Explore Altyn-Emel, Charyn & Kaindy in 8 Days from Almaty

Arrival in Almaty, meet-and-greet with the guide at the arrivals area, and transfer to the hotel. After a short rest, you can take an evening walk through the center or have dinner at a traditional Kazakh restaurant. Ride up to Kok-Tobe by cable car (1070 m), a classic city viewpoint. Almaty lies at your feet, with the Alatau mountains behind it. Sunset is especially striking, when the peaks turn pink and the city lights begin to glow in the valley.

Start at the Medeu ice rink, at 1691 meters one of the highest mountain rinks in the world. In winter the ice is smooth, in summer it is a cool amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, take the Shymbulak mountain resort cable car (2260 m), a three-stage system that climbs to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens a full panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau. The slopes belong to skiers and snowboarders in winter and to walkers and cafes in summer. Later in the day, stroll along Jibek Joly pedestrian street, Almaty’s “Arbat”, with street artists, stalls of local handmade goods, guitarists at sunset and cafes where you can catch your breath after a busy route. Return to Almaty by evening.

An early start from Almaty, around 06:00–07:00: the drive to Altyn-Emel National Park is about 286 km, roughly five hours. The park covers 4600 km² of desert and steppe, home to herds of kulans and goitered gazelles. In the first half of the day, climb the Singing Dune, a 150-meter dune 1.5 kilometers long. When the dry sand slides under your feet, it gives off a deep hum, and the sound really does come from the dune itself. Later in the day, visit the Aktau chalk mountains, with pink, green and blue layers of rock from the Paleocene, laid down 66–56 million years ago. In the second half of the day, drive to Basshi village, at the park gate, for the night. A quiet aul at the foot of the ridge with the smell of steppe in the air; the guesthouse dinner is simple and hearty. Overnight in Basshi.

A long drive from Basshi to the Kolsai Lakes region, so start early. Around midday, walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise surface where Tien Shan spruces come down to the water. Birdsong and trout splashing near the shore are the only sounds. In the afternoon, visit Kaindy Lake, which formed after the 1911 earthquake. Spruce trunks rise from the water like the masts of a sunken fleet; the turquoise surface between them is a place out of time, one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable images. By evening, settle into Saty village, a mountain aul in Kolsai Lakes National Park and the base for both lakes. Dinner is homemade, often beshbarmak or manti with herbal tea. Overnight in Saty.

Descend into Charyn Canyon and walk through the “Valley of Castles”, the best-known section of a canyon that stretches for 154 km, where the midday sun turns the rock copper. The trail runs between tall rock towers along the river. In the first half of the day, take in Moon Canyon, a valley near Charyn with gray and bluish formations. Later in the day, visit Black Canyon with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark palette that contrasts sharply with red Charyn. Return to Almaty by evening; with the drive from Saty it is a long day.

Walk through Panfilov Park, a shaded green area in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes who fell near Moscow in 1941. Old oaks, quiet alleys and the nearby cathedral bells keep a piece of old Alma-Ata inside the modern city. In the first half of the day, see Zenkov Cathedral, built in 1907 of wood without a single nail, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, which stood through the earthquake that wrecked much of the city. Inside is an iconostasis from the late 19th century; outside, golden domes 56 meters high. Later in the day, walk across Republic Square, the central square with the Independence Monument topped by a replica of the Golden Warrior, and views toward the snow-covered Alatau peaks. In the second half of the day, visit the Green Bazaar, operating since 1875, a true Eastern market with heaps of dried apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of mountain honey, and friendly vendors who let you taste everything before buying. Return to your hotel by evening.

Start with the falconry show at the Sunkar Center, on the road toward the Alma-Arasan gorge. A golden eagle flies from the falconer’s glove and returns to the circle, an old nomadic hunting skill shown live. Then walk through Alma-Arasan Gorge with its mineral thermal spring, mountain stream and trails along cascades under a canopy of conifers. Later in the day, stop at the Ayusai eco-park in the Little Almaty Gorge, with wooden boardwalks, alpine flowers and a waterfall along the trail toward Big Almaty Lake. Return to Almaty by evening.