Almaty Without Packing: Mountains, Lakes & Nomad Culture

Visit Medeu ice rink at an elevation of 1691 meters, the world’s highest-altitude stadium. In winter the ice is flat and smooth; in summer the rink is a cool mountain amphitheater, good for a walk along the dam with views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, ascend to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) by a three-stage cable car. The 25-minute ride ends at 3200 meters, with a panorama of the Zailiysky Alatau. The resort is for skiing and snowboarding in winter; in summer it offers hiking trails and cafés with views. Closer to lunch, ride the cable car up to Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. The whole of Almaty lies before you, with the Alatau mountains behind your back; sunset is especially striking, when the peaks turn pink and the lights of the metropolis come on in the valley.

Immerse yourself in nomadic culture at Hunny ethno-village, a reconstruction of Kazakh everyday life about 70 km from the city. Step into the yurts, have lunch at the village (included in the ticket), watch horse performances and look at the nomads’ musical instruments. The visit also includes a falconry show: a berkutchi, a traditional eagle hunter, shows how a golden eagle is handled. After lunch, walk through Panfilov Park, a leafy green space in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes who fell near Moscow in 1941. Old oaks, quiet alleys and the chime of bells recall the Alma-Ata of earlier decades inside the modern city. Later, make a short stop at the Rahat chocolate brand store, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in 1970s-style design, a handy place to pick up gifts for home.

Head into Turgen Gorge in the morning and trek to Bear Waterfall, 30 meters high: the roar of the water, a rainbow in the spray, and a coolness you can feel a hundred steps before the cascade itself. Around midday, stop for lunch at a trout farm in Turgen, where the fish is grilled fresh beside the mountain river. In the afternoon, drive on to Issyk Lake (1756 m), with conifer-covered slopes and clear water in the Issyk valley. The famous Golden Man burial mound was found lower down, near the town of Esik. Return to Almaty in the evening.

Walk through Alma-Arasan Gorge with a mineral thermal spring, a mountain stream, and trails along cascades under a conifer canopy. Later in the morning, stop at the Ayusai eco-park in the Little Almaty Gorge, with wooden boardwalks and alpine flowers. After lunch, see the falconry show at the Sunkar center. The golden eagle takes off from the handler’s glove and returns precisely to the ring, an ancient nomadic hunting art brought to life. Return to Almaty in the evening.