Kolsai Lakes, Turgen Gorge & Huns Ethno-Village 6-Day Trip from Almaty

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 the stadium is a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the morning, ride up to the Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m) on a three-stage cable car; the top station at Talgar Pass (3200 m) is reached in about 25 minutes and opens a full panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Winter here means skiing and snowboarding; summer means walking trails and cafés with a view. In the evening, ride the cable car up Kok-Tobe (about 1100 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. All of Almaty lies at your feet, with the Alatau mountains behind you; sunset is especially striking, when the peaks turn pink and the city lights begin to glow in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.

Immerse yourself in nomadic culture at the Hunny ethno-village, a reconstruction of Kazakh life 70 km from the city. A falconer shows a golden eagle in action, there are horseback performances, and lunch at the village is included in the ticket. A guide introduces the nomads’ musical instruments. Return to Almaty by evening.

A very early start (about 06:00) for a long day of about 14–15 hours, much of it on the road. Descent into Charyn Canyon and a walk through the “Valley of Castles”: the canyon stretches for 154 km, and this best-known section is a 2–3 km walk among red sandstone towers that glow copper in the midday sun. The trail follows the river between jagged cliffs. Next is Moon Canyon, Charyn’s neighboring valley with gray and bluish rock formations, a landscape that feels like another planet. Before lunch, a visit to Black Canyon with its volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark counterpoint after Charyn’s red palette. After lunch, walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m) in Kolsai Lakes National Park, surrounded by centuries-old Tian Shan spruces, with mountain quiet all around. Drive back to Almaty, arriving late in the evening.

Walk through Alma-Arasan Gorge with its mineral thermal spring, mountain stream, and trails along cascades beneath a canopy of conifers. Next, stop at the Ayusai eco-park in the Small Almaty Gorge, with wooden boardwalks, alpine flowers, and a trail toward a waterfall on the way to Big Almaty Lake. Around midday, watch the falconry show at the Sunkar Center. A golden eagle takes off from a glove and returns precisely to the circle; the ancient hunting art of the nomads brought to life. Return to Almaty by evening.

Drive up Turgen Gorge and trek to Bear Waterfall, 30 meters high, with the roar of water, a rainbow in the spray, and a coolness you can feel a hundred steps before you reach the cascade. For lunch, stop at a trout farm in Turgen, where fresh fish is grilled beside the mountain river. In the afternoon, visit Issyk Lake (1756 m), with conifer-covered slopes and clear water. The Saka royal burial mounds, where the Golden Man was found, lie near the town of Esik rather than by the lake. Return to Almaty by evening.

Walk through Panfilov Park, a shaded green space in the city center with the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes who fell near Moscow in 1941. Old oaks and quiet lanes keep a bit of old Alma-Ata inside the modern city. In the morning, visit the Zenkov Cathedral from 1907, one of the world’s tallest wooden churches, built without a single nail and standing through the earthquake that leveled much of the city. Inside is an iconostasis from the late 19th century, and the domes outside rise 56 meters. Around midday, stop by the Eternal Flame in Panfilov Park, a memorial of granite, fire, and silence in memory of the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. After lunch, visit the Green Bazaar, operating since 1875, a true Eastern market with mountains of dried 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. Then make a short stop at the Rahat chocolate flagship store, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in 1970s design, a handy place for gifts. By evening, visit TSUM, a Soviet department store on Zhibek Zholy, where you can still find souvenirs, felt, and local clothing at good prices.