Help
Talk to usPlan my trip
← All Holidays

Private, on your own dates · Kazakhstan

Almaty and the Tian Shan Lakes

A seven-day private tour of south-east Kazakhstan from Almaty: the Shymbulak cable car and Kok Tobe, Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes with a night in Saty village, Issyk Lake and the Turgen waterfall, and a final day at Ayusai Gorge and the Almaty sights.

7 days, 6 nightsDuration
4-star hotels · breakfastStay and meals

Twin share · land only, flights extra

Overview

A seven-day private tour of south-east Kazakhstan from Almaty: the Shymbulak cable car and Kok Tobe, Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes with a night in Saty village, Issyk Lake and the Turgen waterfall, and a final day at Ayusai Gorge and the Almaty sights.

Trip highlights

  • 01The Shymbulak cable car to about 3,200 metres above Almaty
  • 02Charyn Canyon and its Valley of Castles
  • 03Kolsai Lake, with a night in Saty village close to the lakes
  • 04Kaindy Lake, where drowned spruce trunks rise from turquoise water
  • 05Issyk Lake and the waterfall in the Turgen Gorge
  • 06A private English-speaking driver-guide and a 4-star hotel in Almaty

Day-by-day itinerary

The route

Almaty → Saty → Almaty

2 cities.
The route2 cities.
Loading map…

Explore the daily plan, including overnight stops and meals.

You are met at Almaty International Airport and transferred to the East Palace Hotel. Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan, spread beneath the snow-capped peaks of the Tian Shan.

The rest of the day is free — rest after the journey, or take an easy first walk along the city’s tree-lined avenues and parks.

  • Private arrival transfer
  • Free time in Almaty
overnight
Almaty

Airport transfer included. Overnight at the East Palace Hotel.

What's included

Included in your trip12 items covered in this fare
Hotels
  • Five nights at the East Palace Hotel in Almaty (4-star), in a room for two with breakfast
  • One night in a guesthouse in Saty village, with breakfast
Meals
  • Six breakfasts
Transport
  • Private transport with an English-speaking driver-guide from day 2 to day 6
  • Private return transfers between Almaty International Airport and the hotel
  • Transport to Kok Tobe hill
Entrance fees
  • Entrance fees to all national parks on the route
Activities
  • Shymbulak cable car to about 3,200 metres
  • Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake day, with national park entry
  • Kaindy Lake and the Black Canyon
  • Issyk Lake and the Turgen waterfall
  • Ayusai Gorge, the Almarasan hot-springs area and the Almaty city tour
Plan and pay separately6 items not covered by this fare
Not included
  • International flights
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Optional activities and personal expenses, including hot-spring bathing and attractions on Kok Tobe hill
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for the driver-guide
  • Visa fees, where your nationality requires a visa
Accommodation4-star hotel accommodation
MealsDaily breakfast included
Almaty5 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel
Saty1 night
Hotel confirmed before travel

Your hotel names are confirmed before you travel. Where alternatives are listed, the confirmed property will be a 4-star hotel of the same standard.

Meeting & drop-off
You're met atAlmaty International Airport, arrivals hallReport by On arrival, timed to your inbound flight
You're dropped atAlmaty International AirportBy about Timed to your outbound flight

Arrival information: Private return airport transfers are included.

A planned visit does not automatically include an admission ticket. Check the inclusions and your booking summary for ticket costs.

Almaty
ShymbulakDay 2
Kok TobeDay 2
Ayusai GorgeDay 6
AlmarasanDay 6
Ascension CathedralDay 6

Indicative monthly averages for the route cities shown, not a forecast. Figures are omitted where city data is unavailable.

Almaty

IdealGoodFairAvoid
NovAvoid
Almaty
Average High
6°C
Rainfall
40mm

Seasons and mountain roads

  • In late autumn and winter the mountain roads to Kolsai and Kaindy can close after snowfall, and Kaindy Lake can be frozen.
  • The Shymbulak cable car can pause for maintenance between seasons.
  • Road and cable-car operation are reconfirmed before booking.

Travel documents

  • Carry a passport valid for the whole of your stay.
  • Visa requirements depend on your nationality and are not included in this tour; check them before you book flights.

Private tour

  • The rate is per person for two people sharing a room.
  • The Saty night is in a village guesthouse, simpler than the hotel in Almaty.

Common questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The transport and the English-speaking driver-guide are for your party only, from the second to the sixth day, and the airport transfers are private too.

Where do we stay?

Five nights at the East Palace Hotel, a four-star hotel in Almaty, and one night in a guesthouse in Saty village, close to the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes. Breakfast is included throughout.

Do I need to bring luggage to Saty?

Only a small overnight bag. The night in Saty is a single stop on the way between the lakes, and you return to the same hotel in Almaty the next day.

When is the best time to go?

The lakes and mountain roads are most reliable from late spring to early autumn. In late autumn and winter the roads to Kolsai and Kaindy can close after snow, Kaindy Lake can freeze, and the Shymbulak cable car can pause for maintenance between seasons; these are reconfirmed before booking.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast every day. Lunches and dinners are not included, and your driver-guide can suggest places along the route.

Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan?

That depends on your nationality. Many visitors can enter without a visa for a short stay, but the rules differ by passport, so check them before you book flights.

Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
  1. Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
  2. All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
  3. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
  4. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
  5. Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
  6. Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
  7. The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
  8. All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
  9. No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
  10. The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
  11. All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
  12. Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
  13. Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.

Dates & prices

Share your dates, travellers and preferred hotels. We will prepare a personal quotation.

✦AI trip designer

Want this trip a little different?

Tell Tulli what you'd change — hotels, dates, an extra city — and she'll price it with our team and come back to you.

You Might Also Like

All tours →