nomad travel almaty

We are organizing ECO-FRIENDLY individual and group tours in Almaty and around the city.

Depending on how many days you are staying in Almaty, we are offering you combination of options where you can explore city and beautiful nature that surrounds it

• Luke from Great Britain This was my first time in Central Asia, and I could not have asked for a better introduction. From Almaty’s cosmopolitanism, friendly people and endless coffee shops to Charyn Canyon, from Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes to a stay in an authentic Kazakh village, our guide Daniyar could not have prepared a better itinerary. There's something for everyone in Kazakhstan!
• Eric from Canada Exceptional tour through the Almaty region. From local cuisine prepared by grandmothers to mountain hikes on top of lakes to sipping coffee in local cafes, the tour offers an incredible view into this up and coming region, this is a hidden treasure for sure. Book now before it becomes too busy.
• Kefei from China and Dubai Kazakhstan is the first country I visited after almost 2.5 years of COVID no-traveling, and it did not disappoint me. Central Asia has always been a region veiled with mystery. Having limited knowledge about the region and country, I find my short trip to Almaty extremely pleasant with many expectancies. Kazakhstan, and particularly Almaty, has a long and rich history. The collision between different cultures from the West and the East throughout history as well as the relatively recent Soviet influence made Kazakhstan a melting pot of various ethnicities. It was fascinating to see the influence of these ethnics group on the everyday lives of the Kazakh people. The country is also rich in its natural scenery. From the Charyn Canyon which stretches 154km in length, to Lake Kaindy where birch trees rise above the surface of the water, and Shymbulak Mountain which is charming in both the summer and the winter. The vast natural scenery was all I wanted for my first proper getaway. I was super grateful for my friend and host from the country, Daniyar. Thanks to his advice prior to our trip, we were able to make the most of our short stay and visit all the highlights without exhausting ourselves. In addition, we were lucky to explore some of the most authentic and tasty Kazakh food under his hospitality which we probably would never be able to find as tourists. Overall, we enjoyed our trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan a lot, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is eager to uncover this piece of a hidden gem. If you do plan to come, feel free to connect with Daniyar who can show you the most authentic side of Kazakhstan.
• Timofei from Estonia I went to Almaty for a week, working half of the time remotely. Thanks to Daniyar, I could make the most of the trip. He showed me around some key areas, sharing insights on how the city has changed over the years. Every day he was very responsive, giving suggestions for top cafes to focus on work, as well as hints on where to go out. The top highlight was the hike to Kok Zhailau. I fell in love with Kazakhstan and surely will be back very soon.
• Arsenii from Dubai&Russia I’ve had an absolutely great experience with Easy Nomad. It was my first time in Almaty and their friendly and knowledgeable staff organized everything for me, from the airport transfer to the sightseeing and even restaurant bookings. Would totally recommend Easy Nomad to anyone visiting Kazakhstan for the first time or otherwise.

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Almaty, Kazakhstan

A Digital Nomad Guide to Almaty

Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis. The city is set in the south of the country in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It served as the country’s capital until 1997 but still remains Kazakhstan’s trading and cultural hub. The population of Almaty is 1.9 million.

Alma-Ata; its Kazakh name, translates as ‘Father of Apples’. The first apples in the world are from Almaty!

To look at, Almaty is a fairly soviet style city with a growing modern twist. The tree-lined streets are wide with multi-lanes for vehicles and sidewalks for pedestrians, built in a block-like pattern. Many modern cafes and restaurants line the streets with a number of parks, orchards, outdoor markets, shopping malls and art galleries. 

The city is home to Kazakhstan’s Academy of Sciences, numerous museums, an opera house, theatres producing in Russian and Kazakh and the Pushkin State Public Library. Almaty also has a botanical garden, a zoo, and several stadiums.

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, and the ninth-largest in the world. It is bounded on the north by Russia, the east by China, the south by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea, and Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea bounds Kazakhstan to the southwest. Kazakhstan is the most dominant nation of Central Asia economically, generating 60% of the region’s GDP, primarily through its oil and gas industry. The vast steppe countryside (largely unfertile flat grassland) is mined for many mineral resources, is home to a space launch facility and has even been a nuclear weapon test site. 

The territory of Kazakhstan has historically been inhabited by nomadic groups and empires. The Kazakh’s were thought to be the first race that tamed horses. During the Soviet Union, many of the nomads left for Mongolia or were forced into settlements to grow food. Due to this, the nomadic culture is less prevalent however you can still see hints of the more traditional culture. Sadly between 1930-33, Kazakhstan suffered a great famine as a result of the genocide during the Soviet war where around 40% of the population – 1.5 million people died.

Living in Almaty Overview

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Police : 110 Ambulance : 112 Firefighter : 113

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Tap Water: Non Drinkable Traffic: Dangerous Hygiene:  Medium

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Vaccinations .

Typhoid Hepatitis A Tetanus Diphteria

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Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)

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Withdrawal fee: rp 30,000 – rp 50,000, use of credit cards: mostly cash, transport & delivery.

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Kazakhstan is probably the most random, off the beaten track country I’ve had the pleasure to visit, and it was certainly not boring. In fact, I had been looking forward to exploring Central Asia for a while and seeing as both of my brothers had relocated to Nur-Sultan (previously Astana), Kazakhstan’s new capital, I felt it was about time to check out this culture. After spending time in Almaty and Astana as well as exploring some of the countryside, I was surprised and impressed with Kazakhstan. Being part of the iconic silk road, I got lost dreaming about the history of this place and the adventures previous nomads had been on in these lands.

Kazakhstan`s quality of life is heavily underrated. The unique blend of Kazakh authenticity, the inherited elements of Soviet culture and western vibes are all reflected in the developed coffee culture, great restaurants, amazing night clubs and growing modern architecture. Far from the images that were drawn up in the film Borat, the cities of Kazakhstan are westernised with all the modern conveniences you need. 

I found Almaty affordable, female friendly and fairly foreigner friendly. The commonly spoken languages are Kazakh and Russian. Knowing only a handful of phrases in either language, I felt my cultural immersion was restricted in terms of being able to connect with locals. However, there were many taxi drivers that spoke a good level of English and for me that was a great opportunity to get to know the culture in more depth. 

I really enjoyed the proximity to nature and the mountains. With only a 30 minute car ride to go ice-skating in the mountains, you can enjoy the conveniences of the city whilst being able to immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes with ease.

Kazakhstan and other countries in Central Asia are becoming increasingly popular for people living a digital nomad lifestyle due to the improvement of infrastructure and internet facilities in these countries. A great option for the experienced traveller that isn’t afraid to venture off the beaten track and try out a culture completely out of their comfort zone..

Work in Almaty

There are various co-working spaces, coffee shops and cafés perfect for getting in some hours on the laptop. Almaty has a great range of atmospheres depending on your mood, where you can have your morning smoothie or coffee as well as any other cuisine with quality ingredients at great prices whilst you work. The average internet speed in the city is 8 MBPS which is fairly low, but I had no problem downloading and uploading photo files whilst I was here. Generally, co-working spaces have stronger and more consistent Wifi facilities compared to restaurants.

Best Places to Live in Almaty

City center, auezov district.

In Almaty, there are three main areas that expats opt to stay in. The Medeu District is the centre of Almaty’s tourism. It covers a large area, with half situated in the city centre and the other half in Ile-Alatau National Park. You’ll find Republic Square in the city centre part, as well as a number of museums and galleries. There’s a wide selection of hotels and other types of accommodation too. The only downside of all the choices here is that it’s the most expensive area to stay in Almaty. Medeu District is split into two main areas which are classified as City Center and Uptown which is the area closer to the mountains.

One is the center of town, where apartments are luxurious and entertainment, bars, coffee places and a plethora of restaurants are within walking distance. This is a perfect spot if you are wanting to make new friends and be in the hustle and bustle. The center can be at times quite a smoggy affair due to the traffic. Unfortunately, the city does not have crystal clear air so the environmental impact of this is something to consider if you have breathing difficulties or young children. The average cost for a medium apartment in the centre is $480 (162,000 KZT). For a standard size two-bedroom apartment in the city, you can expect to pay around $600 per month (255,000). Many expats prefer to live in the city center as there are more English-speaking people and better infrastructure reachable on foot. 

If you are not into going out and don’t need to be in the center often for your work, you can decide to move uptown, closer to the mountains where the air is cleaner. When someone tells you to head “up”, “uptown” or “upper town” they are telling you to head towards the mountains. It’s still within a twenty-minute drive from the center so not a large commute to the shops and this is where the majority of the Almaty elite lives. Here you can find all sorts of accommodation from small apartments to high-society gated communities. There are many beautiful apartments close to Mega Mall and along Dostyk Avenue. 

The Auezov District is a little bit out of the centre, but there are a few reasons to consider staying here. Named after a famous Kazakh poet, it’s higher up and closer to the mountains. If you’re staying here, you can minimise two of the biggest problems in Almaty: pollution and traffic!

It’s much quieter and cheaper than the Medeu District, yet having the benefits of being well connected to the tourist centre of town. The ‘Moscow’ metro station connects Auezov with the main tourist attractions in the centre. If you’re looking for things to do, there are markets, parks, and even a shopping and entertainment centre in this part of town.

There are many resources available for finding apartments and accommodation in Almaty. Airbnb , Booking.com & Hotels.com are great sites to find accomodation for shorter stays. Airbnb has a monthly rate feature and offers a larger variety of stays from hotels, guest houses, private houses and more.

The best option for long term apartments is to use Krisha.kz . This website is only available in Russian but you can use the Google Translate plug in if viewing on the website or ask a friend to help you put in the relevant criteria if you do not speak/read the lingo. Be careful of the scammers on this website. Never pay a realtor or anyone before you see the apartment and sign the contract. Some scammers may ask you for a little sum for finding the apartment, don’t do that. All honest realtors in this town only take money after they find you an apartment. The realtor’s fee is usually 20,000 tenge.

Many expats will be provided accommodation or helped to find suitable apartments by the company they are working for. If you or your spouse will be working for a company in Almaty, be sure to check how much the allocated budget for this is.

For a standard 1 bedroom apartment in the City Centre, you can look to spend around 162,000 KZT ($480). Outside of the centre, the average price drops substantially to 100,000 KZT ($234). A friend of mine has a modern apartment with 2 rooms in a new stylish house, built in November 2020 for 550 USD per month. Utilities bills vary depending on the house size and area. Basic bills including electric, heating, AC, water, garbage and internet for an 85m2 apartment average at 30,000 KZT ($70).

There are also great quality hotels for very extremely moderate prices. If you fancy something more luxurious for your stay, the Ritz, Hilton, Marriott, Radisson and Sheraton are available for a touch of class. Prices for rooms in Kazakhstan are much lower than in western metropolitan cities, whilst retaining impeccable quality and services.

There’s plenty of options available for lower budgets. Decent options for one bedroom apartments can be found between $200-500 per month. This of course depends on location, house and facilities. Like many cities, the further into the suburbs you live, the cheaper the cost of rent is. 

The most budget district of Almaty is Auezov – the sleeping area of the city. It is worth noting that the area of Abay Avenue and Altynsarin crossing has good infrastructure for living. There is access to an underground station, the new shopping and entertainment center MOSKVA Metropolitan , Sary Arka which is a food and clothing market as well as a recreation park. Up the Altynsarin avenue is the State Academic Russian Theatre for Children and Youth named after N. Sats.

Upon arrival in Almaty, you can book hotels for short term stays from 14 USD per night (27,000 KZT) for a private double room. These are great options to check out for your trip until you find somewhere to stay long term:

Esentai Hostel – Rated 8.8/10. Clean bedding, friendly staff with effective air con and heating. The rooms are extremely spacious and come furnished with a sofa, a fridge, a TV, an electric kettle and a huge bathroom.

Academic Apartments – Rated 7.6/10. This mini-hotel is cosy, clean, tidy. There are comfortable beds, a refrigerator and a TV in the rooms. It is close to Abay so it is a great place to stay whilst apartment hunting.

Similar Digital Nomad Destinations

Compare almaty with other destinations.

Travel visas for Americans and many European citizens are good for 30 days and can be granted on arrival. Travelers of 117 nationalities can now apply for a Kazakhstan tourist visa online. You can apply for the E-Visa online here . However due to Covid, normal tourist visas are currently on hold so check the government website for updates. 

Work visas can be obtained through employers. Most companies will have links to people in government and that usually helps the process speed up. The visa process can be quite arduous; my brother was a teacher at an international school in Nur-Sultan and reported that there was a fair amount of paperwork to do.

You will need at least 2 blank pages on your passport and the passport should expire no earlier than 3 months from the expiry date of the online visa.

Many foreigners do a visa run to the border in Kyrgyzstan, which is relatively quick and cheap. Currently the Kazakh government has extended expiration dates of all visas and work permits until Nov 1 2021. Check the government website for further updates.

Kazakhstan entry requirements during COVID-19: 

Passengers arriving in Kazakhstan must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued no more than 3 days before arrival. The medical certificate must be in English, Kazakh or Russian. Children under the age of 5 are exempt provided they are accompanied by someone with a negative PCR test certificate. Citizens and residents of Kazakhstan who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Kazakhstan are also exempt. Travelers must present a completed health questionnaire on arrival. There is medical screening on arrival.

The main pillar of tourism and point of attraction for foreign tourists in Central Asia and especially in Kazakhstan is its incredible hospitality and great food. Food is taken as a high priority in the lifestyle of local people. 

Downtown, there are many pubs and restaurants. In the spring, summer and autumn, Almaty has somewhat of a sidewalk cafe atmosphere. There is every variety of restaurant imaginable, from fast food to English pub grub, high end French and Italian dining and ethnic cuisines like Uzbek and Georgian. Generally the service is brilliant and of a higher standard than Europe.

