Almaty: Full-Day City Tour with Kok-Tobe

Start with a walk through Panfilov Park, a shaded green area in the city center with a memorial to the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen who fell near Moscow in 1941. Old oaks, quiet alleys, and the chime of church bells keep the feel of Alma-Ata as it once was, right in the middle of a modern city. Next comes the Zenkov Cathedral, built in 1907, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. It stands without a single nail and came through the earthquake that leveled much of the city. Inside is an iconostasis from the late 19th century; outside, golden domes rise to 56 meters. Closer to noon, visit Green Bazaar, open since 1875, a true eastern market with piles of dried apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of honey from the jailau, and friendly vendors who let you taste before you buy. After lunch, walk through Republic Square, the central square, where the Independence Monument is topped by a replica of the Scythian Golden Man, one of Kazakhstan’s best-known archaeological finds, with views toward the snow-covered peaks of the Alatau. Later in the day, ride the cable car up to Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. Almaty lies below like an open map with the Alatau mountains behind you; around sunset, the peaks turn pink and the city lights come on in the valley.