful atmosphere of this place. After the hike, continue to the stunning Issyk Lake, located at 1,756 meters above sea level in the Ili-Alatau mountains. The lake’s color changes from turquoise to deep blue depending on the season, creating a truly mesmerizing landscape. Take time to relax, walk along the shore, capture unforgettable photos, and enjoy the calm beauty of the mountains.

Tour Options

Private tour option
  • Individual tour: only you travel, without other people. Vehicle type: 2-5 pax - SUV/minivan; 6-7 pax - Toyota Hiace van; 8-15 pax - Mercedes Sprinter minibus. Pick-up/drop-off: any location in Almaty city. Pickup included
Group tour
  • Pick-up/drop-off: only listed meeting points.

Itinerary

Admission included120 min

After lunch you will head to the Lake Issyk located in Issyk gorge of Ili-Alatau mountains 70 km from Almaty at an altitude of 1756 m above sea level. The color of the water in this lake varies from turquoise to dark blue depending on the time of year. You will enjoy nature and the scenic panorama of the Ili-Alatau mountains with magnificent lake, take stunning memorable pictures and be filled with positive emotions.

Admission included30 min

This tour is designed so that you can enjoy the views at the best time of the day with the best lighting conditions. Our tour guide will show you the best photo spots and tell you interesting information about the sites.

Admission included120 min

As a morning warm-up in the fresh air, you will have a short hike deep into the Turgen mountain gorge, where the picturesque Bear waterfall is located. You will walk along a mountain trail enjoying stunning mountain views, and at the end you will enjoy the coolness of the glacial water of this waterfall.

Highlights

National park admission
Modern and comfortable bus/minibus with AC
Bottled water

What's included

Included
National park admission
Modern and comfortable bus/minibus with AC
Bottled water
Not included
Lunch (provided at a local cafe by menu)

Pickup Locations & Times

Custom pick-up is available only for a private tour option.

Traveller Ratings

4.8
87 reviews
5
73
4
12
3
0
2
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1
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Important Information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Important note: Children under 3 y.o. are not allowed on the tour
  • Not recommended for travelers who can not withstand hikes

Reviews(87)

M
Maps26379938207
June 27, 2026
Nice lake to visit near Almaty

This is a good one day trip for someone visiting Almaty. Other tours to other lakes involve much more time sitting in a car with less time spent at the actual tourist destination.

P
Punith_S
June 2, 2026
Short trip. Better...

Short trip. Better combine with Assy plateau. However Naz my tour guide was very friendly and entertaining. Well conducted tour.

N
NPandalai
June 1, 2026
Strongly recommend

Very well conducted tour by Zhenis and his assistant. In time, all landmarks covered and well explained. Could not have asked for mare. Excellent day trip from Almaty. Special mention of his last assistant (sorry, forgot her name) - she was very helpful, especially for the older participants on the hike to Turgen waterfall.

J
John_1003_abc
May 30, 2026
An Unforgettable Adventure in Almaty!

​I had an absolutely wonderful time on the One Day Tour to Lake Issyk and Turgen Bear Waterfall. It was a truly memorable experience that will forever remain a cherished memory in my life's adventures. Not only was the scenery breathtaking, but it was also fantastic to meet and connect with new friendly faces from different corners of the world. ​ A huge thank you to our incredible Tour Leader, Zhenis, and his two amazing assistants, Aks and Zhuldyz. They were extremely communicative, attentive, and helpful throughout the entire trip. A special shoutout to Aks, who kindly lent me his trekking pole—I honestly wouldn’t have made it all the way to the Turgen Bear Waterfall without it! ​ Another highlight was the optional drone video service. The final footage they delivered was absolutely stunning and high-quality! ​ If you are a traveler planning a vacation to Almaty, I highly, highly recommend booking this tour. You won't regret it!

S
S8157ZFphilippeb
May 28, 2026
Day trip to Essik

Amazing Time! Definitely recommand! The bus is comfy, wifi on board(pay a lil extra) lunch is also super good a in a nice restaurant during mid day after the waterfall! A lot of choices in that restaurant and guide helps you to order( the personal mostly speak Kazak) The hikes are easy and anyone could do them at their own pace. Thanks Zhenis and the team for the amazing day!

1 people found this helpful
H
haimuelmatthiasw
May 19, 2026
Beautiful places visited

The waterfall was beautiful and worth the (short and easy) walk up. The Issyk Lake was stunning as well and made for very good pictures. The tour operator was punctual for pick up, but the time allocated to Issyk Lake was way too short because we ended up waiting nearly an hour for some extremely inconsiderate participants. It wasn't the tour operator's fault, but I'd advise them to remind people again and again that the tour is not suitable for those with mobility issues. The restaurant we stopped at for lunch, while slightly overpriced, had delicious food.

1 people found this helpful
R
ritikamilinda
October 30, 2025
A great trip

Great trip, our tour guide Luba is a great guide, a jolly person full of knowledge about Kazhakstan. It was a very good and well organized trip.

O
Odyssey19037135895
October 30, 2025
Great tour and a friendly guide

The tour far surpassed our expectations from the moment we booked until the drop off. Our guide, Luba, made the experience truly memorable with her vibrant personality and deep knowledge about the places we visited.

S
Subodh_S
October 28, 2025
The trip was nice and the...

The trip was nice and the view at the waterfall and lake was beautiful. Our guide was very helpful and gave us a good insight of the place and it's history.

3
325lucijas
October 28, 2025
Amazing experience!

My husband and I joined the Issyk Lake tour with Kaz Guided Tours led by a brilliant tour guide Amal. We had an incredible time and the places we were taken to were stunning! Amal was a lovely tour guide and gave us lots of interesting information about all the sightseeings. We would certainly recommend Kaz Guided Tours to anyone!

1 people found this helpful

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