A private three-day tour from Almaty: the city's main sights, Panfilov Park and Kok Tobe, the Charyn canyon, and the alpine Kolsay and Kaindy lakes hidden among the Tien Shan conifer forests.
A private three-day tour of Kazakhstan based in Almaty. The first day is a city tour: Panfilov Park with the Zenkov cathedral and the Second World War monuments, the Green Bazaar, Kok Tobe with its cable car and panoramic viewpoint, and Panfilov alley. On the second day the route leaves the city for the Charyn canyon, often called the Grand Canyon's little brother, and continues to the Kolsay lakes in the Tien Shan, with a hotel night at Kolsay. The third day starts with a ride in an old Soviet UAZ truck to the turquoise Kaindy lake, famous for the spruce trunks rising out of the water; after a walk to a Kolsay viewpoint the tour returns to Almaty.
Private tour: only your group participates. Start time 8 AM or coordinated.
Availability: all year round. Level of difficulty: easy to moderate.
Suggested to bring: summer clothes, warm clothes, baseball cap or panama, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, hiking shoes, umbrella, camera.
The itinerary of day 1 covers only the city of Almaty and ends with a drop-off at your hotel; the included hotel night is the one at Kolsay.
The prices published on the page are: 1 person (solo private tour) 1,210 USD; 2 people 720 USD per person; 3 people and up 550 USD per person. Larger groups are asked to make an inquiry.
The headline From price of 550 USD per person therefore applies to groups of three or more.
Included in the package: transport with a driver, English-speaking guide, one hotel night at Kolsay, one breakfast, all entrance fees and 1 L of bottled water per person daily. Not included: flight tickets, meals not mentioned in the program, travel and health insurance and personal expenses.
The tour lasts three days and includes one hotel night near Kolsay. Confirm any additional accommodation in Almaty with Ventura when booking.
City tour of Almaty: Panfilov Park, the oldest park in the city, with the Zenkov cathedral, the eternal fire and Second World War monuments; the Green Bazaar with local shopping, dried fruits and souvenirs; Republic Square with the national monuments and the city administration; the legendary hotel Kazakhstan, the first tallest building in Central Asia; Kok Tobe (Green Hill), a recreation area on a hilltop reached by cable car and offering a panoramic viewpoint over Almaty; the Opera and Ballet theatre with its old Soviet architecture; and Panfilov alley with restaurants and the cultural life of the city. Drop-off at your hotel at the end of the cultural part of the day.
Drive to the Charyn canyon (3 hours), often called the Grand Canyon's little brother, with time for hiking, exploring and photography, and lunch in a cafe. Then about two hours to the Kolsay lakes, also referred to as the Pearls of the Tien Shan: small alpine lakes in the south-eastern part of Kazakhstan, along the border with Kyrgyzstan, hidden among conifer forests and the tall peaks of the Tien Shan. Check-in at a hotel (Kolsay Prestige, Kolsay Grand or similar, depending on availability), free time for a first look at Kolsay, personal time and dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, a short 12 km ride in an old Soviet UAZ truck to the magical turquoise lake Kaindy, famous for the spruce trees sticking out of the water. The lake emerged as the result of a massive landslide caused by the devastating Kemin earthquake of 1911. Free time at the lake, then return to the village for lunch. Next, a more detailed exploration of Kolsay lake: a walk through the forest terrain to a panoramic viewpoint, free time for the views and photographs; boat riding is available in summer as an optional activity. Drive back to Almaty (300 km), arrival in the evening and drop-off at your hotel.
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