The average cost for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is around $6 (2500 KZT). A regular cappuccino costs $1.80 USD (750 KZT). 

There are many supermarkets across the city where you can find fresh and dried groceries as well as all the normal toiletries and homeware that is available in Europe. It is important to note the tap water in Kazakhstan is not drinkable. 

The traditional food in Kazakhstan is very similar to Turkish food. The diet is very meat and cheese heavy due to the roots of the nomadic culture. Meat dishes are frequent; horse meat dishes can be found in most of the restaurants here too. In the national cuisine, livestock meat can be cooked in a variety of ways and is usually served with a wide assortment of traditional bread products. 

There are a lot of Shashliks (kebabs) to choose from which are extremely delicious. Russian food has a strong influence here and is very popular. I highly recommend trying Borscht which is a sweet and sour beet soup.

When I visited Kazakhstan, I was mainly vegetarian which I had to put on pause somewhat whilst I was there as I was dining out with friends and family regularly who were not vegetarian. This being said, there are more vegan and vegetarian options now opening up in the city but this is harder to find the further out of the centre you go, and more difficult when you are in the countryside. More Kazakh youngsters are turning to plant-based diets as they seek out eco-conscious choices and adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Here is a great article on Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants around the city.

A traditional Kazakh dinner involves a multitude of buffet style appetisers on the table followed by a soup. After one or two main courses are served such as Pilaf – rice dish and Beshbarmak – boiled meat and noodles. 

Refreshments often include black tea and traditional milk-derived drinks such as Ayran – a type of savoury yoghurt, Shubat – fermented camel milk and Kumis – fermented horse or donkey milk.

Recommended Restaurants in Almaty: 

Tyubeteyka – For local and central Asian food, check out one of the three Tyubeteyka restaurants in the city. Open from 12PM – 12AM. Main meals range from $3 – $9. These restaurants have quality service and the staff are respectful to guests. The food is delicious and authentic.

Navat – Don’t be fooled by its exterior that doesn’t reflect what’s going on inside – the interior is absolutely stunning. The service is exceptional with attentive and polite staff. Everything I tried was delicious, well-balanced and had vibrant flavors. Prices are very moderate and probably even a bit cheaper than the most popular restaurants of a similar kind.

Coco – Burgers, tacos, chicken and Spanish cuisine. It’s interior/exterior is pretty hip. Warm and chewy pita bread was so awesome that I will indefinitely order again next time. Check out their craft beer. They also cater to gluten free diets.

JZ Peking Duck – For authentic chinese food, head to JZ Peking Duck for a night of hotpot and karaoke! In addition to the large portion of Roasted Duck, we also got fried mushrooms, eggplants & green beans and fried rice. Everything was fresh and tasty.

Bitanga – Try out some Ukrainian cuisine at this popular restaurant. The food is delicious, they have great service and the atmosphere is cosy with soft warm lighting and pleasant music. The bar is fully stocked with an impressive range of options from cocktails, liquors and beers.

If you are a nightlife lover, then of course you will fall in love with Almaty. You can find plenty of options to have fun at night in the city. Aside from restaurants and shopping malls, other nightlife options in Almaty involve being in bars and clubs. There is somewhat of a lack of other things to do in the city at night time outside of drinking. If amazing cocktails and live music is your thing, bring your best dancing shoes as you have a lot to explore in the night clubs of Almaty. 

Drinking with friends is a popular activity in Almaty, and the pub goers are very friendly. The price for drinks is pretty reasonable in general. The legal drinking age in Kazakhstan is 21 years old.

Recommendations for Nightlife Venues: 

Tantsy – On the weekends, the venue turns into a club with live music and great atmosphere. Get there before 11pm as it gets crowded after midnight. Find a table near the bar. The outside terrace is renovated each summer and is perfect for lounging around with friends. On the weekdays they have special food and drink deals like Steaks for $7. 

Karaoke bars are also big in the city which is definitely something to be experienced. You can rent a room with some friends at a low cost! Head over to Karaoke Ryba Moyey Mechty for a wild night of singing, food and cocktails. 

Little Brazil – For a little bit of spice, head to this Brazilian restaurant complete with all the music, dancers, entertainment you need to boop the night away. There is also karaoke and a buffet to tuck into.

In the evening, swing by the popular Barmaglot Bar to hear playlists from world-class DJ’s and sample craft cocktails with unusual ingredients like cuttlefish ink and indigenous Central Asian spices. 

Bla Bla Bar – Amazing club with three floors full of different kinds of bars, great music and love DJs on the weekend. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good time.

There are Party buses available to hire which include a mobile disco with a dance floor, a bar, DJ, pole dance and a variety of plasma panels & a toilet. They can accommodate up to 50 people. The bus is split into 2 sections: VIP room and the dance floor.

Mad Murphy’s – An Irish expat bar on Dostyk Avenue is very well known and a cosy tavern to meet some Europeans.

For the latest club and event dates, subscribe to @party__killers on Instagram. So grab a shot of Vodka and let’s go!

Almaty is a fantastic city with great activities to explore if you know where to look! Starting with culture, the city has many cultural sites worth checking out. 

Most of the museums in Almaty are worth a visit and an interesting place to learn about the traditions and history of the culture. I recommend checking out the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan . I spent around 2 or 3 hours here perusing the various rooms. There was some very questionable taxidermy showing the native animals from Kazakhstan which was worth a giggle.  There was a lack of exhibit information written in English but I was blown away looking at the traditional yurts, clothing and artifacts of the nomadic people; a culture which fascinates me. There is also an Archeology Museum which features skeletal remains of a mammoth and various dinosaurs. The Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, located in Panfilov Park, displays all of the rare and unique folk instruments that are present in Kazakh culture. 

Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

Tickets to theatres and the opera are incredibly cheap compared to Europe, ranging from 2 to 100 USD . Not to worry, the price is not reflective of the quality. The country is rich with talent who participate and win various international competitions, representing the country on a global level with world famous operas and ballet stages. There is also a genre related to traditional Kazakh culture, such as national music and national dances. Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is well worth a visit with it’s grand setting and amazing programme. The building itself was built in 1934 and named after Kazakh poet, composer, and philosopher Abay Qunanbayuli. 

Arts galleries

Arts galleries are a great way of ​​exploring and understanding a country’s culture and influences. There are a number of galleries and exhibitions around the city. The Arvest Art Gallery is worth checking out and also offers drawing classes for adults and kids which are performed by famous local and international artists! For fine art inspiration of paintings, sculptures and more, check out Art Space KZ . You will also see many urban art work murals around the city by local graffiti artists. 

article by Journal of Nomads

The nature in Kazakhstan is truly outstanding and VAST! If you are looking for some solitude, this is the country for you. Hiking is very popular here and there are many trails you can follow a short drive from Almaty. You can camp along the trails if you want to spend a night under the stars in the mountains. Check out this article by Journal of Nomads for more hiking routes and information. There are also some horse riding clubs on the mountains. It’s becoming a popular attraction amongst locals and tourists and a great way to check out the scenery. 

Want to go further afield? Grab a hire car and explore nature outside the city for a few days. There are 5 large lakes close to the city which are stunning. Big Almaty Lake is approximately 18 miles (28.5 km) from the city of Almaty. The lake is part of Alatau – Eliy National Park, surrounded by 3 stunning mountains – a great day trip! Kolsai Lakes make up a triad of lakes and are very popular destinations near Almaty. Surrounded by all of nature’s beauty and rare wildlife, visiting these lakes is a great option if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a serene atmosphere. The country is huge and there are enormous opportunities for travelling internally. Kazakhstan has an abundance of places to explore, landscapes of unseen beauty, mountains, deserts, lakes and steppes. Internal flights are very affordable and within a few hours, you can be in a completely different terrain.

Shymbulak Mountain Resort

Skiing and snowboarding is a must try if you live in Almaty. There are three ski resorts that are only 30-45 minutes drive and the price is low compared with the rest of the world. The most well known of the three is Shymbulak Mountain Resort which has well maintained trails, reliable car cars and ski lifts, powder snow, restaurants and a solid infrastructure. So convenient location. The snow runs are mainly red and black so experienced skiiers would enjoy this more.

Medeu Skating Rink

Another one for the winter sports enthusiast is Medeu Skating Rink . It’s situated approximately 5,548 ft. above sea level (that’s 1,691 meters!) and is the highest skating rink on earth. This skating rink and ski resort is a favorite for locals and visitors alike, and offers enough room for people to figure skate, speed skate, play hockey and have a ton of fun.

Fancy some greenery? Head to one of the recreational parks in Almaty. We recommend Almaty Central Park boasting 247 acres of land, is great for all ages and offers a variety of activities. The First President’s Park is a popular place to visit and is the home to the famous annual festival “Almaty – My First Love.” Located in the southern part of Almaty and surrounded by breathtaking mountain views, this park boasts natural features as well as attractions. Outdoor BBQ are also available here.  Panfilov Park located in Central Almaty, this park is a welcoming spot for people of all ages. This park is named after a group of brave Almaty soldiers who died fighting off Nazis in WWII. Zelyony Bazaar is right beside Panfilov park and is a great place to stock up on some organic local food and veg as well as clothing and homewares. 

What better way to learn about Almaty than to follow an expert around on a city tour to learn all the ins-and-outs? There are several great tours in Almaty such as Almaty City Tour and Center Smart Tourism . 

Brunches at hotels are a fun and affordable past-time I discovered whilst in Kazakhstan. For $20-30 USD, you can dine on a 4 or 5 star buffet and drink a lot of prosecco! I recommend checking out the Ritz Carlton and the Rixos for an afternoon of fun and elegance. 

Kok-Tube Hill

Take a fun-filled cable car ride to the top of Kok-Tube Hill where you will witness the city of Almaty, vineyards and mountains from a bird’s-eye perspective. It costs 2000 Tengge ($14) for the journey which I thought was expensive, so I vetoed it! If money is no object, jump aboard, if you’re on a budget, skip it my friends.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a great community platform to meet and stay with locals around the world for free! It’s very popular in Almaty with 16,000 hosts waiting for you to meet them. An awesome way to form life-long friendships, get to know other cultures and learn more about local traditions.

International Women’s Club

Almaty has a wonderful International Women’s Club . D espite the name it is open to both men and women. They have a guide, lots of activities and meet every Wednesday in the Ankara Intercontinental Hotel, 10.30am to 12.00pm.

Almaty experiences four seasons in which the temperature varies between -5 and 29 Degrees Celsius. 

The summers are warm, dry, and mostly clear blue skies. There can be some occasional thunderstorms in the afternoon. June to September are the summer months and are a great time to visit for sightseeing and tourism. Although the summer is hot, the altitude makes the heat more bearable than at sea level or other places in Kazakhstan like Nur-Sultan. 

Spring and fall are colorful, crisp and lovely. 

The winters are generally close to freezing temperatures and partially cloudy. Almaty sees quite a bit of snow, but wind chill is not a factor due to the mountains. December to February is a great time to visit if you are looking to get involved with winter sports like skiing and ice skating. 

The wet season lasts from mid March to mid June with the wettest month being April with 80mm of rain. The city averages between 30-60% humidity throughout the year. The length of the day in Almaty varies significantly over the course of the year. In 2021, the shortest day is December 21, with 9 hours of daylight; the longest day is June 21, with 15.5 hours of daylight.  

An issue I had with Almaty was the traffic congestion and the air pollution it causes. In Almaty there are about half a million cars, plus around 200 thousand cars travel to the city from the countryside daily. The large stream of cars seriously affects the ecological situation with the main source of air pollution being the exhaust gases. As Almaty is located in a valley between the mountains, the pollution is not being able to escape which can make travelling around feel more smoggy and muggy.

Travelling to Almaty can be such an enriching experience for the whole family. There are so many things to do in Almaty for little ones and grown-ups alike. 

There are many daycare and schooling options available in the city. Many foreigners opt to place their children in International Schools as they are usually English speaking and have high quality education.

​​The Apple Tree International Pre-school hosts the best kindergarten with an international education system catering to 2-10 year olds.

Haileybury International School is the most well known and expensive international school which operates under the British curriculum. It has a sister school in Nur-Sultan and the schools host talented staff and a complex of facilities.

Almaty International School (AIS) is another leading international school. It offers an American based curriculum for high school students. Teachers are all native English speakers and fully certified. The facilities at AIS are top notch and cater from 3 years old to 12th grade.

Aya Fantasy World is an amusement park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. If you’re in the city and have a leisure day, it would be a great option to spend that day here with your family and children. There are a number of rides for children and some for adults to enjoy too!

Almaty Zoo is a lovely day out for the family featuring mammals, birds & reptiles in their natural habitats.

Verevochnyy Park Bambu is located just outside of the zoo. It is great for letting the kids run wild, play and climb the rope bridges in the trees.

Explore the flora and fauna in Almaty’s Botanical Garden . Here you will find lotus ponds, swans, tree-lined pathways and exotic plants from around the world.

Kids Lab is a soft playground for kids located on the third floor in Dostyk Shopping Plaza. A perfect solution for when you want to zip off to do some shopping and let the kids have fun!

Living in Almaty

The region of Central Asia is relatively easy to reach by plane. The most popular and efficient airline is Air Astana. They offer regular flights to other internal cities as well as Europe, the Middle East, China and South-east Asia. Almaty is just 6 hours from Germany, 5 hours from Dubai and 8 hours from South East Asia. Head over to SkyScanner to check for the best flights to Kazakhstan. 

Once you arrive in the city, there are a number of ways to roam around the city:

Airport bus – The Airport bus is part of the city’s bus system. It picks up right outside the terminal and towards the right under a bus stop stand. It serves four bus routes into different parts of the city. The buses run roughly every 15 minutes from 6am to 9pm. 

Buses and Trams – Almaty has over 88 bus routes and 8 tram routes through the city. You can get nearly anywhere in Almaty by using the bus routes. To pay for the bus ride, you will need a top-up card, which you can buy for 400 Tenge ($1.20) at a kiosk or metro station.

