Almaty Tour: mountains, ethno-village, and city [Panfilov Park + Zenkov Cathedral] · 3 days

A walk through Panfilov Park, a shaded green area in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, who fell near Moscow in 1941. Centuries-old oaks, quiet alleys, the sound of bells, and the atmosphere of old Alma-Ata, preserved within the modern metropolis. In the first half of the day, visit the Zenkov Cathedral of 1907, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, built without a single nail and surviving the earthquake that leveled half the city. Inside are an iconostasis from the late 19th century, and outside, 56-meter golden domes. Closer to lunch, walk along Jibek Joly pedestrian street, Almaty's “Arbat,” with street artists, guitarists at sunset, stalls selling local handicrafts, and cafes where you can pause after an active route. In the second half of the day, visit the Green Bazaar, operating since 1875, a true Eastern market with piles of dried apricots, apricots, and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of mountain honey from the jailyau, and friendly vendors who will let you taste everything before buying. After lunch, make a short stop at the branded store of Rahat chocolate, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in a 1970s design. An ideal place for souvenirs and gifts to take home. Return to Almaty by evening.

A visit to Medeu skating rink at an altitude of 1691 meters, the highest-altitude stadium in the world. In winter, there is perfectly even ice here, while in summer it becomes a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, take the cable car up to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m), a three-stage lift that climbs to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens a full panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau. In winter, skiing and snowboarding, in summer, hiking and cafes with a view. Closer to lunch, ride the cable car up to Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. All of Almaty lies at your feet, with the Alatau mountains behind it; sunset is especially impressive, when the peaks turn pink and the lights of the metropolis begin to glow in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.

A walk through Turgen Gorge with seven cascading waterfalls and trout farms by a mountain river. One of the most welcoming routes for families. In the first half of the day, visit Issyk Lake (1756 m), with conifer-covered slopes, clear water, and burial mounds of Saka kings in the nearby valley. Closer to lunch, trek to Bear Waterfall, 30 meters high, where the roar of the water, a rainbow in the spray, and cool air can be felt a hundred steps before the cascade itself. In the second half of the day, visit the museum of the “Golden Man”, a replica of a Saka warrior from the 4th century BC with 4000 gold plaques on his ceremonial costume. The main symbol of modern Kazakhstan.