Charyn, Kaindy & Alma-Arasan Gorge 5-Day Trip from Almaty

Start at the Medeu skating rink, at 1691 meters the highest-altitude rink in the world. Winter brings smooth ice; in summer the rink is a cool mountain amphitheater, with a walk along the dam and views down the gorge. In the morning, ride the three-stage cable car to the Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m); in about 25 minutes it carries you to the top station at 3200 meters, with a full panorama of the Zailiysky Alatau. Winter is for skiing and snowboarding, summer for hiking and cafés with views. Later in the day, ride the cable car up Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. All of Almaty lies before you with the Alatau behind it; around sunset the peaks turn pink and the lights of the city come on in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.

Walk through Alma-Arasan Gorge, with its mineral thermal spring, mountain stream, and trails along cascades under a canopy of conifers. Later in the morning, stop at the Ayusai eco-park in the Little Almaty Gorge, where wooden boardwalks pass alpine flowers and a waterfall. Toward lunchtime, see the famous falconry show at the Sunkar Center, the only regular performance of its kind in Kazakhstan. A berkut takes off from the falconer’s glove and returns precisely to the ring, an ancient nomadic hunting art brought to life. Return to Almaty by evening.

A long day of about 14–15 hours, much of it on the road: leave Almaty early, around 06:00, and expect to return late in the evening. The first stop is Charyn Canyon, where you descend to the river and walk through the “Valley of Castles”, a 2–3 km stretch of the 154-kilometer canyon, where the midday sun turns the rocks to copper. The trail follows the river between jagged red towers. Nearby, take in Moon Canyon, a neighboring valley of gray and bluish rock formations, and then Black Canyon, with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark palette in contrast to red Charyn. After lunch, walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), ringed by centuries-old Tien Shan spruce, where the quiet is broken only by birds and fish rising near the shore. In the late afternoon, visit Kaindy Lake, formed by the 1911 earthquake. Spruce trunks rise from the turquoise water like the masts of a sunken fleet, one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable views. Then drive back, arriving in Almaty late in the evening.

Begin at the Zenkov Cathedral, built in 1907, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. It was assembled without a single nail and came through the earthquake that flattened much of the city. Inside you will find an iconostasis from the late 19th century; the golden domes outside reach 56 meters. Next, visit the Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, with a collection of 1200 dombras, kobyz, and jetigen. The guide plays a kui, Kazakh instrumental music that is best heard live. Then stop at the Eternal Flame in Panfilov Park, a memorial of granite, flame, and silence for the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. Toward lunchtime, visit the Green Bazaar, open since 1875, a true Eastern market with mountains of dried apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of mountain honey from the summer pastures, and friendly vendors who invite you to taste before you buy. After lunch, make a short stop at the flagship Rakhat chocolate store, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in a 1970s design. It is a good place to pick up souvenirs and gifts.