Taxis and Private Cars – Download the Yandex taxi app which is similar to Uber and Grab. You will need a local SIM for this. It’s super convenient with the GPS feature and has set taxi fees for various vehicle types and the distance entered. You can get a pick up within 5-15 minutes. There are also official and semi-official taxis all over town. They are often simply hailed outside of a venue like the airport or the Esentai Mall. At the airport, be ready to get swarmed as you leave customs. Bargaining is a must, but don’t really do so unless your prospective driver actually speaks more than a few phrases of English. 

Local rides – There is a very informal and super common means of getting a lift all over Almaty which is simply raising your hand while standing on the side of the street. Almost instantly 5 cars will pull over, each just full of regular people about their business looking to make a few extra Tenge if they are going in your direction.

The Metro – The metro system is short with just 8 lines, but it is worth it to travel deep inside to see chandeliers and all the beautiful traditional art work and decor of each one. It is easy to take and efficient. Usually it is not full unless it is morning or afternoon rush hour. It’s not so convenient for older folks or if you have heavy luggage as there are a lot of stairs and not many escalators. It is worth seeing because it is spotless and constructed with stained glass, marble, ornate decorations and it is a real wonder to behold.

You should aim to move around the city before or after rush hours. In Almaty, this time is from 7:00 to 9:00 AM and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on weekdays. 

Drivers usually have one hand holding their mobile and the other on the horn so strap up when you are in a vehicle and be careful when crossing the road.

Almaty is abundant with health and fitness activities for all ages. There are countless hiking trails in the mountains and around the many lakes that surround the city. 

 The Kok Tobe gondola soars to Medeu Winter Park and beyond, year round. From the top, there is a children’s carnival area and many hiking trails and restaurants, and skiing and ice skating in winter. The country’s sports infrastructure is extremely developed thanks to the 2011 Winter Asian games hosted in Nur-sultan and Almaty. Ice palaces, skating stadiums, cycling centres and ski jumping centres are available around the city. 

There are many cycle routes around the city which is a great way to explore, get the thighs burning and enjoy the sun in the summer months. There are swimming and tennis clubs as well as several golf courses. There is horse trekking just outside the city. There are thermal hot springs at the foot of the mountains, sledging hills, and nordic ski trails.

If you are a gym bunny, head to Dostyk Plaza – one of the main shopping malls in the city center and visit Fitness Blitz . A membership will cost around $27 a month with opening hours from 7 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm Saturday and Sunday. There is another plan if you want to pay less and workout in the morning only. The facilities are clean, air conditioned with about 50 or 60 machines including treadmill, bench, leg press, etc. They have free weights as well as many exercise classes like yoga and cycling. The front desk receptionists speak English.

There is a big emphasis on spas that offering services like facials and massage. The Spa at the Rixos Hotel is also considered one of Almaty’s best. You’d be hard pressed to find more luxury than is offered at the Rixos as the spa has the feel and appearance reminiscent of Roman decadence with full facial, massage and body treatment services on offer. They also have a huge swimming pool, Vitamin bar and beauty salon amongst other amenities.

Whilst you are in Almaty, spend a few hours in one of the cities Banya’s which is a traditional Russian bathhouse. A banya typically includes a steam room with wooden benches, leafy branches that are used for massages, and buckets or pools of cold water with steam rooms and communal baths. The Alligator Club is considered Almaty’s shouldn’t miss Banyas. They are an important aspect in Kazakh life and the Alligator Club is among the country’s most elite spas. It offers traditional Russian and Finnish banya, spa therapy, a swimming pool and solarium.

Forget Borat, the fictitious, mankini-wearing media personality played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Kazakhstan is anything but that stereotype. It is the most economically and culturally advanced of the ‘Stan’ nations in the region. Whilst snippets of this film could be lightly understood in the traditional lifestyle of the countryside towns, in general the film has done the country a disservice in its reputation.

People are more open and liberal in Almaty compared with the rest of the country due to it being the business and cultural hub. I didn’t have culture shock when I arrived even though I speak neither Kazakh nor Russian, however speaking a little of either language will certainly go a long way. 

The people are generally warm and enthusiastic with travelers. Racism is low here and it’s beautiful to see how diverse ethnicities live harmoniously here. It’s common for young people who can speak English to approach you and ask about how you came to be in Almaty. Be yourself and don’t be shy to communicate with gestures and wrong words and accents. People generally want to understand you.

Although Kazakhs can be very welcoming and hospitable, I think the Soviet attitude has become quite ingrained in the culture and this can be visible through not trusting people and being too skeptical of someone’s motives. During the 19th century about 400,000 Russians flooded into Kazakhstan, and these were supplemented by about 1,000,000 Slavs, Germans, Jews, and others who immigrated to the region during the first third of the 20th century. During this time, Kazakhstan underwent a famine which resulted in 1.5 million people dying. I think Kazakh people are very resilient and will survive whatever life throws them. I don’t think they are easily offended, but they have been mistreated by others in their past.

Russian is now the most widely understood language in the country. The population of Kazakhstan is young. About half the population is under 30, and one-fourth is under the age of 15.  Life expectancy for men is 66 years, though life expectancy for women is much higher at 76. Kazakhstan’s population is currently growing at a rate of 1.21% per year. Farming occupies some one-fifth of the labour force. Many people left the countryside to move to cities such as Almaty and Nur-Sultan (previously Astana) to pursue corporate careers and more wealth.

Kazakhstan is an Islamic country, however the atmosphere of the city is not visibly dogmatic and the culture has an informal attitude to religion. There are some mosques and churches worth visiting around the city. 

There is no dress code; generally urban Kazakhs of both sexes are smartly dressed in modern clothes and only the expats wear shorts in town. It is common to see women in summer wearing revealing clothes. I was surprised to see how fashion and beauty conscious the women are here. When you venture into remote villages, you will see women wearing more traditional dresses and headscarves.

I have never seen homosexuals openly walking hand in hand as you do in Europe so I have the impression this is not tolerated, nor people kissing on the streets, so I assume it’s not done. 

In general, the country is not very democratic and freedom of speech is weak. None of the elections held in Kazakhstan have been considered free or fair by Western countries. Media independence is severely limited in Kazakhstan.

General healthcare in Almaty is rated average at 47/100. The city has prepared 32 covid hospitals with a bed capacity of 7,200 beds.

The International Medical Center (IMC) has a few locations in town and provides Western style medical care, including Radiology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology as well as Orthopedics. There are specialists in different areas of medicine throughout the city. They offer annual care plans starting at 150,000 tenge ($350). 

HealthCity is another recommended medical network that combines an innovative Diagnostic Clinic and Personal Medicine Centers in Almaty. The focus of the HealthCity project is personal medicine; which is aimed at accurate diagnosis, an individual approach to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases based on international standards.

For severe emergencies, Dubai is a four hour flight away, and International Life Flight and AirMed provide air service from Almaty.

BUPA i s one of the commonly used health insurance providers for expats in Kazakhstan. They offer different packages depending on your needs. If you are travelling a lot, it is worth looking into other Nomad Insurance providers such as WorldNomads which offer extremely flexible insurance plans for all ages, countries of travel and cover a host of activities such as adventure sports like skiing and scuba diving.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide .

Kazakhstan has the largest economy in Central Asia, and there are many exciting opportunities for expats wishing to find work there. The country is in need of highly-qualified professionals so if you have good qualifications and experience you should find it fairly easy to find employment. Foreigners move to Almaty for a range of careers from banking, insurance, diplomatic, construction, commerce, oil and education. 

Many of the expats I personally met came to Kazakhstan for teaching positions in International Schools. The contracts seem to be quite lucrative considering the average living wage of the city. 

It’s also fairly easy to find work as a local English tutor for children and adults if English is your native language. It is helpful if you have a degree in English language. Most freelance teaching positions are well paid and tutors are well looked after and respected. It’s difficult to get a work visa if you go down this route, however, so you may need to look into getting a residence permit or a student visa instead.

You can also earn good money working as an au pair or a nanny, again if you have a good grasp of the English language. 

A common reason for relocation is working for oil and mining companies such as Shell. Kazakhstan is an extremely oil and mineral rich country as well as having massive reserves of precious metals and fossil fuels. This has attracted a lot of wealth and interest from many areas of the world. 

Most job opportunities in Kazakhstan are centered in the major cities, like Astana or Almaty. The average work day is quite similar to that in most Western countries, with employees working fairly long hours, travelling for jobs and having to sort through a lot of bureaucracy and admin.

Having a high level of spoken Russian will assist you greatly in finding a career in the area you would like. 

Here are some resources for finding jobs in Almaty: 

https://kz.linkedin.com/jobs/almaty-jobs

https://we-xpats.com/en/job/as/kz/

https://kz.jooble.org

https://www.iagora.com/work/en/jobs-and-internships/for-english-speakers/kazakhstan/almaty

Almaty Overall Budget: $913 per Month

The cost of living in Almaty is “Euro light”. For example, imported groceries and fruits and vegetables out of season can be very expensive to buy in due to the distance of transportation. However, there is always an abundance of seasonal produce that is extremely inexpensive. Petrol is very cheap. Buying a car can be expensive so walking, cycling, public transport and taxis are good alternatives that can save you a lot of money. Household items, clothing and public transportation are far less expensive than Western prices. Housing can be expensive closer to downtown; but in the outlying areas of the city, all with excellent public transportation, homes and nice apartments are much more reasonably priced and well below Western prices.

I would say with a $1000-$1500 per month budget, you can live a very comfortable life here. Living frugally as a single expat on a budget, I would say $500-$800 per month would cover costs for food, transportation and leisure if you cook at home regularly.

Cost of living for expat for one month: 318,000 ₸ or $747

Monthly Transport Pass (Regular Price): 7,000.00 ₸ or $16.40

Utility Bills (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 25,098.11 ₸ or $58

Internet (60 Mbps or More with Unlimited Data) 4,902.81 ₸  or $11.50

Loaf of Fresh White Bread: 142.90 ₸ or $0.30

Milk (1 liter): 377.78 ₸ or $0.89

Eating out for Dinner cost: 2000 ₸ or $4.69

Coffee: 665 ₸ or $1.56

Pint of Beer: 1000 ₸ or $2.35

Fitness Club Membership for one month: 19000 ₸ or $45

The currency in Kazakhstan is the Tenge (KZT). At the time of writing September 2021, 500 KZT = $1.12 USD.Cinema ticket: 1800 ₸ or $4.22

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A Digital Nomad Guide to Almaty, Kazakhstan

First off: Why Almaty, Kazakhstan?

While planning a way to get back from East Asia to Crete (for my mom's 60th birthday celebration), we couldn't for the life of us find something within our budget that wasn't going to require more than like 27 hours of flying and many hell-ish changeovers. Suddenly some flights popped up in Skyscanner that peaked my adventurous side: Air Astana flights from Seoul to Almaty and directly from Almaty to Heraklion (Crete) with over a 2-week layover. I had been to Almaty back in 2014, and had tons of incredible, random, raw, local experiences and did my best to convince Fabio (who at that point pulled up a map, and for the first time, located Kazakhstan on a map).

Soon after, we were booking those flights, and before we knew it, we were flying to Almaty, Kazakhstan, a name meaning The Father of Apples .

Us showing off plenty of Kazakh Pride at Charyn Canyon

Before you go: Things to Prepare and Accommodations in Almaty

1) drop your previous misconceptions about kazakhstan (and almaty).

Before we came to Almaty, Fabio stumbled upon this article when Googling "Is Almaty safe?" and it scared him so much that the first night he was afraid to go out (I had to pull him out the door). That article is written by a travel insurance company, and from firsthand experience as tourists, we felt extremely safe in Almaty. There are some areas outside the central part of the city that feel a bit rawer, but don't let an article like that dissuade you from coming to Almaty or Kazakhstan.

Additionally, inform yourself a bit on Kazakhstan and Almaty beforehand, and you will soon realize it is a pretty special place to visit! We recommend this YouTube channel , which provides some nice videos to get you inspired about the city and country.

2) Figure out how long you can stay

Kazakhstan has come a long way in the last ten years in tourism. I remember I was one of the first few people to cross over the border from China with an allotted 15 days visa-free on my US passport back in 2014.

While there is nothing like a digital nomad visa available at the present, all EU countries, the UK, and USA are some of the several countries that can now benefit from 30 days visa-free entry . This is enough time to really get a feel for the country and city in our opinion.

Take a look at where you stand in this and then take a look at flights ;)

FYI: You cannot extend your visa-free stay by crossing the border to Kyrgyzstan, unfortunately.

3) Figure out how to get to Almaty

Almaty is arguably not nearby a lot, but on the other hand lies pretty centrally within the Eurasian landmass. We used it as a stopover point from East Asia to Europe, which is a good alternative to typical stopover points like Dubai and Qatar.

Check out Air Astana . It doesn't always show up on the 3rd-party sites, but I can highly recommend them! They have a very new fleet and economy class is not as depressing as other airlines. We found that booking on Skyscanner , we could put in a layover from Seoul to Crete, for example, and there was no price increase at all!

Flying in on Air Astana

By Ground 🚎:

Well, this is all dependent on if you are in one of the neighboring countries. I did it once from China, and it was for sure a multi-modal adventure. For sure, you can get to Almaty by road from countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, etc. but I will steer clear from too much information on this.

4) Where to Stay in Almaty and Accommodations in Almaty

For semi-long-term (2 weeks+), we used Airbnb to snag a pretty good deal. For under 30 euros a night, we found a basic flat with a fabulous, panoramic view of the business district and the mountains. This is without a doubt much more expensive than what locals will pay, but it came with everything we needed plus above average internet speed (often clocking in at 50 MB/s). Make sure to check on the internet speed with the host, as it isn't a country yet renowned for its Wi-Fi speeds.

