Mountains, lakes and the steppe – wow
Vikram and Anjali
Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai Lakes were breathtaking, and our guide and 4x4 driver were superb. Everything was organised to perfection.
6 May 2026
Seven Days in Almaty with Altyn Emel National Park
7 days1 cities
This holiday takes you to
AlmatyCharyn CanyonAltyn Emel
Celebrate Diwali, Discover the World · 10% off
₹83,800SAVE 10%From₹83,800per person
Design Your EscapeWhat’s included
- 1 hotel
- 6 experiences
- 9 transfers
- 6 meals
- 24/7 support
- CustomisationExpert customisation
Rated 4.7 on Google
Rated 4.9 on TripAdvisor
Rated 4.9 on TripAdvisor
Trip created by Aisha, Kazakhstan expert at Hi Tours
“Altyn Emel is the one almost nobody books, and it is the day everyone talks about afterwards. Coloured hills and a dune that sings.”
Your suggested itinerary
Fully customisable with our holiday experts
Arrival in Almaty
- Arrival at Almaty International and transfer to your hotel
- Check in and the rest of the day free
- Optional: the Palace of the Republic and Abai Square
- Optional: the stalls of the Zelyony bazaar
Overnight in Almaty
Your accommodation
Astana International Hotel, Almaty
6 nights · Breakfast · Standard room · 3★ · Long standing city hotel close to Republic Square
Almaty city tour
- Breakfast, then a guided tour of the city
- The Monument of Independence on Republic Square
- Panfilov Park and the wooden Ascension Cathedral
- Afternoon free along Zhibek Zholy
Overnight in Almaty
Your activities
(1)Almaty city sightseeing tour
A guided tour of the old capital, taking in the Monument of Independence, Panfilov Park and the wooden Ascension Cathedral.
Green Bazaar, chocolate and Kok Tobe
- Breakfast, then into the Green Bazaar halls
- Horse meat counters, dried fruit and spice stalls
- The Rakhat chocolate factory and its shop
- Up the Kok Tobe cable car for the city at dusk
Overnight in Almaty
Your activities
(2)Green Bazaar and the Rakhat chocolate factory
The spice and dried fruit halls of the Green Bazaar, then the Rakhat factory whose chocolate every Kazakh family grew up on.
Kok Tobe hill and the gondola
The cable car up Kok Tobe for the whole city laid out below the mountains, with the Alley of Lovers at the top.
Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake
- Early breakfast and a long day out east
- The red walls of the Valley of Castles
- The canyon floor path beside the Charyn river
- On to the forested shore of Kolsai lake
Overnight in Almaty
Your activities
(1)Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake
A long day out to the red sandstone Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon, then up to the forested shore of Kolsai lake.
Lake Issyk day trip
- Breakfast, then east towards the Issyk gorge
- The turquoise water of Lake Issyk
- The Saka burial mounds and the site museum
- Evening transfer back into Almaty
Overnight in Almaty
Your activities
(1)Lake Issyk day tour
A day east to the turquoise water of Lake Issyk, with the Saka burial mounds and the small site museum nearby.
Altyn Emel National Park
- Early breakfast and out onto the open steppe
- The Singing Dune that hums in the wind
- Striped chalk ridges of the Aktau mountains
- The Besshatyr burial mounds before the long run back
Overnight in Almaty
Your activities
(1)Altyn Emel National Park
The Singing Dune that hums in the wind, the striped chalk ridges of the Aktau mountains and the Besshatyr burial mounds.
Departure from Almaty
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Private transfer to the airport for your flight home
Why plan with our experts?
Plan with our travel experts
Crafted by holiday experts
Technology-enabled but human-led — real experts curate your trip so you save hours of planning.
Customised to the T
Every day is tailored to you, then fine-tuned with your expert until it feels just right.
Best prices, all bundled
Hotels, flights, activities, transfers, entry tickets and meals in one package — with the savings passed to you.
Tour summary
Seven days based in Almaty with five full days out: the city tour and Kok Tobe, the red walls of Charyn Canyon with Kolsai Lake, Lake Issyk, and the Singing Dune and chalk mountains of Altyn Emel National Park.
Customize your Kazakhstan trip
Why book with Hi Tours
Real travel experts
Benefit from our local expertise and award-winning service.
Fully organised
We take care of every detail – from inspiration to your return home.
Travel made easy
Whether multi-stop or multi-country, we make your travel wishes come true.
What customers say about booking Kazakhstan with Hi Tours
Excellent4.8 out of 5based on 420 Kazakhstan reviews
Almaty and Astana both amazed us
Rohit and Neha
The contrast between relaxed Almaty and futuristic Astana was fascinating. Flights, hotels and transfers all ran like clockwork thanks to Hi Tours.
18 April 2026
A Central Asian adventure to remember
Priya
Staying near the Kolsai Lakes and meeting a local family was the highlight. Perfectly planned, safe and unforgettable from start to finish.
1 April 2026
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2
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3
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