Canyons & steppe Top pick
Charyn Canyon
The Valley of Castles, red canyon walls and a walk down to the rushing Charyn river.
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Assy Plateau
High-altitude pastures, nomad yurts and skies so clear they built an observatory here.
- Duration
- 10–11 h
- Distance
- 120 km from Almaty
- Altitude
- 2 800 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Season
- Jun – Sep
- Price
- Price on request
The Assy Plateau is an endless green jailau at almost 2,800 metres. In summer herders bring their horses up and set up yurts, while the Assy-Turgen observatory above the plateau enjoys some of the clearest skies in the region.
The road runs through Turgen gorge and climbs a series of hairpin bends, so we travel by 4×4. On the plateau: a walk, kumis in a yurt (if the nomads are around) and endless views.
Highlights
- Alpine jailau meadows
- Yurts and horse herds
- Assy-Turgen observatory (outside)
- Turgen gorge switchbacks
Itinerary
- Pick-up at your hotel in a 4×4
- Turgen gorge, climb to the pass
- Assy Plateau: walk, photos, picnic
- Observatory and viewpoint
- Descent and drive back
- Arrival in Almaty
Times are approximate and depend on the road and your stops.
Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Comfortable car and fuel
- Driver-guide in your language
- Bottled water in the car
- 4×4 vehicle
- Environmental fees
Not included
- Lunch and personal expenses
What to bring
- Passport or ID
- Comfortable shoes
- A warm layer or windbreaker
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- A hat and jacket — it is windy up there even in July
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Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes
Kazakhstan’s two most famous mountain lakes in one day: spruce-lined shores and a sunken forest.
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Lakes
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise lake at 2,511 metres — just an hour’s drive from the city.
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