Ile Alatau National Park (Almaty mountains) – both the most-visited national park in the Southeast Kazakhstan. Ile Alatau is one of the best hiking destinations in the Almaty. There are plenty of interesting day hikes in the Almaty mountains during which you can reach forest gorges, waterfalls, pristine alpine lakes and glaciers. You can see everything in one day! Though so much wilderness makes Ile Alatau one of the best hiking vacations you can take.
The Ile Alatau mountains surround Almaty in the south. As a result this part of the North Tien Shan mountains is the most accessible for tourism. You needn’t waste a lot of time to get from the center of the city to the start point of hiking trail. It is just taking 1-1,5 hours.
Almaty day hike variants
Nature-lovers of all hiking abilities love the easy:
- Big Almaty Lake Trail
- Panorama of Tien Shan mountains Trail
- Tuyuksu Valley Trail
- Japanise road Trail
- Kokjailau plateau Trail
- Kim-Asar gorge Trail
- Oi-Karagai resort (Aktas, Krasny Yar and Almatau trails)
- Butakovskiy waterfall Trail
- Auysai 3 waterfalls Trail
- Prohodnoe gorge Trail
Colour of water hemmed by towering snow-capped peaks make Big Almaty lake (2510 meters) a popular vacation destination.
If you want to see the famous peaks of Almaty (Abai and Nursultan peaks), then you choose Panorama of Tien Shan mountains Trail.
You like forests and waterfalls, choose last 3 trails. Other trails pass through the Tien Shan mountain forest area.
Hikers are treated to magnificent views of rocky and glacier-covered peaks above and Siberian forest valleys below in their journey of Tuyuksu valley Trail (3000 meters). There are many interesting directions for full day hikes:
- Lake #6 of Mametova
- Tuyuksu glacier
- Glaciological station T-1
- Pamyat peak (Memory peak)
- Bogdanovich glacier (from Shymbulak resort)
The final points of these hikes are located at altitudes of 3400-3650 meters.
Very accessible 1-day hikes with fantastic view points over the city and panoramic view of Almaty mountains are the trip to:
- Kumbelsu pass (3100 m) and Tereshkova peak (3435 m) from Big Almaty gorge
- Bukreev peak (3010 m) from Butakovskoe gorge
- Kumbel peak (3220 m) across the Kokjailau valley
- the hike to Furmanov peak (3055 m) and beyond to Shymbulak mountain resort
These routes are available to good physically prepared tourists.
NOTICE! Altitude sickness can be another common problem when hiking around Almaty as some of the mountain trails are quite high. It’s very important to take the proper time to acclimatize. Therefore, if you want to ascent on the maximum height in one day trip, for example:
- Big Almaty peak (3682 meters)
- Tourist peak (3954 meters)
You need to ascent 3000 meters altitude until this time. It will be better for you!
Almaty hiking map
Weather
The best hiking weather in the Almaty mountains is from mid May to September, when the vast majority of trails (except ones up very high) are snow free. Also winter is normal time. Some Almaty trails are open for 10 months in year from May to end of winter. Almaty mountains are closed in March and April, because this time is high avalanche danger (a lot of snow)!
Temperature, оС (night-day)
| Locality | H, m | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Almaty | 850 | -1 | +1 | +7 | +17 | +22 | +27 | +30 | +29 | +24 | +16 | +7 | +1 |
| -11 | -9 | -2 | +6 | +11 | +15 | +18 | +16 | +11 | +5 | -3 | -8 | ||
| Kamenskoe | 1300 | +2 | +1 | +5 | +13 | +18 | +23 | +26 | +25 | +20 | +13 | +7 | +4 |
| -7 | -7 | -2 | +5 | +10 | +14 | +17 | +16 | +11 | +5 | -1 | -4 | ||
| Shymbulak | 2000 | -1 | -1 | +3 | +9 | +13 | +17 | +20 | +19 | +15 | +10 | +4 | 0 |
| -10 | -9 | -6 | 0 | +4 | +8 | +11 | +10 | +6 | +1 | -5 | -8 | ||
| Mynzhilki | 3000 | -7 | -5 | -1 | +4 | +7 | +10 | +12 | +12 | +8 | +4 | -2 | -5 |
| -15 | -15 | -11 | -6 | -2 | +2 | +5 | +4 | 0 | -5 | -10 | -13 | ||
| Tuyuksu | 3450 | -10 | -8 | -4 | +1 | +4 | +7 | +9 | +10 | +6 | +1 | -4 | -8 |
| -18 | -18 | -15 | -9 | -5 | -1 | +3 | +2 | -2 | -8 | -12 | -16 |
Precipitation, mm
| Locality | H, m | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Almaty | 850 | 29 | 35 | 68 | 99 | 101 | 58 | 39 | 26 | 28 | 54 | 53 | 36 |
| Kamenskoe | 1300 | 38 | 44 | 87 | 143 | 149 | 89 | 56 | 42 | 42 | 73 | 64 | 44 |
| Shymbulak | 2000 | 28 | 31 | 66 | 125 | 173 | 137 | 97 | 62 | 42 | 56 | 50 | 33 |
| Mynzhilki | 3000 | 21 | 22 | 48 | 96 | 149 | 154 | 138 | 92 | 47 | 46 | 40 | 28 |
| Tuyuksu | 3450 | 27 | 26 | 48 | 101 | 150 | 165 | 156 | 97 | 58 | 60 | 46 | 36 |
What to bring?
- Lightweight hiking shoes or hiking boots
- Trekking sticks
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm wool or fleece top, warm hat and gloves (Spring, Fall, Winter and Summer – for hikes in the high mountains of over 3000 meters)
- Water bottles or bladder (1-2 liters total capacity)
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Knee braces (if needed)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
Hiking boots. Be kind to your feet because you’ll need them to bring you across the mountains! Choose comfortable hiking shoes that protect your feet from rocks and debris on the trail. The shoes should have a good grip, keep your feet dry and be light enough to move easily.
Food
Typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, drinks and a dessert. Tourists take it themselves.
Contact
If you still have any questions about Almaty one day hiking tour:
- whats’app number: +7 705 391 7744
- e-mail: yushin_yurii@list.ru
See unique features and visit secret spots that you’d be unlikely to notice or find without a guide. Enjoy the assurance that comes with hiking with a guide who knows the area’s weather, terrain, and wildlife. Go with a guide to make the most of every moment!
