Almaty Weekend Escape: Big Almaty Lake, Shymbulak and Kok Tobe
Duration
4 Days 3 Nights
Pickup
Almaty International Airport
Drop
Almaty International Airport
Type
International (long-haul)
Overview & Highlights
Almaty sits at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains, which makes it one of the easiest places to enjoy real mountain scenery on a long weekend. This trip keeps a relaxed pace, with one or two headline sights each day and plenty of time to walk, shop and sit over a cup of tea. You ride the cable car up Kok Tobe Hill, visit Green Bazaar, go up to Shymbulak via Medeu and spend a morning at Big Almaty Lake. A trip captain travels with the group, and Indian meal options are available on request. If you would rather see Charyn Canyon, ask us about swapping it in for the lake day; it is a long drive, so it suits a full day.
- Almaty city tour with Kok Tobe Hill by cable car
- Green Bazaar for spices, dried fruits and local sweets
- Medeu, the high-altitude skating rink, and Shymbulak by cable car
- Big Almaty Lake in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains
- Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral and an evening stroll on Arbat Street
- Trip captain and Indian meal options on request
Itinerary
1Day 1: Arrival in Almaty | Kok Tobe
- Arrive at Almaty airport early in the day and meet your trip captain.
- Transfer to your hotel and check in, with time to freshen up.
- Visit Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral on a short city tour.
- Take the cable car up Kok Tobe Hill for views over the city and the mountains.
- Overnight stay in Almaty.
2Day 2: Medeu and Shymbulak
- After breakfast, drive into the mountains to Medeu, the high-altitude skating rink.
- Continue to Shymbulak and ride the cable car up for panoramic views.
- Spend free time at the resort for photographs and a warm drink.
- Return to the city and explore Green Bazaar for spices, dried fruits and local sweets.
- Overnight stay in Almaty.
3Day 3: Big Almaty Lake | Free Evening
- After breakfast, drive up to Big Almaty Lake, set among the peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau.
- Spend time by the water for photographs and a short walk, as conditions allow.
- Return to Almaty for a free afternoon of shopping or rest.
- Stroll along Arbat Street in the evening.
- Overnight stay in Almaty.
4Day 4: Departure from Almaty
- After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
- Enjoy some free time for last-minute shopping, depending on your flight.
- Transfer to Almaty airport for your late flight back to India.
Weather, road conditions and safety may require changes to the itinerary.
Inclusions
- Hotel stay on twin sharing for 3 nights in Almaty
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Sightseeing and transfers as per the itinerary
- Kok Tobe and Shymbulak cable car rides as per the itinerary
- Entry tickets and activities listed in the itinerary
- A trip captain accompanying the group throughout
- Indian meal options on request
- Assistance from our travel experts before and during your trip
Exclusions
- International and domestic airfare
- Visa fees and processing, where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses, laundry, tips and porterage
- Local city or tourism taxes payable at the hotel, where applicable
- Anything not listed under inclusions
- GST and TCS as applicable
Other Info
Must carry
- Passport and visa copies, where applicable
- Return flight tickets
- Travel insurance copy
- Forex or an international card
- Power adapter for Type C or F sockets (230 V)
- Warm jacket and layers for the mountains
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
Notes
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 pm and check-out around 12 noon.
- The order of the itinerary may change with weather, road, flight or operational conditions, without reducing the sights covered.
- Rates and availability are confirmed at the time of booking.
- Cancellation and refund are as per our Terms & Conditions.
- Weekend trips are short, so flights should arrive early on day 1 and depart late on the last day to make full use of the programme.
- Flights are not included and are not booked by us unless asked.
- This is a small group trip, and each departure runs on minimum numbers; a trip captain accompanies the group.
- Cable cars and mountain roads depend on the weather, and it is much colder at Shymbulak and Big Almaty Lake than in the city, so carry warm layers.
See our Terms & Conditions for payment and cancellation rules.