Treks / Cities
Hikes and treks near Almaty
4 routes are within reach of Almaty: 2 day hikes and 2 multi-day treks. The gentlest is Charyn Canyon: Valley of Castles (easy); the toughest is Ala-Kul Trek (hard, 2,000 m of climbing). The highest point is 3,900 m on Ala-Kul Trek.
Compare the routes
| Route | Type | Distance | Days | Highest point | Difficulty | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charyn Canyon: Valley of Castles | Day hike | 6 km | 1 | varies | Easy | April to October |
| Big Almaty Lake | Day hike | 16 km | 1 | 2,511 m | Moderate | June to October |
| Kolsai Lakes | Multi-day | 16 km | 1–2 | 2,250 m | Moderate | June to September |
| Ala-Kul Trek | Multi-day | 50 km | 3–4 | 3,900 m | Hard | July to September |
The routes in detail
Day hike
Kazakhstan · near Almaty
Charyn Canyon: Valley of Castles
A walk through red rock towers in a canyon often compared to a small Grand Canyon, a long day trip from Almaty.
≈ 6 km
Day hike
Kazakhstan · near Almaty
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise reservoir in the Trans-Ili Alatau above Almaty, surrounded by snowy peaks. An easy day trip from the city.
≈ 16 km
2,511 m high
1–2 days
Kazakhstan · near Almaty
Kolsai Lakes
A forest trail between the first and second of the three Kolsai lakes, with the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake nearby.
≈ 16 km
2,250 m high
3–4 days
Kyrgyzstan · near Karakol
Ala-Kul Trek
Kyrgyzstan's most famous trek, from the Karakol valley up to the turquoise Ala-Kul lake, over a pass at about 3,900 m and down to the hot springs of Altyn-Arashan.
≈ 50 km
3,900 m high
Before you go
- Check if you're fit enough with the two-minute readiness quiz.
- Travel insurance for trekking: altitude limits and what rescue really costs.
- Packing list and the gear budget calculator.
- Trekking in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: where to start.
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