Almaty in 1, 3 and 5 days
In short: in one day see the centre with a museum and the cathedral, ride the gondola into the mountains and catch the opera at night; in three days add Charyn Canyon and a mountain lake; in five, an overnight trip to the Kolsai Lakes or Altyn-Emel. Pick the out-of-town days by tour dates in the catalogue.
Day 1: city and mountains
- Morning — the National Central Museum or the Kasteyev Museum of Arts.
- Midday — Panfilov Park and the Ascension Cathedral.
- Afternoon — the gondola from Medeu up to Shymbulak: mountains right above the city.
- Evening — opera or ballet at the Abai Opera House (operas have English surtitles) or events in town.
3 days: + a canyon and a lake
- Day 2 — Charyn Canyon and the Valley of Castles: a day trip leaving in the morning.
- Day 3 — Big Almaty Lake or, in winter, ski resorts and rental; in the evening, a banya.
5 days: + an overnight trip
- Days 4–5 — Kolsai Lakes and Kaindy or Altyn-Emel and the Singing Dune: two-day tours with an overnight stay.
- Prefer your own pace? Try private tours and jeep tours.
Checked against official sources on 5 November 2026. Rules change — check the source before you travel.