Travel guide & blog
Practical tips for planning your trip to Almaty and the mountains of Kazakhstan.
What to Pack for Kazakhstan: A Practical Packing List
A practical packing list for a trip to Almaty and the mountains of Kazakhstan — clothing by season, footwear, day-trip essentials and documents.
Read more →Turkistan and the Yasawi Mausoleum: The Spiritual Heart of Kazakhstan
A guide to Turkistan and the UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi — the history, the Timurid architecture, its importance to Kazakhs, and how to visit from Almaty.
Read more →The Assy Plateau: A High-Mountain Steppe and Observatory Near Almaty
A guide to the Assy (Assy-Turgen) Plateau near Almaty — the high steppe, summer nomad camps, the mountain observatory, and how to visit this off-the-beaten-path spot.
Read more →The Golden Man, Esik Lake and Turgen Waterfalls: A Day Trip into Kazakhstan's History and Mountains
Who the Golden Man was, where to see the Esik burial mounds, the alpine Esik Lake and the Turgen waterfalls — and how to do all three in one day from Almaty.
Read more →Big Almaty Lake: How to Visit Kazakhstan's Turquoise Mountain Lake
Where Big Almaty Lake is, how to get there from Almaty, why you can't swim in it, the best time to go, and how to arrange a private trip.
Read more →Shymbulak: Almaty's Mountain Resort — Skiing, Gondolas and Summer Views
A guide to Shymbulak above Almaty — how to get there, the cable cars up to Talgar Pass, winter skiing vs. summer hiking, and combining it with Medeu.
Read more →Medeu: The World's Highest Skating Rink, Just Above Almaty
What Medeu is, how to get there from Almaty, the famous dam steps, when to skate, and how to combine it with the Shymbulak mountain resort.
Read more →Kolsay Lakes from Almaty: A Complete Guide to the Pearls of the Tien Shan
Where the Kolsay Lakes are, the difference between the three lakes (and Lake Kaindy), how to get there from Almaty, how hard the hike is, and how to see them on a private day tour.
Read more →Charyn Canyon Day Trip from Almaty: The Complete 2026 Guide
How to plan a Charyn Canyon trip from Almaty — where it is, what to see in the Valley of Castles, how long you need, self-drive vs. private tour, and how to combine it with the Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes in one day.
Read more →Kok Zhailau: The Best Day Hike Above Almaty
A guide to the Kok Zhailau hike near Almaty — the alpine meadow trail, how long and hard it is, when to go, and how to reach the trailhead.
Read more →The Green Bazaar: A Taste of Old Almaty
A guide to the Green Bazaar in Almaty — what to buy and taste, from horse sausage and dried fruit to honey and spices, and tips for visiting this historic city market.
Read more →Kok-Tobe: Hilltop Views Over Almaty, a Cable Car and a Beatles Statue
A guide to Kok-Tobe hill in Almaty — the cable car up, the best city views, the TV tower, the Beatles monument, and how to fit it into your trip.
Read more →Eagle Hunters of Kazakhstan: A Living Nomadic Tradition
The ancient art of hunting with golden eagles — how the berkutchi train their birds, the festivals where you can see it, and where to encounter birds of prey near Almaty.
Read more →Kazakh Culture: Nomads, Yurts, the Dombra and Timeless Hospitality
An introduction to Kazakh culture — the nomadic heritage, the yurt and shanyrak, the dombra and eagle hunting, Nauryz, and the deep tradition of hospitality.
Read more →Kazakhstan: The Wild Birthplace of the Tulip
Long before Holland, tulips grew wild on the steppe and mountains of Kazakhstan. The story of the tulip and its Central Asian origin — and where to see wild tulips near Almaty.
Read more →Why Almaty Is Called the "Father of Apples"
The remarkable story behind the name of Almaty — how the wild apple forests of the Tien Shan gave the world the domestic apple, and where to find them today.
Read more →The Best Time to Visit Charyn Canyon and the Kolsay Lakes
When to go, what the weather is like by season, and how to combine Charyn Canyon with the Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes in one trip.
Read more →Almaty in Winter: Skiing, Skating and Snowy Mountains
What to do in Almaty in winter — skiing at Shymbulak, skating at Medeu, a snow-dusted Charyn Canyon, and how to plan a cold-season trip.
Read more →Money in Kazakhstan: Tenge, Kaspi and How Much Things Cost
A practical guide to money in Kazakhstan — the tenge, cards and the Kaspi app, ATMs, tipping, and typical costs in Almaty.
Read more →Getting Around Almaty: Metro, Buses, Taxis and Day-Trip Transport
How to get around Almaty — the metro, buses, the Yandex Go taxi app, car rental, and the best way to reach the mountains and Charyn Canyon.
Read more →Kazakh Food: 12 Dishes to Try in Almaty
A guide to Kazakh cuisine — beshbarmak, kazy, manty, baursak, plov and more — what to eat in Almaty and where the nomadic food traditions come from.
Read more →The 7 Best Day Trips from Almaty (Ranked by a Local Guide)
The best day trips from Almaty — Charyn Canyon, the Kolsay Lakes, Big Almaty Lake, Shymbulak, the Golden Man and more, ranked with distances and tips.
Read more →Kazakhstan Visa Guide: Who Travels Visa-Free (and Who Needs a Visa)
A plain-English guide to Kazakhstan visas — the 30-day visa-free list, registration rules, and how to check requirements for your nationality.
Read more →Is Kazakhstan Safe for Tourists? An Honest 2026 Guide
How safe Kazakhstan and Almaty really are for travelers, solo and female travelers, common-sense precautions, and what to know about scams, taxis and the mountains.
Read more →The Best Time to Visit Kazakhstan: A Season-by-Season Guide
When to visit Kazakhstan — month by month weather, the best seasons for the mountains, canyons and cities, and how to plan around the Almaty climate.
Read more →3 Days in Almaty: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Timers
A practical 3-day Almaty itinerary — the city on day one, the mountains on day two, and Charyn Canyon and the lakes on day three.
Read more →18 Best Things to Do in Almaty (2026 Local Guide)
From Kok-Tobe and the Green Bazaar to Shymbulak, Charyn Canyon and the alpine lakes — the best things to do in Almaty, written by a local guide.
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