We cannot recommend more the Almaly district, nearby Abay Avenue and Furmanov Avenue. It has everything you need in walking distance - like gyms, restaurants (including Soviet-style stolovayas -- more on that later), vibey parks, etc.

Our view from our Almaty AirBnb

5) Learn a little bit of Russian

While Kazakh is spoken natively by nearly 65% of the population, Russian is declared the "official" language of the country due to Soviet Union occupation all those years back.

We found that a few Russian phrases (hello, goodbye, thank you, please, this, that) and counting to ten helped immensely with basic communication. Also, since both Russian and Kazakh are written in Cyrillic (although the Kazakh language will transition slowly to a Latin alphabet ), learning a little how to read the Cyrillic goes a long way.

Many years back, I used Duolingo to help me learn a few phrases as well as how to read Cyrillic, and it has stuck with me ever since. Highly recommended leading up to your Almaty visit.

That being said, Almaty has plenty of young people, and we noticed about half of them eagerly switch to English when ordering at a restaurant, for example.

If you go outside Almaty, try to pick up some basic Kazakh phrases to impress those around you.

You've arrived! How to maximize your experience, time, and money in Almaty

6) get yourself a sim card.

If you are eager to get a SIM card right at the airport, there is a tiny stand on the left side when you walk out into arrivals (next to the canteen). The stand does charge a bit more, but for about 6,500 Tenge, we had a SIM card with 13 GB of data in just a few minutes (we got Beeline, which has worked super well for us, including when we've hot spotted for a meeting or two, but here is a link to more detailed info about the other SIM cards ).

If you can wait a bit, you can certainly get SIM cards at the designated mobile phone shops in Almaty, but we were happy to pay a little bit more to have it from the get-co.

7) Get to your flat from the airport

This part was a bit stressful at first since we weren't familiar with Yandex yet and the outside area after arrivals was packed with very little in terms of marked taxis.

After we realized Uber was not working, we kind of awkwardly walked around for a bit, unsure of what to do. Finally, a man approached us, and we worked out a deal of paying 4,000 Tenge to get to our apartment. There will be quite a few of these unofficial drivers walking around, and in our experience it was fine. You can definitely take one of these for 3,500 to 4,000 Tenge or if you already followed Step 4, just order a car from Yandex.

Make sure you get a bit of cash out at the airport ATMs beforehand. Whether you go the unofficial way or with Yandex, you will need to pay in cash.

There is also a bus that runs from the airport, but we didn't try it.

8) Learn how to get around Almaty

We basically walked the entire time we were there, but there are alternatives. Almaty has a metro (with tickets that were just 18 cents at the time I wrote this), an extensive bus system, and even rentable electric scooters. However, we could not get the scooters to work as we needed a Kazakhstani debit card at the time.

As mentioned before, Yandex taxis are inexpensive, but make sure you carry around cash for this purpose as it doesn't seem like they accept international cards in their system.

11) Exercising in Almaty: Running and joining a gym

To work off the aforementioned Khachapuri and shashlik, you are probably going to want to exercise a bit.

One of the ways we did this was by running. The streets are organized in a grid with a steady incline going south towards the mountain, so you can run upwards or downwards depending on how much you want to challenge yourself. While running in the streets isn't exactly the most pleasant experiences, due to the traffic and pollution, there are lots of streams from the mountains heading down through the city, and along these streams are leafy footpaths void of traffic.

My favorite was Terenkur - A nice place with a long, leafy, shaded park going up and down the stream. There are also plenty of cute cafes lining the area for when you finish your run.

Just watch out for the gradual incline if you go towards the mountain. It is tough in the moment, and even harder days after when your calves are still burning and yelling at you for ever having attempted it.

There are also a bunch of gyms scattered around within walking distance of anywhere. We joined one called Banzai fitness , which offered a 12 time pass (3 days per week for a month) for 8,000 Tenge. It was super organized and clean, so much so that the woman at the front made us put those funny slipper condom thingies over our outdoor shoes the first time we joined. From that point onward, we brought our outdoor shoes in a separate bag.

The wonderful visuals at Banzai

12) Change up your work environment, get a coffee

Sometimes, we would need a change of environment from the flat while we were working and would head out to a café. Almaty has a big café culture and thus the coffee scene is pretty good (and we have high standards for coffee).

They are good places to get some work done too, and I never felt like we were imposing by sitting for a few hours and just a cup of coffee. The Wi-Fi can be pretty fast, but I did find that the networks tended to be unprotected, so I always kept my VPN on (you can read more about this in this article ).

If the Wi-Fi went out for some reason, I always had my SIM card from step 7 handy in case I needed to hotspot.

My favorite was called  JumpinGoat coffee , which didn't just serve up espresso-based drinks, but also had brews from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Kenya. Yes, you can get coffee from these countries in Kazakhstan 🤣.

13) Check out the nightlife in Almaty

Our nightlife experience consisted of going to Georgian restaurants and karaoke booths. This place,  Mega Karaoke , cost less than 14 euros on a Thursday night with two massive beers each.

We attempted once to go to a techno club called Bult, but honestly couldn't find it.

Since we didn't make ourselves such an expert on this front, we will link you to  our fav YouTube girl .

14) Get out of Almaty to Experience the Real Kazakhstan on Weekends

As soon as you leave the borders of Almaty, the scene changes from glitzy metropolitan to vast ruralness fast, and that is where the true fun begins.

Kazakhstan has some of the most gorgeous natural beauty on this planet, and it changes pretty quickly as you drive through it. One hour you will be in arid canyons, half an hour later you will be driving down flat green plains, and another half hour later you will be in the thick of snow-capped mountains.

These types of scenes are accessible nearby Almaty and one such itinerary is going to  Kolsai and Kaindy lakes as well as Charyn canyon  over the course of 3 days or so. While it is somehow possible with a mix of public transportation and hitchhiking, we rented a car for the duration and thus traveling on our own time and agenda became much easier.

When you come to Almaty, definitely try to get out and see some of the other parts of the country (or nearby countries too).

Fabio about to fall off Charyn Canyon

First Kolsai Lake

Some other ideas:

• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan  for the weekend -- or if you have a long weekend even Issyk Kul 😍 (Kyrgyzstan has a similar or even more generous visa-free policy than Kazakhstan)
• Astana by overnight train

Traditions of Kazakh Nomads Tour 1 Day | Huns Ethno Village

Discover the ancient culture and traditions of Kazakh nomads on this 1-day activity-packed tour to the Huns Ethno Village near Almaty. With a mix of informative talks and demonstrations, folkloric shows, food tastings, and hands-on masterclasses, this tour has something for everybody. Experience a ‘day-in-the-life’ of Kazakh nomads as you see how tasks like spinning yarn and grinding flour are traditionally done. Learn about the significance of the yurt to nomadic people, and enjoy a folkloric show with music and horse games. Try traditional cooking, crafts, or sports for yourself with a choice of short masterclasses. This Traditions of Kazakh Nomads tour is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself for the day in Kazakhstan’s fascinating nomadic culture.

This tour operates every day (except Mondays) from April to October.

Tour itinerary:

Almaty – Huns Ethno Village – Almaty

10.00 Group gathering and departure from Almaty (60 km from Almaty, 1 hour 30 minutes). 

11.00-11.20 Group arrival to ethno-aul “Huns”. Meeting of the guests by two warriors in Saka period battle armors, by Shashy rite, treat all the guests with baursaks. Short baursak cooking master-class.

11.20-12.00 Acquaintance with the Kazakh yurt, customs and traditions of the Kazakh people.

Guests will be acquainted with the structure of the yurt, philosophy and sacred meaning of the yurt for the nomads. The “Syrga Salu” ritual (putting earrings on, wedding ritual). 

The guests will also know about the mode of life of the Kazakh people: cleaning and whipping wool, making yarn with a spindle, getting flour and talkan in the dermen, the rite of putting the child in "besik.

12.00-13.00 Show of the group «Sarbaz» (various programs presented in the form of theatrical performances - legends and horse games). Master-class on traditional Kara Zhorga dance.   

13.00-14.00 Lunch (plov, salad, baursaks, tea) 

14.20-15.00 Traditional Archery Master class.

15.00-16.00 free time (you can walk around the territory of aul, take photos in the national clothes, ride on “Altybakan” swing, play with animals in the contact zoo). 

16.00 Return to the city. Transfer to the hotel.

Price includes:

•  Guide service according to the program – English speaking guide
• Bottle of water - 1l. per pax per day
• Entrance fees according to the program
• Transport service Standard: 1-2 pax -sedan, 3-5 pax minivan, 6-13 pax Sprinter, 14-50 pax –big bus 50 seats,   

Price does not include:

• Accommodation;
• Personal expenses;
• Personal travel insurance;
• Visa fees, visa support, and registration (if required);
• Tips are not included, but would be appreciated.

Prices per person

Tour request.

The tour is private with your personal guide. There will be no other people joining the tour. Our guides will follow your own pace. The starting time of the tour is up to you and may vary from 09.00 am to 16.00 pm. We are happy to offer this tour for air/train passengers too. Our guide will meet you at the arrival station.

Huns Ethno Village Tour Reviews

Post a comment, more similar tours to traditions of kazakh nomads tour.

• Lift-assisted
• Sidecountry
• Backcountry
• Ski-mountaineering
• Expeditions
• Freeride Tours
• Summer Activities
• Accommodation
• Mountain ranges

  Shymbulak Yurt Lodge Backcountry Adventure

    duration: 3 days season: mid april – mid june mountain range: ile alatau.

About tour:

You will feel the spiritual power of ancient nomads when find yourself in traditional Kazakh yurt, surrounded by huge impressive glaciers with panoramic view to Almaty city. You will be besotted by their fresh breath and charmed by stern sharpen character of pointed rocky peaks. It’s a good chance to test yourself at high altitudes and leave your trace on the wild untouched slopes of Tien-Shan mountains. National cuisine, malamute dogs therapy and stunning sunset will make this experience more impressive and unforgettable.

HIGHLIGHTS:

 – panoramic view of glaciers and high rocky peaks

– incredible burning sunsets and sunrises

– view to the lights of night city

– deep starry night skies

– discovering new glaciers

– opportunuty to ride steep and beautiful challenging lines

– hanging out and relaxing in neighbor bar after exhausting day of backcountry

– petting kind firry malamute dogs

400$ per person for the group of 2 350$ per person for the group of 3-6 300$ per person for the group of 7-10

Number of persons:

MOUNTAIN RANGE:

mid April – mid June

Base camp altitude:

3163 m.a.s.l.

Ability level:

intermediate, advanced/expert

Start point:

Almaty city – Medeu sport complex – Shymbulak mountain resort – Talgar pass – Bogdanovich glacier

Day by day Schedule:

Meeting the guide in your hotel at 8 a.m. Transfer to Medeu sports complex. Ascent by cable car to the highest point of Shymbulak Mountain Resort – Talgar pass 3163 meters high. Yurt lodge check-in. There is traditional yurt, so the sleeping places will be arranged straight on the floor in sleeping bags. The whole yurt and the floor are heated. Electricity and water inside the yurt, rest room is outside. Touring in the area nearby resort. Few of the most interesting spots will be taken into consideration: Til’ glacier, couloirs of Shkol’nik, Chkalov and Edelweiss peak. Coming back to the yurt. Dinner in Kazakh national style. Overnight in the yurt. Travel time: 5-6 hours Elevation gain: 500-800 meters Descend length ~ 5 km Duration: 4-5 hours Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees

Breakfast at 6.30 a.m. Instructions from the guide and preparing for the route. Backcountry to Fizkul’turnik peak or Pioneer pass. Coming back to the yurt. Free time. Dinner in Kazakh national style. Overnight in the yurt. Travel time 5-6 hours. Elevation gain: 900 meters. Descend length ~ 5 km. Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees.

Breakfast at 6.30 a.m. Instructions from the guide and preparing for the route. Not later than 7:30 a.m., start moving to the west, in direction of Bogdanovich Glacier. This day you will make ascent to Karlytau peak located in the cirque of Bogdanovich Glacier. Coming back to the yurt, rest. Apreski in “3200 Bar” or “Oblaka” restaurant, free time. At 4 pm descent to Shymbulak low station by cable car or skis and snowboards, depending on weather and snow conditions. Dinner in local cafe in Almaty. Travel time: 6-7 hours. Elevation gain: 1000 meters. Descend length ~ 6 km. Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees.

Read more about freeride spot >>

Required clothing and equipment

Services included in the package:

1. English-speaking skiing guide services. 2. Transfer Almaty – Medeu sport complex – Almaty. 3. Ascent from Medeu sport complex to Talgar pass by cable car. 4. Meals according to the program. 5. Accommodation in the yurt at Talgar pass with half board. 6. Daily ski-pass at Shymbulak in Day 1. 7. Drinking water.

Services does not included in the package:

1. Rental of ski and avalanche equipment (available upon request). 2. Visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if required. 3. Meals (other than specified), personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program. 4. Accommodation in Almaty before / after the tour. 5. Insurance policy. 6. Cost of the dinner in Day 3 (~15-20 USD). 7. Lunch (can be arranged in the yurt or in the restaurant nearby).

Please, note:

Depending on weather, temperature and snow conditions, the guide can make adjustments to the program. It is required to have travel insurance covering freeride, alpine touring and backcountry in the remote mountain area, including rescue by helicopter .

