Booking open
Almaty
Kazakhstan’s mountain city
A glacier lake, a canyon and a city under snow peaks.
- When
- 15–20 May 2027
- +1 more date
- Length
- 5 nights
- From
- Almaty
- Price
- From ₹69,999
- Triple sharing · flights extra
Almaty’s cafés and Green Bazaar, Big Almaty Lake, the Charyn canyon and Kolsai lakes, with a cable car to Shymbulak. Visa-free for Indian passports for short stays.
Highlights
- Big Almaty Lake
- Charyn Canyon
- Kolsai lakes
- Shymbulak cable car
What’s included 7
- Five nights - a hotel in Almaty and a guesthouse near Saty for the Kolsai night, triple sharing
- Breakfast daily and a farewell dinner in Almaty
- A private vehicle with driver for Big Almaty Lake, Charyn and the Kolsai region
- Entry fees at Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes
- Cable-car tickets to Shymbulak
- An English-speaking local guide on the day trips, plus a Backpack India trip host
- Airport transfers in Almaty
Not included 5
- International flights to Almaty (ALA)
- No visa needed for Indian passports on short stays of up to 14 days; carry proof of onward travel
- Lunches and any drinks
- Optional activities such as paragliding, a boat on Kolsai or extra cable-car stages
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
What to pack · 10 things
The plan, stop by stop.
6 days from Almaty, 5 stops. The map follows each day.
- 01 Almaty
- 02 Big Almaty Lake
- 03 Shymbulak
- 04 Charyn Canyon
- 05 Kolsai lakes
- Day 01
Arrive in Almaty
Land at Almaty airport and check in near the city centre. An easy walk on Panfilov Street and a first Kazakh dinner.
Visa-free for Indian passports on short stays; carry the return ticket.
- Day 02
Big Almaty Lake
Drive up into the Trans-Ili Alatau to Big Almaty Lake, a turquoise reservoir under the peaks. On the way back, stop at the Medeu ice rink.
The lake is at 2,500 m and the road opens only in good weather.
- Day 03
Charyn Canyon
A long day east to Charyn and its Valley of Castles. Walk down to the river and back before the drive to the Kolsai area.
Around three and a half hours each way. Wear shoes with grip on the loose gravel.
- Day 04
Kolsai and Kaindy lakes
Morning at Kolsai's lower lake for a walk or a rowboat, then Kaindy with its sunken spruce trunks standing in the water. Return to Almaty or stay a night near Saty.
Kolsai sits at 1,800 m; a short boat ride is worth the small fee.
- Day 05
Shymbulak and the city
Cable car up to Shymbulak for mountain views, then back for the Green Bazaar and the city's cafes. Farewell dinner.
The cable car runs in stages from Medeu; check the day's hours.
- Day 06
Departure
A slow morning and transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Allow three hours; Almaty traffic is heavy in the morning.
Make it your trip.
Pick your dates. Meet your people.
Coming solo? We room you with travellers of the same gender from your group. Want your own room? Pick Double and tell us.
Trip total ₹69,999 for 1 traveller.
- ₹69,999 × 1 traveller
- ₹69,999
- Triple sharing
- Included
Flights not included
Deposit and cancellation
Hold your seat with ₹15,000.
Balance due 30 days before departure.
Cancel more than 30 days out: full refund except the deposit, which moves to any departure within a year.
From people who went
- Rated 4.9 out of 5
- 412 reviews
- 1,260 travellers
- 72% came solo
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