A three-day tour from Almaty: Hunny Ethno-Village, Medeu, Shymbulak, Kok-Tobe, Charyn Canyon, and Kolsai Lake. Included: transport, guide, eco fees, cable cars.
A route that brings travelers back to Kazakhstan again and again: Mars-like canyons and the mountain lakes of the Tien Shan, with a nomadic village and the city’s mountain classics added on. Day 1 is Hunny Ethno-Village, day 2 is Medeu ice rink at 1691 meters, the highest-altitude one in the world, plus Shymbulak and Kok-Tobe. Day 3 is a long one: Charyn Canyon, which stretches for 154 km, with its best-known section, the “Valley of Castles”, a 2–3 km walk among jagged red towers, and the first Kolsai Lake at 1818 meters, ringed by Tien Shan spruce. Transport, a professional guide and all required fees are included, all that remains is to choose a date. The route can be adapted to the group’s pace. In winter, mountain roads can be snowy, and the guide will adjust the plan to conditions.
An immersion in nomadic culture at Hunny ethno-village, a reconstruction of Kazakh everyday life about 65 km from the city. Step inside the yurts, have lunch at the village (included in the ticket), watch horse performances and a demonstration by a golden eagle handler (berkutchi), and hear the musical instruments of the nomads up close. Return to Almaty by evening.
Begin at Medeu ice rink, at 1691 meters the highest-altitude rink in the world. Winter brings glassy ice; in summer the rink turns into a cool mountain amphitheater, with a walk along the dam and views down the gorge. Then ride a three-stage cable car up to the Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m); in about 25 minutes it reaches 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 a view. Later in the day, take the cable car up Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature lookout point. Almaty lies beneath you like an open map with the Alatau behind it; around sunset the peaks turn pink and the city lights come on in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.
A long day of about 13–14 hours, much of it on the road, so the departure from Almaty is early, around 06:00, and the return is late in the evening. The main stop is Charyn Canyon: a descent to the river and a walk through the “Valley of Castles”, a 2–3 km stretch of the 154-kilometer canyon, where the midday sun turns the red sandstone to copper. Between the jagged towers the trail follows the river, with rock walls rising on both sides. Along the way, stop for a view of Moon Canyon, a neighboring valley with gray and bluish rock formations. Closer to midday, visit Black Canyon, with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark palette next to red Charyn. In the afternoon, walk along the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), ringed by Tien Shan spruce, with quiet broken only by the occasional bird and trout rising near the shore. Then drive back to Almaty.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour starts — full refund. After that — according to the operator's rules.
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Please follow the guide's instructions, check the weather forecast before departure, and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.