Related offers:

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Cosmo Station Backcountry Adventure

Duration: 3 days Season: mid April – mid June

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Duration: 5 days Season: December – March

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For 1 person: 1247$ For 2 person: 723$ For 3 person: 620$ For 4 person: 620$ For 5 person: 556$ For 6 person: 495$

For 1 person: 130$ For 2 person: 79$ For 3 person: 62$ For 4 person: 56$ For 5 person: 54$ For 6 person: 50$ For 7 person: 47$ For 8 person: 44$ For 9 person: 43$ For 10 person: 41$

For 1 person: 190$ For 2 person: 120$ For 3 person: 90$ For 4 person: 85$ For 5 person: 85$ For 6 person: 82$ For 7 person: 76$ For 8 person: 74$ For 9 person: 72$ For 10 person: 66$

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For 1 person: 166$ For 2 person: 102$ For 3 person: 81$ For 4 person: 77$ For 5 person: 77$ For 6 person: 71$ For 7 person: 66$ For 8 person: 61$ For 9 person: 57$ For 10 person: 54$

For 1 person: 190$ For 2 person: 124$ For 3 person: 103$ For 4 person: 103$ For 5 person: 103$ For 6 person: 95$ For 7 person: 90$ For 8 person: 84$ For 9 person: 80$ For 10 person: 76$

For 1 person: 501$ For 2 person: 321$ For 3 person: 279$ For 4 person: 279$ For 5 person: 260$ For 6 person: 243$ For 7 person: 224$ For 8 person: 208$ For 9 person: 200$ For 10 person: 195$

How to visit the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, The most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan

This article covers all the information you need to know about visiting the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, including how much it costs, how to get there from Almaty, where to stay, and what to do.

Kazakhstan is often described as a land of deserts, vast steppes, yurts, and camels. The country also gets associated with the old caravan routes of the Silk Road, along which were often little but dried-up steppes to keep the travelers entertained during their long journeys.

The overload of nothingness was exhausting while I was driving with my friends from West to East across Kazakhstan for more than 10 days in a row. I can only imagine how fried-up the brains of those travelers must have been as they had to cross the same distance on a camel or horse.

The Southeast region of Kazakhstan was a striking contrast to what we experienced on our road trip.

The natural diversity of this region is amazing – from arid deserts and scenic canyons to lush valleys, snow-peaked mountains and turquoise lakes. This territory is called Zhetisu, which means in Kazakh “Seven Rivers”.

A large number of rivers are flowing down the slopes of the Northern Tien Shan and Dzungar Alatau Mountains, forming stunning lakes along their way.

We visited a few of these lakes in the Kolsai National Park and the nearby sunken forest of Lake Kaindy.

These lakes are part of the “Golden Triangle”, a trio of major natural attractions in Southeast Kazakhstan, which also include the Charyn Canyon and the Altyn-Emel National Park.

In this guide, I focus on the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, but I would also recommend reading my guide to Charyn Canyon as it is worth a visit on your way from or back to Almaty!

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

Kazakhstan Travel Essentials & Resources

• 18 useful things you should know to visit Kazakhstan
• Plan your trip:  Itinerary Planning for Kazakhstan
• Tours & Experiences:  City Tours, Adventure Tours
• Visa:   Check the required Kazakhstan travel documents!
• Getting there:  Search for flights to Almaty or Nur Sultan
• Where to stay :  Find a hotel, hostel, guesthouse or homestay in Kazakhstan
• Travel Insurance:   Choose the best travel insurance for Kazakhzstan
• Getting around :  Rent a car in Kazakhstan  or  travel by train

TABLE OF CONTENTS

An introduction to the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy

Why visit kolsai lakes national park.

The Kolsai Lakes National Park houses a system of three lakes, nestled among the hills of the Northern Tien Shan Mountains, approximately 300km east of Almaty.

They are also called “The Pearl of the Northern Tien Shan” and after visiting the lakes, you’ll totally get why! The 3 lakes are so clear that, when the sun is out, the surrounding forests, hills, and snowy mountain peaks are mirrored in the water.

The two lower lakes, Kolsai 1 and Kolsai 2 (easy to remember) are surrounded by spruce trees, alpine meadows and mountain pastures.

Kolsai 1 is at an altitude of 1000m while the second lake, being much higher into the mountains, is at an altitude of 2500m. Grassy slopes replace the spruce forests on the hills surrounding the third lake, which is at an altitude of 2700m.

The 26 most beautiful places to visit in Kazakhstan

Kaindy, The underwater forest Lake

Lake Kaindy is at an altitude of 2000m and geologically very young. This 400m long lake was formed in 1911 after an earthquake triggered an enormous limestone landslide, which formed a natural dam in the gorge that was covered by spruce trees.

Water started flooding the basin and submerging the forest. The dried-out trunks of the trees rise above the surface of the water, looking like the masts of sunken ships.

The lake is almost 30 m deep and if you look underwater, which is very easy because the water of the lake is very clear, you can still see the needles on the submerged trunks.

Due to the cold temperatures, the trees were naturally frozen and well preserved in the water. You could go diving in this lake to see its unique beauty, but brace yourself for the cold! The temperature of the lake is a maximum of 6ºC in summer!

Strangely enough, this uncommonly beautiful lake is still quite unknown. The Kolsai Lakes, which are about 36km from Lake Kaindy, are far more popular.

This is probably due to the fact that it’s pretty difficult to get to Kaindy lake if you don’t have a 4×4 at your disposal. But do not despair, I will tell you exactly how you can get there!

Don’t miss out on the Charyn Canyon on your way to or from the lakes!

How to visit the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy – Travel Tips

1. how to get to kaindy lake and the kolsai lakes from almaty.

It takes about 6 hours to reach the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy from Almaty.

1.1 How to get to the Kolsai Lakes from Almaty by public transport

Getting to the Kolsai National Park by public transport is probably not your best option.

There should be a bus going from Sayakhat bus station (Almaty) to Saty , the closest village to the lakes but nobody (even locals) seem to know when this bus leaves.

If you’re lucky enough to catch this bus (if you do, please let me know in the comments below), you have to get off in the village of Saty.

From there, it’s a 15km walk before you reach the entrance gate. You could always try to hitchhike that part of the way as there should be a few cars passing by.

Getting back on the same bus will be very hard if you were able to take this bus to get there in the first place!

Your best option to get from Almaty to Lake Kaindy and the Kolsai Lakes would be by shared taxi.

Go to Sayakhat bus station and search for the shared taxis that go to Kegen , the name of a village near Saty (the drivers will shout it).

Ask the driver to drop you off at the intersection with Saty (say “ stop Saty povorot ”). The costs of a shared taxi from Almaty to the intersection with Saty should cost $10 per person .

From the intersection, it’s another hour or two to Saty and the entrance of the National Park.

You can try to hitchhike the distance but know that some drivers will ask you for money. You shouldn’t pay more than 3000 tenge so make sure to be clear on the price from the start (so they don’t double or triple the price upon arrival.

Once you arrive in Saty, you can ask your driver to drop you off at the entrance of the park (which will cost you another 1000 tenge ) or you can hope to catch a free ride by hitchhiking.

Getting back from the Kolsai Lakes to Almaty shouldn’t be too hard. You can hitchhike back from Saty (or pay the driver) to Zhalanash or to the intersection with the main road.

Maybe you’re lucky and you’ll get a ride straight to Kokpek or Almaty. In any case, keep the following prices in mind:

• From Saty to the intersection: 3000 tenge .
• From the intersection to Kokpek (see map): 1000 tenge .
• You’ll definitely find a bus or shared taxi from Kokpek to Almaty for 4000 tenge .

Note: these were the prices in 2019. The costs might have gone up since the inflation of 2022. If you have updated info on the price, please let me know in the comments below!

1.2 renting a car in Almaty

A more expensive option is to  rent a car .

If you’re willing to pay the price, you’ll get a lot more time and freedom to explore and drive around the canyon. Try to  rent a 4×4 car  as the road towards the Kolsai lakes is pretty bumpy and the road doesn’t go further than the first Kolsai lake. 

Friends of mine were able to rent a car for  $90 USD  through a local office in Almaty but you might find a cheaper deal online. 

You can also ask fellow travelers in your guesthouse/ hostel if they are up for joining you on this trip and share the costs.

Almaty City Guide: The 19 best things to do in Almaty

1.3 Hitchhiking to the Kolsai Lakes

If you have the time, you can definitely get to the Kolsai Lakes by hitchhiking. It won’t cost you much and the trip towards the lakes will probably be an adventure on its own.

Take a mashrutka or shared taxi to get out of the city center and once you reach the highway (A-351), you can start hitchhiking towards Kegen. Don’t miss the turn to Zhalanash/Saty.

Make it clear from the start that you’re not paying for the ride, otherwise you might get some problems. Please read my tips on hitchhiking in Kazakhstan .

1.4 How to get to Lake Kaindy from Almaty

As Lake Kaindy is only 36 kilometers away from the first Kolsai lake, the information above is pretty much the same.

Instead of going all the way to Saty, you will have to turn left one kilometer before the village (see map below). The intersection is near a cemetery and you’ll also see a sign pointing you in the direction of Kaindy Lake.

The road towards the lake is very rough and is often partly flooded so you’ll need a 4×4 to get there. You can hike or try to catch a ride at the turn before Saty as there will be some cars passing by.

You might have to pay 2000 tenge for the ride or maybe you’ll meet a friendly driver who will bring you there for free.

1.5 Tours to Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy

The easiest way to get to the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy would be by booking a tour.

You can check at the offices of local tour companies in Almaty or you can also browse for tours online. Most tours offer a combination of visiting the lakes with Charyn Canyon and even Altyn Emel National Park, which I’d highly recommend!

You can also join my 10-day Best of Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Adventure Tour as you’ll visit the Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy, Charyn Canyon and many more!

Join the 10-day Best of Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan Adventure and visit Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy, Karakol, Son Kul lake, and many more! 

I also recommend the following guided tours, organized by local travel companies in Almaty:

Need help planning your trip to Kazakhstan? See my Central Asia Tour and Itinerary Planning Services!

2. How much does it cost to visit the Kolsai Lakes National Park

You’ll have to pay an entrance fee to visit the Kolsai Lakes and an entrance fee to visit Lake Kaindy, as they work independently.

Before reaching either lake, you will come across an entrance gate. The officer in the little kiosk will ask for your passport, and documents (if you’re driving) and will want to know if you’ll be camping there for the night.

The entrance fee without camping is 806 tenge per person and 100 tenge per car and, if you want to spend the night in your tent, you’ll have to pay another 350 tenge per tent (the prices tend to change, depending on the season). Keep the receipt with you as you’ll have to show it upon exiting .

When we arrived at Kaindy Lake, it was already late in the evening. We noticed that the park guard was drunk. His breath reeked of alcohol and he was having a hard time keeping our money in his hands as he was trying to count it.

He never gave us a receipt and the day after, when we wanted to leave the park, another guard stopped us and asked for it. We tried to explain in the little Russian that we know, that the previous guard hadn’t given us any proof of payment.

When we said that his colleague had been drunk the night before and probably put the money in his pocket, the guard eventually let us leave. Moral of the story: always ask for a receipt so you don’t have to pay twice !

Kazakhstan Travel Guide: 18 useful things to know before you go

3. Hiking in Kolsai National Park

3.1 hiking to the kolsai lakes.

The first Kolsai lake is accessible by car and you can walk around it in just a couple of hours.

If you have more time and you’re up for a good hike, I would definitely suggest hiking up to the second lake and maybe even the third lake. The three lakes are connected by a well-maintained hiking trail, which takes you along meadows, dense forests and steep slopes.

It’s an 8 km walk from the first lake to the second one, which takes about 2 to 3 hours of hiking. Be aware that some parts of the trail are very steep.

Once you reach the second lake and you still have some energy left (I didn’t), you can continue the trail on the left side of Kolsai 2 to the third lake, which is another 5km.

The third lake is only 6km away from the Sary-Bulak Pass (3278m) on the Kyrgyz border. I heard that you can hike up until there and get treated to some superb views over the blue Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan.

You can hike to the second lake and back in one day, but it takes at least two days to do the whole trek to the third lake and back.

Most of the trail is very clear to follow with a few signposts and blue arrows here and there. When in doubt, look for horse tracks (and horse poo) to find the right direction (that’s how I did it).

If hiking isn’t your thing, you can always hire a horse  near the first lake for a day to take you up from Kolsai 1 to Kolsai 3. Please be accompanied by a guide, who can help you with getting the animals over any tricky and steep parts of the trail.

If you want to cool down after a long hike, you’re allowed to swim in the lakes.

Important Note : The start of the trail begins on the right side of Kolsai 1. You’ll see armed guards at the entrance and they will ask you to leave your passport with them.

The path leads to the Kyrgyz border and it’s their duty to prevent anyone from crossing this border illegally. Once you’re back at Kolsai 1, they will hand you back your passport. Some of the guards speak some English and they are really nice guys!

3.2 Hiking at Lake Kaindy

Once you arrive at the car park of Lake Kaindy, you won’t have to walk far to see the sunken forest.

It’s about 10 minutes hiking from the car park to the lake but keep in mind that the trail is pretty steep. The lake is only 300 meters long so you can walk along its shore.

If you’re up for a multiple-day hike, you can connect Kaindy Lake with the 3 Kolsai Lakes. Take a topographic map so you won’t get lost!

Hiking in Almaty: The 5 best hikes in the Almaty Mountains

4. Where to stay at the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy

4.1 homestays and guesthouses near kolsai lakes national park.

There are two accommodation options near the Kolsai lakes. You can stay at the yurt camp near the first lake for 7000 tenge per person (breakfast included) or at one of the few homestays and guesthouses in Saty, the closest village near the lakes.

There are a few homestays in Saty where you can show up and ask for availability or you can book a room online to stay at one of the following two guesthouses in Saty:

• Saty Guest House
• Guesthouse Aisha

There are no restaurants or convenience stores near Kolsai 1, so make sure to bring enough food. Some homestays will offer lunch and dinner for 1000 tenge per meal .

Important note: The yurt camps and most homestays are closed from October to May .

There are no lodging options at the other two Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, with the exception of camping.

