Big Almaty Lake: The 15 Best Ways Up to 2,511 Metres

1.Treasures of Almaty lakes Kaindy and Kolsai,Charyn Canyon VIP car

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · from $49Our pick

Leave Almaty at 4:30 am for Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon. You travel in an air-conditioned VIP vehicle with seat chargers, a guide such as Rustam, Karina, Adam, or Ice, and a UAZ transfer to Kaindy. Expect long drives, short visits, optional horse riding, and striking mountain scenery.

“Amazing tour weve been taken to beautiful places! Thank you ice for the exceptional experience. Thanks to nurtaz aswell whom we met after the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Big Almaty Lake Roundtrip Transfer and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 110 reviews · 4 hours · from $69

This four-hour Panda Travel outing takes you from central Almaty to Big Almaty Lake at 2,511 meters, using an eco taxi for the final stretch so you avoid the uphill hike. Guides such as Adam, Karina, Ice, Rustam, and Ais share local history, help with photos, and may adjust stops for weather and season.

“This was our second tour with Ms. Akho (Akmos) and it was another fun experience! We had a small group this time, which made everything feel more relaxed and personal. Ms. Akho was very warm and attentive, always making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. The views at Big Almaty Lake were absolutely beautiful, and visiting the legendary apple orchard was such a nice cultural touch. We also got a bonus stop at a scenic waterfall, which was a great surprise. The tour was smooth and well-paced. Big thanks again to our cheerful guide for making it a great day!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Big Almaty Lake Tour with Optional Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 109 reviews · from $69

Reach Big Almaty Lake at 2,500 meters with DAO Travel and guides such as Dmitriy, Vladimir, Igor, or Olga. Choose a car transfer to a viewpoint or a demanding 12 km uphill and downhill hike. Expect mountain history, flexible stops, early starts, and striking views when weather is clear.

“All good. Picked up right infront of your doorsteps. Only had to walk a little bit then picked up by car to go to a higher viewpoint. just wished that I could've spend time longer up there and really breathe in the view. The time limit is a bit short.. overall im still happy with what i get. thank u!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Big Almaty Lake: Choose Adventure on Foot or by Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 47 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $99

Adam Hiking Tours takes you from Almaty to Big Almaty Lake by car or on a demanding 14 km mountain trail. Adam, also known as Yerkin, guides the small group in English or Russian, with trekking poles, raincoats, and a picnic stop provided for hikers. Expect cold alpine air, fine viewpoints, and a turquoise lake at 2,511 meters.

“Absolutely loved this experience. It was our first time in Kazakhstan and our guide was so insightful, offering plenty of educational facts about the country and its history. He made sure we were safe and comfortable throughout, and also offered us footage from his own drone that really captured the beauty of this lake. Highly recommended if you ever visit Almaty to check out this spot.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Big Almaty Lake tour private or group by car or hiking

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · from $69

Travel from central Almaty to Big Almaty Lake at about 2,500 meters with guides such as Dmitry, Victor, Vlad, or Dmitry. Choose a car visit or a demanding 6-kilometer uphill hike. Expect mountain views, a 40 to 60-minute lake visit, local history, and possible add-ons such as Shymbulak or Almarasan Gorge.

“amazing hike! dmitry is really knowledgeable and shared a lot of cool facts about the region! he even shared a list of recommendations with the group on sights to see and places to eat in almaty.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Big Almaty Lake: Choose Your Adventure on Foot or by Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $79Top rated

Choose a car ride or a demanding 14 km hike to Big Almaty Lake from Almaty. Guides such as Adam and Yerkin provide hotel pickup, English commentary, poles, raincoats, photo help, and mountain insight. Expect turquoise water, snow peaks, a Kazakh swing, and changing plans in poor weather.

“Our guide was extremely pleasant and well spoken. He even brought us warm tea and kazakh chocolates to eat. Clicked some wonderful pictures of us and even dropped us at a pleasant doner kebab place for snacks. Will recommend this for those travelling to Almaty first time”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Big Almaty Lake – azure eye of Alatau (+ Ayu gorge) half-day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $139

Leave Almaty at 7:00 a.m. for a private 4 to 6 hour trip to Big Almaty Lake and Alma-Arasan Gorge. Your guide, often Dastan or Nursultan, handles the drive while you enjoy mountain views, a short gorge walk, hot springs, and a waterfall. Transport, water, park fees, and guide service are included.

