ALMATY VISTA/Nature

Nature

Mountains, gorges, lakes and canyons of the Almaty Region – with seasonality and when to go.

Destinations

What to see

Viewpoint · Almaty

Kok-Tobe

A viewpoint hill above the city: cable car from the centre and a panorama against the ridge.

≈ 1100 m4 km

Mountains · Almaty

Medeu

High-altitude ice rink in the Malaya Almatinka gorge and the starting point for Shymbulak.

1691 m15 km

Mountains · Almaty

Shymbulak

Mountain resort above Medeu: cable car to the Talgar Pass with glaciers close by.

2260–3200 m25 km

Lakes · Almaty

Big Almaty Lake

A turquoise mountain lake in the national park – one of the region’s signature views.

≈ 2510 m28 km

History · Talgar

Talkhiz settlement

A medieval Silk Road town, 8th–13th centuries. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage property.

≈ 1000 m25 km

Gorges · Talgar

Talgar Gorge

The Talgar River gorge: spruce slopes, a mountain river and views of the Talgar massif.

1200–2500 m35 km

Mountains · Talgar

Talgar Peak

4,979 m – the highest point of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Best admired from afar: from Shymbulak and Talgar.

4979 m45 km

Reserve · Talgar

Almaty Nature Reserve

A protected area headquartered in Talgar: Tian Shan spruce, glaciers and rare wildlife.

1400–4979 m35 km

Lakes · Almaty Region

Lake Issyk

A mountain lake beyond Talgar, near the town of Esik and the “Golden Man” burial mound.

≈ 1760 m75 km

Canyons · Almaty Region

Charyn Canyon

Valley of Castles: red canyon walls and the Charyn River. About 200 km from Almaty.

≈ 1000 m200 km

Lakes · Almaty Region

Kolsai Lakes

A cascade of three lakes in spruce forest. Best combined with Kaindy and Charyn.

≈ 1800 m300 km

Lakes · Almaty Region

Lake Kaindy

The “sunken forest”: spruce trunks rising straight out of turquoise water.

≈ 2000 m290 km

Reserve · Talgar

Lesnaya Skazka (Oi-Qaragai)

A year-round mountain resort in the Oi-Karagai gorge: spruce forest, cable car, ziplines and tree houses.

1650–1820 m

Gorges · Almaty Region

Turgen Gorge

A mountain gorge with a river and waterfalls east of Talgar – the road to the Assy Plateau starts here.

Lakes · Almaty Region

Kapchagay Reservoir

A large reservoir on the Ili River north of Almaty – open space, water and lakeside leisure.

When to go

Places	Winter	Spring	Summer	Autumn
Kok-Tobe
Medeu
Shymbulak
Big Almaty Lake
Talkhiz settlement
Talgar Gorge
Talgar Peak
Almaty Nature Reserve
Lake Issyk
Charyn Canyon
Kolsai Lakes
Lake Kaindy
Lesnaya Skazka (Oi-Qaragai)
Turgen Gorge
Kapchagay Reservoir

best time possible limited

Best viewpoints

Talgar Pass (Shymbulak)

glaciers and peaks of the Talgar massif

Kok-Tobe

city and ridge at sunset

Valley of Castles (Charyn)

red canyon walls

Lower Kolsai Lake

a lake in spruce forest

Want to go?

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