4.2 Camping at the Kolsai Lakes

If you want to camp at any of the three lakes, you’ll have to pay an extra fee when you enter the park. The prices can change but we had to pay about 350 tenge per tent per night . Keep the receipt with you in case any ranger inquires for it on the campground.

During the summer, at the peak of the tourist season, rangers will show you to a designated camping area as you won’t be the only person camping there. If you prefer to be by yourself, you can always hike to the forest and find a camping spot there.

During the low season (from October to May) you’ll probably be alone as not many people are up for sleeping outdoors in the cold.

Be aware that you’re higher up in the mountains so the nights can be cold, especially if you decide to pitch your tent at Kolsai 2 or Kolsai 3.

We camped at Kolsai 1 in mid-October and the temperature at night dropped below freezing point.

You’re allowed to make a campfire around the lakes but it’s prohibited in the forest. Read my guide on how to prepare for camping in winter if you intend to do the same.

4.3 Camping at Kaindy Lake

You can camp anywhere you want near Kaindy Lake. There is a space near the car park with a few outdoor toilets and picnic benches but you can also pitch your tent along the lake’s shore.

Just as with the Kolsai Lakes, prepare yourself for cold nights as you’re at an altitude of 2000m. Unfortunately, it’s prohibited to make a campfire anywhere near the lake.

5. When is the Best time to visit Kolsai Lakes and Kaindy Lake

The lakes are becoming more popular every year and you’ll find many fellow nature lovers there during summer, between the months of June and September.

Summer is also the best time to camp comfortably but you might have to share the space with others. It’s also the easiest time of the year to hitchhike or take a shared taxi to the lakes as there will be a lot more traffic.

If you want to enjoy the tranquility of the lakes but not freeze your ass off, it’s better to visit the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kainday in late May or late September.

It’ll be still warm enough to spend a lot of time outdoors and the yurts and guesthouses around Kolsai will still be open (they close from October on and open again in May).

There’s going to be a lot less traffic than during the summer but you should still be able to find a ride (paid or free) to the lakes.

There will probably be some snow along the hiking trails and the lakes might be frozen at that time of the year so I wouldn’t recommend camping there unless you’re well-equipped.

Winter (December – March) isn’t the best time to visit the lakes. Winter here is pretty rough and the roads and hiking trails are sometimes closed, due to heavy snowfall. It will also be very hard to find a homestay that is open.

My friends and I visited Kaindy and Kolsai in mid-October and although the weather was nice and sunny during the day, the nights were very cold (below freezing point). We also saw some snow on our way to the second Kolsai Lake.

If you don’t mind camping in these temperatures and you’re well-equipped, it is quite special to be here by yourself!

6. What to Pack to visit Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy

• Bring enough food and water with you for the amount of time you’re going to spend near the lakes since there are only a few convenience stores in the nearby village of Saty.
• Bring a water filter as you can get your water from the rivers and lakes (saves you the extra weight of carrying all those bottles of water).
• Wear proper hiking boots and bring a raincoat in case of sudden showers.
• If you’re planning to spend the night near the lakes, be aware that it can be pretty chilly. Bring a warm sleeping bag and enough clothes to keep you warm at night. You can find more tips about camping in winter here .
• Bring eco-friendly toilet paper and wet wipes as some guesthouses don’t have showers.
• Pack a first-aid kit and make sure to have good travel insurance .

What is the best budget travel insurance? 3 Best Travel Insurance Companies compared!

I hope this guide provided you with all the information you need to have a great time in this stunning area. If you have more questions, let me know in the comments below. Feel free to post tips, photos or stories of your own visit to the lakes.

More KAZAKHSTAN TRAVEL Resources:

• The Travel Guide to Kazakhstan: 18 things you should know before you go
• The 26 most beautiful and interesting places to visit in Kazakhstan
• Is it safe to travel to Kazakhstan: 15 useful safety tips
• Almaty City Guide: The 19 best things to do in Almaty
• The 5 best and most beautiful hikes in the mountains near Almaty
• Charyn Canyon Travel Guide
• Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy Travel Guide
• Sayram Ugam National Park Travel Guide
• Turkestan Travel Guide: discover the spiritual center of Kazakhstan
• Visiting the ship graveyard of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan
• Trekking in Kazakhstan: 5-day hiking itinerary in the Northern Tian Shan Mountains
• A beginner’s guide to skiing in Shymbulak, Almaty

30 thoughts on “How to visit the Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy, The most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan”

Hi! This is Clari from Italy and next month I’ll go to Almaty until July. I read that you can sleep in a yurta by Kolsai Lakes, but Ican’t find a website where I can book from. Do you have any information? That would be very helpful. Thanks so much!

Hi Clari, that yurt camp isn’t bookable online. You’ll have to see on the spot if they have availability. just remember that it’s a very touristic yurt…

I am planning to make a travel to Kazakh and Kyrgyz region and stumbled across with your vlog. Thank you for detailed explanation. I am planning to travel alone and rent an offroad car around next June. Is it safe to travel alone as a male traveller? Also wondering if there was a language barrier with locals? Will it be a good idea to learn basic phrases? Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hi Umutcan, yes, it is safe to travel alone in Kazakhstan. All people in Kazakhstan speak Russian so it good be helpful to learn some basic Russian phrases. Here’s a useful guide for it. Best wishes, Cynthia

Very well laid out information! I am visiting next week and this will certainly be helpful

Enjoy your trip Malik!

Hi, I’m planning to go to the lakes and canyon in 2 weeks. Do you know if you have to book the yurts by the lake in advance? And if so is there a website for them? Thanks so much!

Hi Hannah, I don’t have any online info for the yurts by the lake. You can always ask a tour provider in Almaty about them.

Hello! My boyfriend and I are planning to visit Kazakhstan the first two weeks of April. Do you know if it’s possible to do a day hikes (perhaps to lake 2 and maybe 3) during this time? I’d love to do an overnight, but it seems like the yurts and home stays won’t be open. Thanks – your information is great!

Hi! It’s hard to say as it will depend on the weather and snowfall. Hiking to lake 2 might already be possible and you’ll be able to visit Kaindy lake too but I don’t think lake 3 will be accessible yet in early April. Some homestays might already be open too, depending if there are already other tourists. And thank you 🙂

As always the guides are very detailed and well done ! We ended up staying at guesthouse Aisha and we have been very welcome and the rooms and food were great ! The entrance fee is now the same as Charyn: 806 per person 7 years old and up and 200 for the car. We started with Kolsai, and when we arrived to Kandy they told us the entrance fee covers both lakes, so that’s a good deal ! But don’t forget to keep the proof of payment they give you at the gate. At Kolsai, there was also boat for rent for half and hour or more. 5000 tenge for 30 minutes, the kids really liked it. Even though Kandy is complicated to get to, it’s REALLY worth your while ! After more than a month on Central Asia the whole family agrees it’s one of the most beautiful place we have been to.

Hi Jacquelin, thank you for all the updates! I’m very happy to hear you had such a great trip and that you love Central Asia as well 😀

Hi there Jacquelin – I assume you travelled to the area using a hire car – is that correct? If so what did you hire, from where – and can you remember how much it cost? Gareth

thank you so much for provided feedback. it was very useful considering that I plan to go there next week….

Great to hear Rati! Wishing you a great time at the Kolsai Lakes, it’s absolutely beautiful there!!

guys! How lucky I was to find your blog! so many amazing tips! we are now at Almaty planning our adventure in the east (canyons and the lakes) . Just thank you! Question: we dont want to rent a car so the entire trip will be by bus /hitchhike. Did you see any of this type on the way?

Hi Tais, sorry for the late reply (we were out and about in the mountains). I hope it’s not too late but you might have found your way to the canyon and lakes by now. There aren’t any buses going that way but you can take a shared taxi and/or hitchhike!

Amazing pictures and great tips! I am curious, did you manage to visit Altyn Emel National Park as well? If so what did you think of it? I am visiting Almaty in a couple of months and am definitely interested in visiting Kolsai, Kaindy and Charyn Canyon National Park. I would need an additional 2 days to visit Altyn Emel and I am wondering if it is worth it.

Hi Timothy, we haven’t visited Altyn Emel yet but friends of ours did and it’s apparently also very beautiful there. There’s a place in the park called Singing Dunes, which is quite special. If you have 2 extra days on your itinerary, I’d visit it 🙂

I think that the photos talks better that anything else. The crystalline water in contrast with the whitewashed mountains are have an immediate impact on me because is so similar of a lake here in my land in the northeast of Italy. How cool is to travel and find places that seems like your hometown. I love trekking and hope one day to have the chance to visit this amazing land. kisses Ale

We visited the northeast of Italy and saw some gorgeous lakes there also.We’re glad this reminded you of your hometown. Hopefully you have the chance to visit this part of the world one day, we know you will love it!

There’s a lot of beauty also to a deserted scenario, with nothing but plain flat land till the distance your eyes can see. The capture of the Kazakhstan plains with horses taking a run is brilliant and amazingly beautiful. It’s all so adventurous when you can trek, camp and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Thank you for sharing all the details and lovely pictures of the lakes. Now I know how to get there and will soon some day try to be there. Adding this place to my list of must visit 🙂

You are totally right! There is a lot of beauty in deserted and arid places. We both enjoy so much walking in the emptiest deserts. That is the beauty of Kazakhstan, we have access to those remote arid places and at the same time we can see beautiful cities, lakes and forests.

That lake is absolutely stunning, it looks like those lakes in Canada. I would never have thought that it was in Kazakhstan! Thanks for sharing such detailed explanations about how to get there. It’s always something that I appreciate. Hope I can make it there one day!

If you have the chance to visit this part of Kazakhstan, you will be happily surprised. The lakes here do remind us a bit of the ones in Canada.

The Kolsai and Kandy lakes look so ethereal, straight out of the realms of the imagination of a poet or painter. Definitely the stuff that dreams are made of. The landscapes of Kazakhstan are really stunning. Your pictures have captured the beautiful landscapes in stunning style

The landscapes here are indeed stunning! The best part is that in Kazakhstan it’s possible to find absolutely everything; lakes, forests, canyons and deserts.Definitely a place for artists, poets and painters 😀

This is unbelievable! I never quite imagined Kazakhstan had lakes, and that too such stunning ones…mind-blown! Thanks for sharing the details of hiking and camping at the lakes too, rather interesting that you only need to do a short hike of ten minutes to reach the sunken forests…

We were so surprised as well! 🙂 Before coming here, we had no idea that Kazakhstan had so many varied and different landscapes.

Thank you for the very helpful info. Your estimate of 2 hours to walk around Kolsay Lake 1 is about right but it’s worth mentioning that the well-defined path on the East side of the lake is pretty exposed and slippery in places so you need a good head for heights and, ideally, trekking poles. Plus you’ll need to ignore a sign at the North end prohibiting entry. You also need to wade the river at the South end. The main path goes along the West side and is straightforward.

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Almaty Almaty

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Your Journey

City tour in Almaty

1  January - 31  December

The excursion starts from the center of Almaty. You will discover the history of the emergence and development of the capital of Kazakhstan, in the south of the country, and also its main attractions: the central museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the presidential residence, the Republic square and the monument of Independence, the opera and ballet theater of Abay, the Bazaar (Zelenyi), the park of 28 guards of Panfilov. Lunch in a restaurant in the center of the city. After The route takes us to the Medou, where the mud dam is located, which protects the city from the destructive mudslides that form on the western slopes of Tien Shan. From the top of the dam, at an altitude of 1,733 meters, you can admire the magnificent panorama of the largest alpine skating rink in the world, surrounded by the magnificent mountains of Zailiysky Alatau. Return to town in the evening. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. 

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Kazakhstan: World Nomad Games

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Providing the setting for the 5th World Nomad Games, Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and undoubtedly the most economically advanced of the Central Asian ‘stans’. Rich in oil and minerals, the country has undergone a transformation in recent years that has seen it emerge from the windblown steppes of Asia to become the dominant presence in the region.

Beyond its booming cities, though, lies a country still steeped in the traditions of its past. Here, amongst the high ...

Beyond its booming cities, though, lies a country still steeped in the traditions of its past. Here, amongst the high mountains, green valleys, vast steppe and desert, it is a land of stunning natural beauty. Home to a number of rare and endangered animals, its national parks hide a wealth of historical treasures and at the heart of its modern cities lie traditions and cultures that can be traced back to the ancient trading routes of the Silk Road.

After exploring the country’s natural and historical riches, the itinerary concludes with a couple of days' immersion in traditional Central Asian customs and sports at the World Nomad Games, a unique cultural event held every two years.

At a glance

Minibuses, 4WD vehicles, an overnight train and a domestic flight

EXPERT TEAM

Accommodation, entrance fees, fitness rating, wild miles club.

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Positive Impact of this Trip

Map & itinerary.

Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below

Day 1 Tour starts in Almaty

The tour will officially start around lunchtime today in Almaty, giving those who have arrived on the overnight flight the chance to freshen up before taking an afternoon tour of the city. Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and we’ll begin with a walking tour to visit Panfilov Park, before taking in the striking Zenkov Cathedral, which lays claim to being one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. We’ll also visit the Central Museum and the Independence Monument before driving to Kok-Tobe Mountain, the highest point in the city, to enjoy some breath-taking panoramas of the city.

Day 2 Almaty - Altyn Emel National Park: Ili River, Rock Paintings & Sand Dunes

Departing the city after breakfast this morning, we’ll drive towards Altyn Emel National Park. We’ll first stop en route at the Ili River, famed for the Genghis Khan crossing. We also visit Tamgaly Tas to see traces of the Buddhist past – beautiful images of Buddha and Burhans (Bodhisattvas) painted on the canyon rocks. Continuing our journey to Altyn Emel, we’ll stop to climb the ‘singing sands’ of the Barchan Dunes before heading to a local guesthouse in the village of Basshi, which will be our base for the next two nights.  Driving distance 340km, 6-7 hours approx.

