Kazakhstan · Private tour
5-Day Almaty, Medeu & Alma-Arasan Tour
Private tour, 4 nights, private driver and vehicle
Where you stay
- Almaty4 nights
- AlmatyDeparture
About this trip
A private 5-day journey through Almaty, looked after by our own driver-guides (larger groups also get a separate guide). Canyons, alpine lakes and the Tian Shan rising straight out of Almaty.
You travel as your own group, at your own pace. The plan below is our suggested route, and a consultant can move a day, add a night or change a hotel before you commit.
Pace: A few longer drives between cities, most days out sightseeing.
Day by day
The outline of this trip. Your consultant sends the full day-by-day programme, with timings, once your booking is confirmed.
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Day1
Arrive Almaty, then the Almaty City Tour (half day).
Almaty, Kazakhstan's former capital, sits right beneath the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan. Zenkov Cathedral, a pastel wooden church that survived the 1911 earthquake, stands in a leafy park; the Green Bazaar is a feast of dried fruit, nuts and local cheese; and the country's favourite chocolate, Rahat, is made right here. The day ends on the Arbat, Almaty's walking street.
Overnight in Almaty -
Day2
Almaty City Tour + Kok Tobe.
Almaty at its best, from street level to the hilltop. The pastel wooden Zenkov Cathedral, the grand squares of independent Kazakhstan, the Green Bazaar's dried fruit and cheeses, and the city's famous Rahat chocolate fill the day. Then up to Kok Tobe hill for the city below and the mountains behind.
Overnight in Almaty -
Day3
Shymbulak & Medeu Tour.
Almaty's mountains start where the city ends. Medeu, one of the highest skating rinks in the world, sits in a valley above town, and a gondola climbs from there to Shymbulak, a ski resort reaching past 3,000 metres to the Talgar Pass. Coffee with a glacier view, skiing in winter or a zipline in summer: ask us.
Overnight in Almaty
Show all 5 days
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Day4
Alma Arasan + Ayusai + Presidential Park.
Two gorges on Almaty's doorstep. Alma Arasan has hot mineral springs in the pine forest, and Ayusai follows a mountain river into Ile-Alatau National Park. The day ends back in town in the Presidential Park, with the mountains as its backdrop.
Overnight in Almaty -
Day5
Free morning, transfer to the airport for departure.
Departure
Where you stay
Our recommended hotels for this route. Prefer something different, or a family room? Just ask.
- Mildom City · 4-star · Almaty, 4 nights
What's included
Included in the price
- Loading what is included…
Not included
- International flights to and from the region
- Visa fees where your passport requires one
- Lunches and dinners unless stated in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, drinks and souvenirs
- Tips for your driver (and guide, if booked)
- Anything not listed under what’s included
How group size changes the price
On a private tour the vehicle and driver (and guide, if you add one) are shared across your group, so the price per person usually falls as the group grows.
Calculating…
Weather, month by month
Average daytime highs, night-time lows and rain days in the places this trip visits.
Mild and mostly dry on this route: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Good to know
- Visas
- It depends on your passport: see visa rules for Kazakhstan, each linked to its government source. Tell us your passport when you enquire and we will help.
- Best time to go
- May–June and September. We run this trip in other months too; ask us about conditions and prices.
- Getting there
- International flights are not included. Most travellers fly into Almaty; we meet you at the airport.
- Confirming
- The price you see is live. It becomes a booking once a consultant checks hotel and vehicle availability for your dates, usually within 24 hours.
Questions we get asked
Is this a group tour with other people?
No. Every trip on this site is private: your group, your driver and vehicle, your dates. Nobody else joins you.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. This is our suggested route for 5 days, not a fixed package. Add a night, drop a day trip or change a hotel level, and a consultant updates the price before you commit.
Is the price per person or total?
Prices show per person based on two people sharing a double room, with the total alongside. Solo travellers and larger groups pay a different price; the table above shows how.
When do I pay?
Nothing is paid on this website. Once a consultant confirms your trip, a 30% deposit secures it and the balance is due 48 hours before you travel.
What if the weather closes a mountain road?
It happens, mostly outside the months above. We offer the nearest equivalent we can arrange and explain any difference in cost, either way.
What travellers say
4.9 from 227 reviews on Google
Our 4.9 rating comes almost entirely from travellers on our Georgia trips, where we have worked longest.
Book or ask about this trip
Choose your date and group to see your exact price, then request to book it. Nothing to pay now: a consultant confirms hotels within 24 hours and sends a secure payment link. Or just send us a question.
