Day Excursions Around Almaty
Almaty sits where the Tian Shan foothills meet the steppe, so one-day outings run in two directions: up into the gorges to the south and east, or out across open country to canyons and rock art. Below, the options are ordered from nearest to farthest. Costs are in tenge (KZT), about 470 to 490 per US dollar in 2026, and cash is the safest way to pay at gates.
Nearest: Medeu and Shymbulak
Bus 12 from the Almaty-2 railway station runs along Dostyk Avenue to the Medeu dam and the lower cable-car station. Count on 35 to 50 minutes and a 120 KZT fare, paid with a card or app, because the bus does not take cash. Medeu is at about 1,691 m. From there the Shymbulak Ticket takes an adult to about 3,200 m for 12,000 KZT return. The famous ice rink here is shut for a rebuild, with reopening planned for the 2027-28 winter at the earliest.
About 70 km east: Turgen Gorge
The visitor centre at the Turgensai eco-post is open from 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and until 20:00 at weekends, and its fee was 506 KZT per person in a 2025 listing. Nearby you will find waterfalls and trout farms.
Big Almaty Lake
The lake is a reservoir that supplies drinking water, so the rules are strict.
- No private cars on the road since 2020, and no motorbikes, e-scooters or e-bikes since spring 2026.
- No swimming, fishing, boating, fires, picnics or camping.
- Walking: between 7 and 15 km each way, depending on where a taxi or tour stops, with more than 1,000 m of climbing on the main road. Plan for most of a day.
- Fee for pedestrians: about 650 KZT, paid at the checkpoint or in a banking app.
- Documents: bring your original passport, expect a checkpoint, and ask the park or a licensed operator what is needed.
- Season: November to April the road is under snow and avalanche-prone. A licensed guided tour takes roughly 10 hours.
About 170 km north-west: Tamgaly
The rock-art site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2004. Allow roughly 3 hours each way by road and a full day in total. Ask your operator about fees and opening hours. Tamgaly-Tas, the Buddhist carvings along the Ili River, is a different place.
About 200 km east: Charyn Canyon
A tour takes 10 to 12 hours door to door, with 3 to 3.5 hours on the road each way. Dirt covers the final stretch, so go in dry weather and refuel at Shelek. Gate fees: 865 KZT on foot, 2,595 KZT per car, 8,650 KZT per minibus of up to 16 seats, all in cash. The Valley of Castles trail is 2 to 3 km and about 40 to 50 minutes one way, and the eco-taxi from the canyon floor is around 800 KZT per person.
Too far for a day
- Kolsai and Kaindy lakes: about 300 km and 4 to 6 hours each way, so make it an overnight.
- Altyn-Emel National Park: needs two days or more.
- Astana: about 1,200 km north.
Safety on the road
Rockfall and mudflow follow heavy rain and thaw, and avalanches threaten higher trails. Keep to marked paths, tell someone your plan, and note that mountain rescue answers on 109 or 112. Mobile coverage is poor in remote areas.
Read more: attraction tours in Almaty and outdoor activities in Almaty . Compare guided options on Viator and check the UK travel advice .