Big Almaty Lake transfer directly to the lake. No hiking
Description
Enjoy the incredibly beautiful scenery of the big Almaty lake without hiking. Our tour provide all transfers directly to the lake round trip. First, we will visit Big Almaty Lake, which is about a 1 hour drive from Almaty City. On the way to the lake, you will observe the beautiful mountains, crowded pine trees, and landscape. Big Almaty Lake is a natural alpine reservoir. It is located in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, 15 km south of the center of Almaty in Kazakhstan. The lake is 2511 meters above sea level. After we will visit Alma Arasan hot springs. A picturesque gorge in Zailiysky Alatau in the south-west of Almaty (height ~1780-1827 m) near the Big Almaty lake, known for its hot radon springs. This is a popular holiday destination with the Prokhodnaya River, restaurants, sanatoriums and well-maintained hiking trails, accessible all year round.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First, we will visit Big Almaty Lake, which is about a 1 hour drive from Almaty City. On the way to the lake, you will observe the beautiful mountains, crowded pine trees, and landscape. Upon arriving at The Big Almaty Lake, you will wonder how it was formed as a Big Lake on the top of the mountain hundreds of years ago. Big Almaty Lake is a natural alpine reservoir. It is located in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, 15 km south of the center of Almaty in Kazakhstan. The lake is 2511 meters above sea level. During the exploration of the lake, everyone would easily notice the color of the lake change according to the intensity of sunlight from light blue to heavy dark.
The visitor center is only 30 minutes away from Almaty by car." Ayusai" is translated from the Kazakh language as "bear gorge", because of the brown Tian-shan bears that once lived here. Evergreen trees create coolness in the summer heat, and with each step more and more new views of mountain peaks and rocky cliffs open up. In some places you can find small streams, which adds a special charm to the atmosphere. When you get closer to the waterfall, the sounds of the water become louder, and you will have a stunning view: clear streams of water rapidly fall from the cliff, creating a soft cloud of splashes that sparkle in the sun. This place is ideal for stopping, enjoying the moment and absorbing all the power and beauty of nature.
picturesque gorge in Zailiysky Alatau in the south-west of Almaty (height ~1780-1827 m) near the Big Almaty lake, known for its hot radon springs. This is a popular holiday destination with the Prokhodnaya River, restaurants, sanatoriums and well-maintained hiking trails, accessible all year round.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(69)
The drive to Big Almaty Lake included a transfer to another vehicle for the mountain road. The lake itself was absolutely beautiful and definitely worth visiting. Unfortunately, as we were about to leave, the road was temporarily closed because of rocks that had fallen from the mountain. While this was beyond anyone's control, better communication from the tour guide would have made the situation much easier to understand. Our next planned stop was Alma Arasan Gorge, but it was also closed. We waited for around 15 minutes without any explanation. Eventually, the tour guide simply asked everyone to return to the vehicle so we could head back to the city. One of my fellow travelers asked why the gorge was closed and what had happened, but the question was not answered. Throughout the tour, the guide seemed very tired and didn't provide much information about the destinations. Aside from asking if we knew a particular artist and playing music during the drive, there was very little commentary or history shared about the places we visited. While I understand that unexpected closures can happen, clear communication and keeping guests informed are an important part of the tour experience. Overall, Big Almaty Lake is a stunning destination, but I hope the tour company can improve the guide's communication and engagement, especially when unexpected situations arise.
had a wonderful experience with Luba! she was knowledgeable, encouraging & really cheery in general :) it was convenient getting to take the car to see Big Almaty Lake, but pretty tiring to see the waterfalls at Ayusai & Alma-Arasan Gorge. the slight hikes were worth it tho! i would recommend
Great tour of you have limited time and want to see the Big Almaty Lake and Alma-Arasan. Thank you:))
Our tour guide was super funny and informative. The lake was also beautiful. I highly recommend going with this tour company.
Abdukhamid aka Adam did an amazing job showing us all the places and explaining the history every spot. He was very attentive and helpful with all of us. I totally recommend doing this
This way to see and experience Big Almaty Lake was worth it. The view and atmosphere was awesome. We were fortunate that the weather was great during our visit. Although we wish we could stay much longer we just have to leave for the next destination. The tour guide Adam and the driver Sergei were also both excellent in doing their tasks.
It was a wonderful tour. Abdukhamid is a very helpful and cheerful person; we especially thank him.
Adam was amazing—knowledgeable, engaging, and very attentive to everyone. They made the experience smooth, fun, and truly memorable. Highly recommended!
Adam is the Best tour guide I seen ever. Request only him. BAL was amazing trip because of him. Road and his stories are nice. Must try tour especially bcs Adam!!!
It was a great experience, especially with our guide Adam who made the experience better with his kindness and help!