“What a day. Nursultan picked us up from the hotel right on time. The first impression was great, easy-to-understand English, a super-friendly guy. Our tour took us to the Ile-Alatau National Park. Nursultan led us along roaring water up to tRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Big Almaty Lake tour by hiking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $50

Start early from Almaty and hike about 10 km round trip through pine forest, alpine meadows, and rocky mountain paths to Big Almaty Lake at 2,800 meters. Guides such as Nurzhan and Zhandos provide steady support, local insight, hiking sticks, transport, and park entry. Plan for a moderate to strenuous day.

“It was a memorable experience hiking upto Big Almaty with the ever cheerful and helpful Nurzhan and his team. Not only did they help us in the difficult parts of the terrain but also explained in detail about the region and its significance. Would highly recommend this hike to new travellers!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Big Almaty Lake with Horseback Riding Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $69

Leave Almaty at 7:30 am for Big Almaty Lake, set high in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. You get direct car access, bottled water, national park entry, a stop at Ayusai Visitors Center, and optional horseback riding for about $12. Guide Madena may lead the outing, which lasts six to seven hours.

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Hiking to the magical Big Almaty Lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 8 hours · from $162

Spend up to eight hours hiking from Almaty into Ile-Alatau National Park, passing pine, birch, poplar, apple, and spruce woods before reaching Big Almaty Lake. Your English-speaking guide, such as Rustem, Almart, or Ilyas, can help choose between easier and tougher routes. Hotel transfers, park entry, water, lemonade, and poles on request are included.

“I booked this hike on a Friday but ended up getting food poisoning, and the organizers were kind enough to help me reschedule to Saturday. The driver and guide met me at my hotel and the total hike took about 4 hours. A little disappointed with the lake receding due to the recent damn that was built, but the hike was beautiful. Mountain views for days. There are 3 options for the hike, using the normal paved road or going up and down the pipeline which is intense if you do not hike. We had a small picnic with provided tea and sandwhiches as well which was nice. If you…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Almaty lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $144

Travel from Almaty into the Tien Shan Mountains on a three-hour visit to Big Almaty Lake. Guides such as Gulzat and Yelnar provide local stories, help with photos, and may add a waterfall stop. Expect a short walk, high altitude, cold weather, and dramatic peaks above 4,000 meters.

“We went to visit Big Almaty Lake with our lovely tour guide Gulzat. She picked us up from our accommodation early morning and we proceeded to the lake. On return we also visited a fall. Gulzat was friendly and explained everything to us and even took some lovely pictures. I recommend this tour if you are visiting lovely city of Almaty. 😃”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Medeu and Shymbulak + Big Almaty Lake and Falcon show (Private day-tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $218

You’ll leave Almaty at 7:00 a.m. with a private guide, often Nursultan, for Medeu, a cable-car ride at Shymbulak, Big Almaty Lake, and Sunkar Falcon Farm. The 7 to 9-hour trip includes transport, water, guide service, and entry tickets. Lunch is extra, and the route can be adjusted to suit your group.

“Nursultan was great and the trip was good overall! He was attentive and flexible. Give good suggestions!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Private Big Almaty Lake Hiking Tour with alternatgive Pipeline

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $70

Spend about 8.5 hours exploring Almaty’s mountain country in a private SUV with an English-speaking guide. Visit Big Almaty Lake at 2,511 meters, hike beside a clear spring-fed river in Alma-Arasan Gorge, see Ayusai’s waterfalls and bear sculptures, and finish at First President’s Park. Hotel and airport pickup, water, parking, and entry fees are included.

“Really fantastic tour! Our tour guide, Erasyl, was incredibly kind and really made sure we enjoyed our experience. He catered to the whole tour based on our needs and made us feel very comfortable. We are 3 young girls travelling so the Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Electric Bike Tour to Big Almaty Lake or Kok-Zhailau

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3 reviews · 4 hours · from $115

Choose a four-hour electric-bike ride from First President’s Park to Big Almaty Lake or Kok-Zhailau. You’ll get an English, Russian, or Kazakh-speaking instructor, bike, transfer, safety gear, and environmental fees. The lake route brings forest roads and turquoise water; Kok-Zhailau offers a quieter alpine meadow and city views.

“It was great! I didn't expect that it will be an actual bike, not the bicycle 😀 but that was even better. Because the way to the top is pretty long. Enjoyed our time on top and on the way”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Big Almaty lake tour off road bike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $160

Leave Almaty by vehicle, then spend about two hours riding a powerful electric off-road bike toward Big Almaty Lake with an English or Russian-speaking instructor. You receive a helmet and body protection, and the price includes transport, bike rental, and national entrance fees. Bicycle or scooter experience is required.

Check availability →Read our full review