Big Almaty Lake is the closest bit of proper mountain scenery to the city, and it makes a relatively easy half-day out without much planning involved. It’s not a headline attraction on the scale of Charyn Canyon or the Kolsai Lakes, and I’d rather tell you that upfront, rather than oversell what’s essentially a reservoir that you can’t actually swim in or easily walk down to. What it is, is a nice, low-effort mountain view a short drive from Almaty, with a couple of easy add-ons if you want to make more of the day. This is my guide on how to visit Big Almaty Lake.
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Why Come to Big Almaty Lake
The honest answer is that it’s close, it’s easy, and the water really is that shade of turquoise-blue in photos, at least when the glacier melt is running. We visited and tagged along on a visit to Almaty’s famous first apple orchard, but you’ll struggle to find that now, as 99% of people don’t want to see where Kazakhstan’s famous apples came from. You don’t need to commit to a big, long full day trip like you would for Charyn Canyon or the Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, and you don’t need any hiking experience to see the main view. It won’t be the highlight of your Kazakhstan trip, but for a half-day between longer travel days, it’s nice.
You can see how this fits into a trip to Kazakhstan in our 10 day Kazakh Itinerary here.
How to Get to Big Almaty Lake
Big Almaty Lake is around 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Almaty as the crow flies, but the mountain road means that it’s about an hour’s drive. However. Yeah. There’s a however.
This area counts as a border zone, close to the Kyrgyzstan frontier, so carry your passport in case of a checkpoint check on the way up, and there are times you might not be allowed near. There are three realistic ways to make the trip, and I’ve covered them below.
Take a Tour to Big Almaty Lake
A guided tour is the easiest way to deal with the one major hassle of this trip: getting stung by an inflated local taxi fare once you’re already at the checkpoint with no other way onward. A tour deals with the transport all the way, usually stops at the viewpoint and the dam, and takes the negotiating out of the day entirely.
It costs more than doing it yourself, but for a half-day trip that removes the one bit of hassle involved, it’s a fair trade for a lot of people. Us included. Here’s the tour that we booked and took. When we visited, we were able to go to the original Almaty Apple Orchard, but now its changed to the hot spring instead. There’s more on that apple orchard in my guide to Almaty here.
Take a Yandex & Taxi to Big Almaty Lake
Yandex Go will get you to the road up from Almaty, but it only takes you as far as the park entrance checkpoint, not all the way to the lake itself. You’ll also need a taxi inside the park to cover the final stretch, and without a guide or driver you already know, there’s nobody to help if a problem crops up on the mountain. It’s cheaper than a tour, but it’s worth going in knowing you’ll be switching vehicles partway and negotiating the second leg yourself.
Take a Yandex and then Hike to Big Almaty Lake
The third option is a Yandex Go to the visitor center near the park entrance, then walking the rest of the way yourself. It’s roughly 18 kilometers (11 miles) return from there, taking 4 to 6 hours depending on your pace, so this only makes sense if you actually want a half-day hike rather than a quick look at the lake. There are two route choices from the visitor center, a longer, gentler road route or a steeper, more direct route, known as the “pipeline route” with some scrambling involved.
Wear shoes with a proper grip either way, and carry water and snacks, since there’s limited to buy once you’re past the entrance.
There’s also an option for renting electric bikes from near the Edelweiss Inn, -which you’ll pass on the way. And there’s a visitor center here as well.
Take a bus, then a taxi to Big Almaty Lake
You can take a public bus from Almaty to the entrance to the park. You’ll find bus #28 on the corner of Navoi and Al Farabi (next to President’s Park). Google Map location. Yandex Map Location. The bus runs about twice an hour, take it to the last stop, which is just after the entrance to the park. To get from there to the lake, you will need to either walk, hitchhike or take a taxi and you’ll need to negotiate, but likely pay around 2000 KZT.
The walk is about 40 minutes upwards, on the road.
What is Big Almaty Lake?
Big Almaty Lake is an alpine reservoir sitting at 2,511 meters (8,238 feet), formed by tectonic activity in the Trans-Ili Alatau range and now the main source of drinking water for Almaty, which is also why swimming isn’t allowed. The color shifts through the year from a pale green to a striking turquoise-blue as glacier melt feeds in, so what you’ll see depends partly on when you visit.
The Lake Viewpoint
The main viewpoint, near the dam, is as close as you’re allowed to get. You can’t walk down to the water’s edge, so don’t plan on a lakeside picnic, just the view from the road and the dam wall, which is the main event here.
The Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory
Above the lake sits the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory, which is sometimes open to visitors depending on staffing on the day. If it’s open when you arrive, it’s a worthwhile extra 20 to 30 minutes; if not, it’s not worth planning your whole trip around.
How to Get Back to Almaty from Big Almaty Lake
Getting back works the same way in reverse: your tour returns you to the city as part of the package, or you’ll need to arrange a taxi from the checkpoint back to a spot where Yandex Go picks up again. Don’t forget you’ll need a SIM card and mobile data if you plan on using Yandex. It’s worth agreeing your return trip or fare before you head up rather than negotiating it on the way down.
See my guide to how to get around Kazakhstan for more on how Yandex and local taxis work generally, and currency and paying in Kazakhstan for cash versus card.
FAQs on Visiting Big Almaty Lake
Here’s the answers to the questions I get asked most about this trip.
What’s the Easiest Way to Get to Big Almaty Lake?
A guided tour is the easiest way to visit Big Almaty Lake, since it handles both legs of the journey and avoids the awkward taxi negotiations, or hiking up at the entrance to the National Park.
Is It Worth Going to Big Almaty Lake?
Yes, as an easy half-day out rather than a must-see headline stop. If you’re looking at it against Charyn Canyon or the Kolsai Lakes and only have time for one, pick those first.
Do You Need a Permit to Visit Big Almaty Lake?
Not for the standard viewpoint visit, though you should carry your passport since the area is officially a border zone. Hiking further toward the peaks or glaciers does require separate permission.
Can You Swim in Big Almaty Lake?
No. This is a reservoir for Almaty’s drinking water supply, so swimming isn’t permitted, and you can’t walk down to the water’s edge in any case.
Is there a good time to visit big Almaty Lake?
During the week is the best time to visit Big Almaty Lake, as it’s a popular place for domestic visitors at weekends. If you want the turquoise water of the glacial melt, then September/October is the best time of year.
How Long Does It Take to Get to Big Almaty Lake from Almaty?
Around an hour each way by road, or longer if you’re combining the drive with the hike in from the visitor center.
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Final Words on Visiting Big Almaty Lake
Big Almaty Lake isn’t going to be the trip you tell everyone about when you get home, and that’s fine. It’s an easy, low-effort half-day with a genuinely pretty view, and a sensible one to slot in if you’ve got a spare morning in Almaty rather than a destination worth rearranging your itinerary around. Go for the view, don’t expect much beyond it, and you won’t be disappointed.
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