Day 3 Altyn Emel National Park: Ak-Tau and Katutau Coloured Mountains

Sandwiched between the Ili River and the Ak-Tau Mountains, the Altyn Emel National Park encompasses some 4,600 square kilometres of largely desert and rock. A uniquely sculpted landscape of ancient volcanoes, it is home to the colourful Katutau Mountains. It is also a haven for a range of wildlife, some of it very rare, including Central Asian gazelles and Turkmenian kulan (wild ass). Following breakfast we’ll set off to fully explore the Ak-Tau and Katutau coloured mountains. There’ll be opportunities for some easy but rewarding walks in the area and we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to our welcoming guesthouse.

Day 4 Altyn Emel National Park - Charyn Canyon - Saty: Charyn Canyon & Kolsai Lake

This morning we leave Basshi and drive on towards the Charyn Canyon, located along the Charyn River and close to the Chinese border. Likened to the much larger Grand Canyon, Charyn drops down some 300 metres in parts and is filled with a spectacular collection of colourful formations, including the impressive Valley of Castles where we’ll enjoy a scenic walk. We’ll continue later to the village of Saty where we spend the night. This afternoon we’ll visit the beautiful Kolsai Lake and there’ll be an opportunity here to take a boat trip.  Driving distance 420km, 4-5 hours approx.

Day 5 Saty - Almaty - Turkestan: Kaindy Lake, Esyk & Overnight Train

We’ll begin the day with a visit to nearby Kaindy Lake. A relatively young natural feature, the lake appeared suddenly in 1911 after an earthquake caused a huge landslide. Improbably turquoise in colour, the lake is famous for its forest of submerged spruce trees which, bizarrely, still retain their foliage. The clear, cold waters make it easy to see the forest and it may be possible to take a boat trip out onto the lake here to see this at close hand. Later we will drive on to Esyk to visit the museum and burial mounds here, where the famous ‘Golden Man’ was discovered. The museum contains a replica and other exhibits of the Scythian period. We then drive back to Almaty, arriving in time to enjoy dinner before we catch the overnight train on to Turkestan.  Driving distance 320km, 4-5 hours approx.

Day 6 Turkestan: Khoja Yasawi Mausoleum & Ancient City of Sauran

Arriving in Turkestan late this morning, we will have a short time to freshen up and have lunch before visiting the UNESCO site of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Commissioned by Timur in 1389, it was intended to replace an earlier 12th century mausoleum but remains unfinished. In spite of this, it still draws pilgrims from across Central Asia and is considered one of the best-preserved of all the Timurid constructions. Later this afternoon we drive to the ancient city of Sauran to explore its historical treasures. Returning to Turkestan for the evening, we have a chance to enjoy a traditional Kazakh dinner in the home of a local family.

Day 7 Turkestan - Shymkent: Otrar Ruins, Arystan Bab Mausoleum & Museum Visit

After breakfast today we’ll first drive to the ancient ruins of Otrar and also visit the Arystan Bab Mausoleum before continuing on to Shymkent. The third largest city in Kazakhstan in terms of inhabitant numbers, Shymkent is one of its most ancient cities; founded in the 12th century at the intersection of the trade routes to European Russia, Central Asia, West Siberia and China. This afternoon our sightseeing will begin with one of the best historical museums in Central Asia, which tells the ancient and cultural history of South Kazakhstan. We’ll also have time to visit the thriving market where you can find various local goods and feel the vibe of an Eastern bazaar.  Driving distance 240km, 4 hours approx.

Day 8 Shymkent - Astana: City Tour & 'Golden Man'

Transferring to the airport after breakfast this morning, we fly on to Astana, the capital city, next. Arriving around midday we’ll drive to a local restaurant for lunch, after which we’ll join our guide on a tour of the city. Beginning in the old part of the city, formerly Akmola, we’ll take a walk along the riverside to absorb the city’s astonishing skyline and view some of its most important architectural highlights. A visit to the National Museum then provides a chance to see the famous ‘Golden Man’, before finishing with the remarkable Temple of Peace and Accord and the Nur-Astana Mosque.

Day 9 Astana: ALZHIR Memorial & Sofievka Village Lunch

Just a short drive out of the city lies the ALZHIR Memorial, a museum founded in 2007 and dedicated to the injustices and hardships faced by the wives of political prisoners during the Soviet era. One of the largest camps in the old Soviet Union, the Akmola Camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland was opened in 1938 and once housed more than 18,000 prisoners of 62 different nationalities. Following our visit we then head on to the village of Sofievka, whose residents retain many Kazakh traditions, including eagle hunting. We’ll enjoy a traditional Kazakh lunch, along with musical entertainment and handicraft demonstrations, before driving back to Astana late this afternoon.

Day 10 Astana: World Nomad Games

Begun in 2014 and held every two years, the World Nomad Games provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the rich traditions and cultures of the Central Asian nomads. A colourful gathering of Tajiks, Tatars, Uzbeks and Uyghurs, this spectacular festival brings together an array of food, entertainment and sporting prowess that epitomises the tribal peoples of Central Asia, Persia and the Siberian steppes. We will enjoy a full day at the games today.

*Please note that the exact line-up for the World Nomad Games has yet to be published and so the descriptions given are given as guidance. Activities experienced on the day can change.

Day 11 Astana: World Nomad Games

Another full day of entertainment and culture presents a chance to enjoy traditional wrestling, eagle hunting and the unique sport of kok-buru (headless goat polo!). Begun by the nomadic Turkic people who spread west from China and Mongolia, kok-buru is one of the most chaotic and celebrated of all the sports on offer and involves two teams of riders wrestling for possession of the headless carcass of a goat, which they attempt to deliver across the opposition’s goal line.

Day 12 Tour ends in Astana

The tour officially ends after breakfast. Those on the group tour flights will be taken to the airport early this morning.

ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR

Altyn emel guesthouse, altyn emel national park.

A humble guesthouse found in the small village of Basshi, within the national park, A lack of accommodation in this part of the country makes this simple, local property the best option in the region and its facilities more than adequate for a short stay whilst exploring the area. Most rooms are ensuite, come with twin beds and are decorated in a traditionally colourful Kazakh style, providing a perfectly comfy and characterful stay. There is heating throughout the property though no Wi-Fi. Being involved in the management of the park, the hosts can provide great insight into the area as well as life in these remote parts.

Saty Guesthouse, Saty

This charming wooden house set in a well-kept garden against a backdrop of the surrounding mountains is a recommend guesthouse option in   Saty . Inside the main building are a few rooms, of mainly twin and triple beds, simply furnished with Kazakh-style carpets, curtains and bedding. Outside in the garden, there is space for some relaxing, a fire to be lit in the evening and traditional yurt accommodation to be set up. As with most guesthouses in the region, bathroom facilities are shared. Guests can expect very homely experience with warm hosts that serve delicious, home-cooked meals and a friendly cat.

Kazzhol Hotel Astana, Astana

Kazzhol Hotel in Astana  is a four-star hotel in the city centre, around a half-hour drive from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. Decorated with classic Central Asian interiors, each of the 71 rooms feature air conditioning, a mini bar, a fridge, a flat screen TV and Wi-Fi. Categories include Standard, Deluxe and Suite. Uzbek dishes can be sampled at Fergana, the hotel's restaurant lavishly styled with local patterns and wallpaper. Other facilities include a billiards room, a 24-hour bar and a spa with Russian and Finnish saunas, a gym, indoor pool, hot tub and a massage service. The hotel is located a short drive from most of the city's highlights and landmarks so, for additional dining options, guests can either head to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation around a 20-minute walk away or jump in a taxi to some of the city's popular restaurant areas.

Hotel Rating

Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.

PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?

All group tours can be taken on a private basis.

Additional Details

World Nomad Games

Responsible travel.

With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit. When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.  Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.

Cultural Immersion in Sofievka Village

On all our tours we try and include authentic cultural experiences that give back to the local community. On this trip, we'll be spending an afternoon in Sofiekva Village to learn about local crafts, music and traditions over lunch. An enjoyable way to financially support and ensure the preservation of this rich culture whilst directly giving back to those keeping it alive.

Reducing Single Use Plastic

We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)

Getting There

If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.

If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.  

Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here -  https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa

For this tour UK passport holders do not require a visa for Kazakhstan . Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.

Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Kazakhstan. For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider. For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk Covid Testing : No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers. If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.

If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration. The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.

*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

If you have more time in the area why not explore neighbouring Kyrgyzstan with its mighty mountain ranges or Uzbekistan with its striking cultural legacy. Allow 1-3 weeks

Governmental Travel Advice

Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department . Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.

Key Information

The weather conditions in Kazakhstan can be extremely varied. In the mountains even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling; at the same time mercury in the thermometers of Almaty can be nudging 40 degrees. All in all, late spring/early summer and late summer/ early autumn are considered the best times to visit in terms of favourable conditions.

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.

KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER

There will be opportunities to undertake some easy walks in all the national parks and although not obligatory, you should be prepared for such walks in order to maximise your enjoyment of the trip in its entirety. There are some long drives on bumpy roads involved in this tour due to the distances we need to cover, but the changing scenery should make these an interesting aspect of the trip. 

THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL

We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.

TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone! Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except whilst in Saty and on the overnight train. Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.

Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.

General Information

All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.

A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.

PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY

For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page

This tour will earn you 6982 Wild Miles

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour. Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights Beverages & any costs of a personal nature : This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs

WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY

If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events. 

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.

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The ultimate Kazakh road trip: 7-10 day self-drive itinerary

Picturesque mountain lakes, green steppe, vast desert landscapes, singing dunes, a breathtaking waterfall - the road trip loop we drove in the south-east of Kazakhstan had it all! It was one of our favourite self-drive itineraries, with the gorgeous Assy Plateau as the highlight. Read on to find out what you need to discover this part of Kazakhstan!

Where to rent your car

Which car to rent, know before you drive, full itinerary, key information at a glance.

You can get a general overview of the country on our fact sheet about Kazakhstan .

The extensive research we did before renting our car in Almaty led us to believe it's incredibly difficult to both find a good rental company and to actually drive and rent a car in Kazakhstan. Fortunately, this did not dissuade us, and in our case, the worries we had did not turn out to be warranted. There is some paperwork you will need to fill out before renting (see below), but this is quite straightforward, and we had a great experience with our car rental agency.

We rented our car with Vladex car rental and were very happy with them. They took a lot of time explaining both the car and what to watch out for on the road. When you inquire with them in English, you will likely speak to Nick - he was our main point of contact and super responsive throughout our drive when we texted him with questions.

Don’t be discouraged by the shady-looking building they are located in (at least as of 2021 they were - let us know if they moved!). When picking up our car, we were a bit surprised to find the rental company to be located in an old building above a run-down looking hostel. However, the experience was completely positive (even though we even damaged the car a bit, see below).

Before renting the car, you have to send in pictures of your passport and driving licence. The contract as well as additional documents will be ready when you pick up the car. When we arrived for pick-up, Nick went over the whole contract with us in great detail.

For the complete proposed itinerary, you need a 4x4. Inside Altyn Emel National Park, we recommend a 4x4 due to comfort, but the roads on the Assy plateau cannot be done without a 4x4. We rented a Renault Duster (a cheaper model of a 4x4) and needed three tries to climb one of the crevasses we encountered on the plateau.

Fortunately, 4x4s are relatively affordable in Kazakhstan. We paid 19’000 tenge/day (ca. 38 EUR; 44 USD) for a Renault Duster 4x4, inclusive of full insurance, except damage to tyres and windshields). We actually ended up damaging a tyre and paid a reasonable 3000 tenge (6EUR) to the rental agency to fix it. The deposit is 150EUR/dollars - we paid this upon pick-up and were returned the exact money we left with them upon drop-off. (You can also pay in Tenge, but we had dollars and euros with us, so just deposited this money).

If you still do not want to rent a 4x4, you can skip the Assy Plateau and take the tarred road to Kaindy lakes instead. We think you could still visit Altyn Emel with a 2x4, however would need to drive very carefully on the sandy stretches and the rugged parts of the road.

Here's a small list of must knows before driving in Kazakhstan:

• Unfortunately, corruption is still widespread in Kazakhstan. Our car rental agency warned us that when stopped, we would likely have to pay a bribe to be able to continue driving. However, we were very lucky and did not have any encounters with police during our self-drive trip. If you rent with Vladex, Nick will offer that you can call him in case you get stopped by the police. He said that this will not remove the bribe, but it will considerably lower it.
• There is very scarce coverage of gas stations in Kazakhstan. If in doubt, just get gas, even if your tank is still relatively full. We included when to get gas in the below itinerary (based on our fuel consumption of two people in a Renault Duster, adjust accordingly!). The car rental agency will likely ask you to get 95, but this can be very difficult to obtain. Go for 92 instead if you do not find 95 - we made sure with Vladex that this is fine :-)
• The conditions of many of the roads you will drive is not good. There is an abundance of potholes even on the highways - there can be a stretch of nice tarmac that turns into a sea of holes if you only turn a corner. Drive carefully and always be attentive to a sudden hole in the road!
• There is very bad lighting on the roads, which - combined with the abundant potholes - makes driving during the night quite challenging and even dangerous. If you can, avoid driving at night. We left the Assy Plateau quite late, ended up driving until 10pm on the road to Kaindy and did not feel good about it.
• Do not speed! Speed limits are: 110 km/h on highways, 50 km/h in towns. Vladex car rental told us that if we drive 3 times over 110 they would unfortunately have to take the car from us. So, even if others go faster, don’t be tempted to do the same.
• Like in many countries in Central Asia, you have to be vigilant at all times when driving. Traffic rules are not always adhered to by everybody and traffic especially in larger cities can sometimes be a bit daunting. However, this is nothing to worry about if you drive carefully.
• You will get a lot of documents from your rental agency that you need to have ready for inspection: general car papers, the car registration and a permission that you are allowed to drive the car from the rental company. Have these ready for inspection in case the police stops you.

