Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover the perfect mix of light adventure and breathtaking nature on this day tour from Almaty. Travel in comfort and enjoy a well-organized experience guided by a professional local expert.
Start your day with a refreshing hike through the scenic Turgen Gorge. Walk along a picturesque mountain trail surrounded by lush forests and panoramic views as you head toward the beautiful Bear Waterfall. At the end of the trail, enjoy the cool freshness of glacial water and the peaceful atmosphere of this place.
After the hike, continue to the stunning Issyk Lake, located at 1,756 meters above sea level in the Ili-Alatau mountains. The lake’s color changes from turquoise to deep blue depending on the season, creating a truly mesmerizing landscape. Take time to relax, walk along the shore, capture unforgettable photos, and enjoy the calm beauty of the mountains.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Important note: Children under 3 y.o. are not allowed on the tour
Not recommended for travelers who can not withstand hikes
What To Expect
Lake Issyk
After lunch you will head to the Lake Issyk located in Issyk gorge of Ili-Alatau mountains 70 km from Almaty at an altitude of 1756 m above sea level. The color of the water in this lake varies from turquoise to dark blue depending on the time of year. You will enjoy nature and the scenic panorama of the Ili-Alatau mountains with magnificent lake, take stunning memorable pictures and be filled with positive emotions.
Ile-Alatau National Park
This tour is designed so that you can enjoy the views at the best time of the day with the best lighting conditions. Our tour guide will show you the best photo spots and tell you interesting information about the sites.
Options
Private tour option
Individual tour: only you travel, without other people. Vehicle type: 2-5 pax - SUV/minivan; 6-7 pax - Toyota Hiace van; 8-15 pax - Mercedes Sprinter minibus. Pick-up/drop-off: any location in Almaty city. Pickup included
Group tour
Pick-up/drop-off: only listed meeting points.
What‘s Included
National park admission
Modern and comfortable bus/minibus with AC
Bottled water
Lunch (provided at a local cafe by menu)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
87 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Short trip. Better...
Punith S,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Short trip. Better combine with Assy plateau. However Naz my tour guide was very friendly and entertaining. Well conducted tour.
Strongly recommend
NPandalai,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very well conducted tour by Zhenis and his assistant. In time, all landmarks covered and well explained. Could not have asked for mare. Excellent day trip from Almaty. Special mention of his last assistant (sorry, forgot her name) - she was very helpful, especially for the older participants on the hike to Turgen waterfall.
An Unforgettable Adventure in Almaty!
John 1003 abc,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an absolutely wonderful time on the One Day Tour to Lake Issyk and Turgen Bear Waterfall. It was a truly memorable experience that will forever remain a cherished memory in my life's adventures. Not only was the scenery breathtaking, but it was also fantastic to meet and connect with new friendly faces from different corners of the world. A huge thank you to our incredible Tour Leader, Zhenis, and his two amazing assistants, Aks and Zhuldyz. They were extremely communicative, attentive, and helpful throughout the entire trip. A special shoutout to Aks, who kindly lent me his trekking pole—I honestly wouldn’t have made it all the way to the Turgen Bear Waterfall without it! Another highlight was the optional drone video service. The final footage they delivered was absolutely stunning and high-quality! If you are a traveler planning a vacation to Almaty, I highly, highly recommend booking this tour. You won't regret it!
Day trip to Essik
S8157ZFphilippeb,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing Time! Definitely recommand! The bus is comfy, wifi on board(pay a lil extra) lunch is also super good a in a nice restaurant during mid day after the waterfall! A lot of choices in that restaurant and guide helps you to order( the personal mostly speak Kazak) The hikes are easy and anyone could do them at their own pace. Thanks Zhenis and the team for the amazing day!
Beautiful places visited
haimuelmatthiasw,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The waterfall was beautiful and worth the (short and easy) walk up. The Issyk Lake was stunning as well and made for very good pictures. The tour operator was punctual for pick up, but the time allocated to Issyk Lake was way too short because we ended up waiting nearly an hour for some extremely inconsiderate participants. It wasn't the tour operator's fault, but I'd advise them to remind people again and again that the tour is not suitable for those with mobility issues. The restaurant we stopped at for lunch, while slightly overpriced, had delicious food.
A great trip
ritikamilinda,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip, our tour guide Luba is a great guide, a jolly person full of knowledge about Kazhakstan. It was a very good and well organized trip.
Great tour and a friendly guide
Odyssey19037135895,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour far surpassed our expectations from the moment we booked until the drop off. Our guide, Luba, made the experience truly memorable with her vibrant personality and deep knowledge about the places we visited.
The trip was nice and the...
Subodh S,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The trip was nice and the view at the waterfall and lake was beautiful. Our guide was very helpful and gave us a good insight of the place and it's history.
Amazing experience!
325lucijas,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I joined the Issyk Lake tour with Kaz Guided Tours led by a brilliant tour guide Amal. We had an incredible time and the places we were taken to were stunning! Amal was a lovely tour guide and gave us lots of interesting information about all the sightseeings. We would certainly recommend Kaz Guided Tours to anyone!
Amazing and serene Lake Issyk and Bear Waterfall..
ravishkol3674,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We started with a small hike to the Bear waterfall. It was simply fantastic and beautiful trek with greenary and huge mountain range. The bear waterfall is marvelous with a bear statue under the waterfall. Our tour guide Naz from Kazakhstan guided tours was very helpful, kind , informative and excellent. She guided us beautifully and made us very comfortable. We had lunch at Hotel Anoushka which was very delicious... I would highly recommend this company for all. Very professional
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