Lake Issyk with Turgen (Bear) Waterfall tour
Overview
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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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
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
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.
Reviews
82 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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
Lousy organization of time
jesus manuel m,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We wasted a lot of time waiting for passengers and did not see the most beautiful thing, the lake, with sunshine even though there was not a cloud. A couple was 20 minutes late. In other places it waits at most 5 minutes. Another passenger waited more than 15 minutes while a taxi arrived. Besides, the car broke down and we had to wait for another one, but I'm not complaining about it. I understand. Lunch time was changed to breakfast time and that’s it, but that’s why you had to have been more disciplined with the times to at least get about 40 minutes of sunshine on the lake. The driver all the time with the cell phone endangering the passengers. The waterfall is worthless. It is much better the way to it, with river, yurts, horses... I put two pictures. One of how I saw the lake and how I could have seen it
Wonderful trip
davehY3134WK,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic experience! Really scenic. Excellent tour guide and comfortable transport. Good choice for lunch. A fair amount of driving but stops made and worth it.
Unforgettable Trip with Kazakhstan Guided Tours
parvathy ashok,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had the best experience with Kazakhstan Guided Tours. Lake Issyk and Bear Waterfall were absolutely heavenly. To reach the waterfall, we hiked for about 30 minutes uphill and 30 minutes back down, through the woods, fresh air, and beautiful views. I enjoyed every bit of it. If you’re visiting Kazakhstan, don’t miss this place. Our tour guide, Amal, was amazing. She explained everything about the country so well, and the whole trip was perfectly organized. The journey itself felt peaceful and memorable. I’d recommend this tour to everyone.
Great tour and value for money
S7892EFsophiem,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time on this tour and got to see some of the most amazing scenery we’ve ever seen. Our guide Amal was very informative and helpful :) would recommend!
From US$35.00
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Operated by Kazakhstan Guided Tours