Best time: August - October

Theoretically, you can drive this route between May and October, however we imagine that in early summer, the road conditions on the plains will be quite bad due to the melting snow and rainier weather.

If you go during the heat of summer, eg. in July, the heat in both Charyn Canyon and Altyn Emel will be quite intense. Even though it was hot when we went in mid-August (ca. 32°C), it was still bearable.

Day 1: Arrive in Almaty

What to do Settle into the city and wander around a bit. If you have some time left, take the cable car up to Koktobe and enjoy the views of the city. Head to Zenkov Cathedral and Park 28 Panfilovtsev. End you day in the Agosto Gastro Bar that is right inside the park - if the weather is good, try reserving a spot on their rooftop terrace.

Where to stay Accommodation on a budget - Aizadas Place on AirBnB . Aizada is a true gem and was helpful far beyond our stay with her, helping us out with information on the border crossing to Kyrgyzstan as well as tipps on what to see and wehere to eat. She provides a super cute starter package as well as some souvenirs when you book her apartment!

Accommodation for a larger pocket - Opera Apart Hotel . The apartments are not only really cozy and stylish, they are also located right inside the city center so you can walk to most places and are surrounded by many great cafes and restaurants.

Where to eat JumpinGoat Coffee : In the one week we spent in Almaty, we went here three times for breakfast. They have great options (also gluten-free ones) and the coffee is to die for.

Agosto Gastro Bar : Great food, beautiful terrace and a nice ambience make this the perfect restaurant to end your day in.

Coco Fast Food : The gluten-free burgers were the reason we went, but we came again for the great taste of their different dishes. It's fast food, but it is delicious fast food.

Korean House : Yummy Korean food just across the street from Opera Apart Hotel.

Day 2: Almaty

What to do Sleep in and head to JumpinGoat for a late breakfast. If you have not done so yet, walk to the cable car and take it up Koktobe mountain. After this, take the bus to the Central Park and explore it for a bit. From there, you can walk to the Zelenyy bazar and look at the many stalls, maybe get a coffee at Bowler Coffee Roasters inside the Bazar - from there, you also have a great view of the Bazar.

Don’t forget to stock up on snacks and water to take with you on the road trip that starts tomorrow! We bought sufficient snacks for 3-4 days’ lunch as we did not want to rely on restaurants and be able to pick-nick in beautiful spots. On the main roads, you will always find fruit stalls to stack up on vitamins!

If you feel like it, catch a performance at the Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet - their current program can be found on their website .

Day 4: Assy Plateau to Kaindy

What to do This is a gorgeous, but intense driving day. Get up early to allow plenty of time for the long drive over the Assy Plateau to Kaindy. If you drive non-stop, this route should take you around 6-7 hours, however you will want to stop for pictures often :-) Lunch will be a picnic on the plains. Once you reach Turgen, make sure to fill up on gas (there is only 92).

Where to stay There are quite a few guesthouses in Kaindy, but be prepared for basic accommodation. That being said, the hosts are always very warm and friendly, and albeit they might not speak English, they will go out of their way to help you if needed and to make your stay comfortable. We booked by writing to the numbers we found on Google Maps via WhatsApp, that works much better than booking.com that only has a few options and takes a cut from the guesthouses: Gostevoy Dom Zhuldyz-1 Gostevoy Dom Temirkhana Umbetaliyeva

Where to eat Lunch on the plains, dinner will be included in your guesthouses nightly rate.

Day 5: Kolsai and Kaindy lakes

What to do Visit Kaindy and Kolsai lakes! If you rented a 4x4, you can drive the road to the sunken forest of Kaindy lake yourself - don’t attempt it with a 2x4, there is a river crossing and we saw one car get stuck there! At the entrance to the lake you will need to pay an entrance fee - 400 per vehicle, 800 per person. The road to the first Kolsai lake is paved, so you can reach it without problems.

Where to eat Take the lunch you brought to one of the lakes and enjoy it with a view, or head back to your guesthouse for a proper meal. Dinner at your guesthouse again.

Day 7: Altyn Emel mountains and back to Almaty

What to do Visit the Aktau mountains and, if you have time, the Katutau mountains. It takes 1.5 hours to drive one-way. There are no designated hiking paths, but you can wander around the mountains and marvel at their colours. Head back to Almaty (4 hour drive) in time to return your car in the evening.

Where to stay Accommodation on a budget - Aizadas Place on AirBnB . Aizada is a true gem and was helpful far beyond our stay with her, helping us out with information on the border crossing to Kyrgyzstan as well as tipps on what to see and wehere to eat.

Where to eat There are two nice picknick spots both at Aktau and Katutau mountains, but in summer it can get really hot! Dinner is in Almaty again.

10 day version:

• Add two days and hike to upper Kaindy lake. Even though we decided to skip this hike, it looks gorgeous! Head to Alltrails for the two-day itinerary of the hike
• Add one day and take time to look at petroglyphs on the way back to Almaty

P.S: We know this route - and Central Asia in general - is still a lesser travelled destination. So don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, we're happy to help! Similarly, if you find the information here is outdated or we're missing something don't hesitate to get in touch ) and we'll update it so fellow travelers can profit from this.

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I've Been a Digital Nomad for 8 Years. 8 Unusual Gadgets I Always Pack

Commentary: If you want to cultivate a work-and-travel lifestyle, you need the right gear without being bogged down. Here's what I bring.

• Publisher's Weekly bestselling author with over 2,000 articles published in 100 publications and magazines.

I vividly remember the first time I traveled. I was 10 years old when my mother sent my brother and I to Mombasa, Kenya. She's Kenyan and wanted us to experience our culture and meet family. She couldn't travel with us because of work, so my brother and I traveled from Milwaukee as unaccompanied minors. I was just old enough to be amazed by the experience of flying, walking through airports and landing in a country where English wasn't the primary language.

Decades later, in 2013, I had my first big work trip as an adult. I'm a consultant who owns a software company, and a corporation in Sydney hired me to come to its offices and train its team.

Flying to Sydney was a surreal experience. The client paid for Premium Economy seats on Virgin Atlantic, and the plane had a full bar. My hotel overlooked Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House. It was on this trip that I realized how much I loved working abroad, and the nomadic lifestyle began to call me.

The author in Sydney in 2013.

But I couldn't be a digital nomad yet; three young children waited for me stateside, where I had a home, cars and everything else that comes with a "normal" life. I continued to travel for my business, but they were shorter trips, which piqued my interest in what it would be like to live in Tokyo, South Korea, London, Dublin, Cairo and other places I visited. From 2013 to 2016, I traveled to 38 countries for corporate consulting training contracts. 

Later, when my children were older and living with their mom, I got serious about being a digital nomad. As the possibility of nomadic life became increasingly real, though, moments of excitement were quickly overtaken with the sinking feeling that I was abandoning my children and family. 

Therapy helped me understand that two things can be true: I can live a nomadic lifestyle, and I can still be there for my children. My kids were supportive of my lifestyle as a digital nomad. So, in 2016, I sold all my material possessions, sold my home and relocated to Medellin, Colombia, to embrace full-time digital nomadism. 

Since then, I've lived and worked in Mexico City, the UK, Paris, Madrid, Nairobi, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Cape Town, Rome, Lisbon, Nice and Barcelona.

Digital nomadism has allowed the author to visit nearly 90 countries.

What I like and don't like about being a digital nomad

What I like most about being a digital nomad is how freeing the lifestyle is. I like having fewer material possessions and the ability to travel anywhere, anytime. I enjoy experiencing new cultures, history and the foods of other countries. Consulting and digital nomadism have allowed me to travel to 88 countries and live in over a dozen. I've been able to build my business and be touristy; I work Monday through Friday, then explore whatever country I'm in on the weekends.

What's hard about being a digital nomad is being far away from my family. Technologies like FaceTime, Zoom and social media make connecting more accessible, but it's not the same as hugging my kids and hanging out with them in person. Luckily, my nomadic lifestyle means I can travel to them whenever I want. 

8 unusual gadgets I always pack

As a digital nomad, tech is essential for both work and life. I need to be able to do everything I would do if I had an office, but in an Airbnb, hotel or apartment rental instead. Some of my gear is obvious, like my laptop ( M3 MacBook Pro ), smartphone ( iPhone 15 Pro Max ) and tracking tags ( AirTags ). 

The author's work hardware for nomadic travel.

Below are a few of my more nomad-specific gear picks.

iPad Magic Keyboard Folio

I spend a lot of time on airplanes, and a laptop is not always convenient to use, especially on local carriers in Europe. I travel with an iPad Air because I use it to work on planes, watch movies and streaming series and take video calls. Apple's Magic Keyboard sleeve is an iPad cover, but I also use it for the keyboard functionality in tight spaces.

Audio Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

Since I own a business, I do a lot of media interviews. Good sound is essential, so I travel with an Audio Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone. The microphone is portable and has multiple ports so that I can connect it to my laptop or iPad.

Anker MagGo Power Bank

Early in my digital nomad life, I learned that I can't depend on airports, hotels or other places for power. I travel with an Anker MagGo Power Bank to power my gadgets when wall outlets are unavailable. I like this power bank (versus the others I've tried) because it has a usage indicator and 15x fast charging. 

AirFly Bluetooth Adapter

This Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter receiver works with AirPods or wireless headphones. You plug the gadget into an airplane or train's entertainment center, allowing you to pair your wireless device. It creates a Bluetooth connection anywhere there's a regular headphone jack.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

I've been a fan of Bose headphones and bought a pair of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 a few years ago. I use these headphones to watch entertainment on flights and at the places I'm staying. The Bose Headphones fit more comfortably than AirPods.

Read our Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review .

Apple EarPods

I like to also pack a set of wired headphones just in case something happens with my regular AirPods or I can't get my Bluetooth devices to work. If you scoop these up, make sure you have the necessary dongles for both your phone and computer.

Anker 332 USB Power Strip

I have all the international adaptors, but there can sometimes be a shortage of outlets where I'm staying, so I always travel with an extension cord -- it's an underestimated item in my opinion. This Anker power strip lets me use one international adapter with the extension cord and then plug in all my other cables. Surge protection is also important because every country regulates power differently.

Kings Loot Wallet with AirTag Holder

I travel mainly with credit cards, but also some cash, which is always helpful in other countries. A good RFID wallet brings me peace of mind. The Kings Loot wallet has RFID protection, but is also slim and comfortable, and there's also a slot on the front to slide in an AirTag.

Make your travel tech work for you

Whether you're embarking on a long remote work trip or exploring digital nomadism, the right gear makes the journey easier and more enjoyable along the way. Experiment with your setup on your next work trip to find what works best for you.

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Want to work remotely in Italy? The country just launched its new digital nomad visa.

Remote workers with dreams of working from the rolling hills of Tuscany or the cliffs of Positano are now one step closer to making that reality. Italy launched a new digital nomad visa.

Two years after its announcement, the highly anticipated digital nomad visa officially became available for those eligible on April 4.  

“Italian-style, everything happens slowly,” said Nick Metta, a lawyer for the law firm Studio Legale Metta , which has helped Americans relocate to Italy for decades. “Now there is a pipeline of people waiting just to file the application. It's been a long-awaited visa.” 

Most of Metta’s clients would previously apply for a student visa, which allowed them to work part time in Italy. 

Under the new visa, people will be able to work from Italy for one year, with the option to renew once their visa is due for expiration. Without a visa, U.S. travelers could only stay in Italy for up to 90 days without the ability to work.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The launch makes Italy the latest European country to offer a digital nomad visa , which has already been available in Greece and Hungary. 

Here’s everything we know about the digital nomad visa for Italy:

Destinations behind a paywall? What to know about the increasing tourist fees worldwide.

Who can apply for a digital nomad visa in Italy?

According to the official decree , the visa is meant for those who “carry out a highly qualified work activity through the use of technological tools that allow you to work remotely.” 

The regulations define eligible applicants as “digital nomads,” self-employed freelancers, “remote workers,” or those employed by a company outside of Italy and can work from anywhere, according to Studio Legale Metta.

To qualify for the visa, the applicant has to meet certain requirements:

◾ A university or college degree or an accredited professional license.

◾ Six months of work experience in the industry, or five years for applicants without a university degree.

◾ An existing employment contract.

◾ A criminal record check.

◾ Proof of an annual income of 28,000 euros (about $29,880.06).

◾ Evidence of housing in Italy.

◾ Evidence of health insurance coverage.

Applicants can also apply to have family members join them on their Italian move, but the government has to give the final approval. 

How do I apply for the digital nomad visa in Italy?

Thankfully, Metta said the paperwork for the digital nomad visa isn’t “too complicated.” 

The first stop for interested applicants will be the Italian Consulate for their area. “Consulates are basically the front of the government to receive the applications,” Metta said. Interested applicants can book an appointment with the consulate and start gathering their necessary documents. People can also apply by mailing in their application. (However, Metta did mention consulate websites are often confusing and outdated, so working with a relocation service can make things easier.)

To apply, applicants will also need a passport with an expiration date at least three months after the end of the visa period and two passport-sized photos.

Relocation services can also help people navigate the sometimes complicated process of applying for a visa, such as negotiating early termination penalties with landlords in Italy. 

These services also help people with state and tax planning, especially if people own assets in the U.S., like a house. Once in Italy, people need to register their residency with the town hall, which will determine what sort of taxes they’ll pay. People can speak to an international tax specialist to figure out their future taxes as well. 

How much will the visa cost?

According to Studio Legale Metta, the application fee is 116 euros (about $123.78) per person.

How long will the application process take?

Not too long, actually. Metta estimates the process could take just three weeks if applicants are “well-organized and have all your tax documents filed.”

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .