Tour of Almaty Region: Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy, Medeu and Shymbulak [Medeu + Shymbulak] · 3 days

A visit to Medeu ice rink at an altitude of 1691 meters, the highest mountain stadium in the world. In winter, the ice is perfectly smooth; in summer, it is a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, take the ascent to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) on a three-stage cable car, which rises to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens up a full panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau. In winter, there is skiing and snowboarding, in summer, hiking and cafes with views. Around midday, take the cable car up to Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. Almaty is laid out below you, with the Alatau mountains at your back, especially striking at sunset, when the peaks turn pink and the lights of the metropolis come on in the valley. In the second half of the day, stroll along pedestrian Zhibek Zholy, Almaty’s "Arbat", with street artists, guitarists at sunset, stalls selling local handmade goods and coffee shops where you can catch your breath after an active route. Return to Almaty by evening.

Descend into Charyn Canyon and walk through the "Valley of Castles", 154 kilometers of red sandstone where the midday sun turns the cliffs to copper. The trail runs between jagged towers along the river, and it feels as if you have stepped onto a western film set. In the first half of the day, take in Moon Canyon, Charyn’s neighboring valley with gray and bluish rock formations. It has an otherworldly landscape where it is easy to lose track of time and your phone. Around midday, visit Black Canyon with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark palette in striking contrast to red Charyn. In the second half of the day, walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise surface surrounded by centuries-old Tien Shan fir trees. The ringing silence of the mountains, the rare cry of a falcon, and trout biting right from the shore. After lunch, visit Kaindy Lake, formed after the 1911 earthquake. Spruce trunks rise from the water like the masts of a sunken fleet, and the turquoise surface between them makes it a place outside time, one of the most recognizable images of Kazakhstan. Return to Almaty by evening.

Visit Green Bazaar, open since 1875, a true Eastern market with piles of dried apricots, apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of honey from the jailau, and friendly vendors who let you taste everything before you buy. In the first half of the day, make a short stop at the flagship store of Rahat chocolate, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in 1970s design. It is the perfect place for souvenirs and gifts to take home. Around midday, have lunch at Navat restaurant, serving modern Kazakh cuisine with an emphasis on local products and traditional recipes presented in a new way.