«Almaty: Where Mountains Meet the City»
Almaty: September 9–11, 2025
Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan, is a vibrant blend of modern life and breathtaking nature. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Tian Shan mountains, the city offers a unique mix of culture, history, and adventure.
Description
- 🗓️Duration2 days
📍 Locations: Almaty city
🏠Accommodation: hotel
🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
🚙 Transport: Comfortable minivan - 🗺️ What’s included:
- Scenic trip to Medeu & Shymbulak with cable car ride and mountain views
- Guided visit to Nomad Ethno Village with cultural workshops (cooking, crafts, horseback riding)
- Traditional Kazakh meals: breakfast at Tary Café, mountain lunch at Auyl, cultural dinner with live show at Abai Restaurant, and more
- Walking tour of Almaty’s historic center: 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park, Ascension Cathedral, Green Bazaar
- Hands-on creative masterclasses: pottery, dombra lesson, or painting with Kazakh patterns
- Entrance to cultural landmarks and museums (e.g. Kasteev Museum of Arts)
- Optional evening performance at the Abai Kazakh Drama Theater or State Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Comfortable meals in local-style restaurants and cozy cafés (Vanilla, Sandyq)
- English-speaking guide throughout the tour
- All transfers within Almaty
Day 1:
Nature, Ethnic Flavors & Traditional Cuisine
Nature, Ethnic Flavors & Traditional Cuisine
08:30 - Breakfast
Tary — a cozy café offering traditional Kazakh and Eastern-style breakfast dishes.
Must-try: kumys (fermented mare’s milk), baursaks (fried dough), and omelet with herbs.
Must-try: kumys (fermented mare’s milk), baursaks (fried dough), and omelet with herbs.
10:00 – Trip to Medeu & Shymbulak
Take the scenic cable car up to the mountains for panoramic views and a short hike.
Optional: enjoy a cup of coffee at a mountaintop café or rent an electric scooter at Shymbulak.
Optional: enjoy a cup of coffee at a mountaintop café or rent an electric scooter at Shymbulak.
13:30 – Lunch in the mountains
Auyl — a traditional-style restaurant serving authentic Kazakh dishes.
Recommended: beshbarmak (boiled meat with noodles and onion sauce).
Recommended: beshbarmak (boiled meat with noodles and onion sauce).
15:30 – Visit to Nomad Ethno Village
Nomad Ethno Village — experience Kazakh nomadic culture:
- Tour traditional yurts
- Watch demonstrations of national clothing and musical instruments
- Hands-on workshop: make baursaks or try wool felting
- Horseback riding in the nearby steppe
18:30 – Dinner with a live cultural show
Abai Restaurant — enjoy national cuisine with a live performance of traditional kui music and folk dances.
Day 2:
Culture, Creativity & Urban Life
Culture, Creativity & Urban Life
09:00 – Breakfast
Vanilla — a charming café in the city center, known for its pastries and relaxed atmosphere.
10:30 – Walking tour of Almaty’s historic center
- 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park
- Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral)
- Green Bazaar — sample dried fruits, eastern sweets, and local delicacies
12:30 – Creative masterclass (choose one):
- Pottery workshop — create your own piece of Kazakh ceramics
- Dombra lesson — learn the basics of playing this traditional Kazakh instrument
- Painting or batik class — design your own piece using Kazakh patterns
14:30 – Lunch at a restaurant of your choice
16:00 – Cultural experience: museum or theatre visit
- Kasteev Museum of Arts — Kazakh and European art collections
- Abai Kazakh Drama Theater or State Opera and Ballet Theatre — optional evening performance (based on schedule)
19:00 – Dinner
Sandyq Restaurant — end the day with a delicious meal in an authentic and beautifully decorated setting.
per person
(for groups of 1–5 people)
(for groups of 1–5 people)
720 $
per person
(for groups of 6 or more)
(for groups of 6 or more)
$690 $