ALMATY - KAZAKHSTAN


ALMATY KAZAKHSTAN
(21/12/24 - 26/12/24)

WELCOME TO ALMATY
  • Buang 2 kosong saja currency Kazakhstan jadi RM... not accurate but quick way of exchanging currency rate. Kazakshtan is our first destination in Central Asia.We plan for six days here. Our flight from kuala Lumpur arrives at Almaty, Kazakhstan as our first stop.
  • We plan to stay here for six days. Our objective is to see natures in the country during cold season - lakes, canyon and mountains. Upon completion of our stay we plan to proceed to the neighboring country Kyrgyzstan.
CALENDAR
PRAYERS TIME
21 December 19 Jumada al-Akhir Saturday 05:55 07:18 11:53 14:41 16:23 17:46 more...
22 December 20 Jumada al-Akhir Sunday 05:55 07:19 11:54 14:41 16:23 17:46
23 December 21 Jumada al-Akhir Monday 05:56 07:19 11:54 14:42 16:24 17:47
24 December 22 Jumada al-Akhir Tuesday 05:56 07:19 11:55 14:42 16:24 17:47
25 December 23 Jumada al-Akhir Wednesday 05:57 07:20 11:55 14:43 16:25 17:48
26 December 24 Jumada al-Akhir Thursday 05:57 07:20 11:56 14:44 16:26 17:49
Click here full website
MAP AROUND ALMATY
PLACES TO VISIT
  • ①ALMATY
  • ②ILE-ALATAU NATIONAL PARK
  • ③BIG ALMATY LAKE
  • ④LAKE ISSYK
  • ⑤TURGEN
  • ⑥KOLSAI LAKE 
  • ⑦KAINDY LAKE
  • ⑧CHARYN CANYON
  • ⑨SHYMBULAK
  • Click here to read about above places
GETTING THERE
  • ①ALMATY-②ILE-ALATAU NATIONAL PARK-21km (44min)
How to get to the Ile-Alatau National Park from Almaty: If you want to go skiing or ice-skating in Medeo and Shymbulak or you’d like to do a couple of hikes in the National Park, you have to take bus #12 from the center of Almaty to Medeu. I usually took the bus at Dostyk Plaza. You can also go on a guided day trip to Medeo and the National Park.A bus ticket costs 150 tenge (€0.50) and it only takes 20 minutes to reach Medeo and the start of the hiking trails.

  • ①ALMATY-③BIG ALMATY LAKE-31km (51 min)
How to get to Big Almaty Lake from Almaty: Getting to the lake is fairly easy if you have money and the means to order a taxi, otherwise, you will need to book a tour to get up there.If you are traveling with others, you can split the costs. A taxi one-way to Big Almaty Lake from Almaty is about 3000 tenge ( $9-10).Bring your passport, some water and snacks, and proper hiking boots when going to Big Almaty Lake

  • ①ALMATY-④LAKE ISSYK-80 km (2 hours )
 How to get to Issyk Lake from Almaty: Issyk Lake can be reached by taking a bus from Almaty to Esik and catching a taxi from there into the mountains or by private vehicle. It takes about 2 hours to reach the lake. You can also book a day tour to Issyk Lake

  • ①ALMATY-⑤TURGEN-80 km ( hours )

How to get to Turgen Gorge from Almaty:
The Turgen Gorge is located 80km east of Almaty. You can get there by taking a bus from Almaty to Esik and catching a taxi to the village of Turgen.
The entrance to the Gorge is near the village. Here’s a great detailed guide on how to get there.


  • ①ALMATY-⑥KOLSAI LAKES-300km (6 hours )

How to get to the Kolsai Lakes: It’s a 6-hour drive from Almaty to the Kolsai Lakes National Park. For a detailed description and map on how to get there by public transportation or with your own vehicle, read the Complete Travel Guide to the Kolsai Lakes The easiest way to get there is by going on a 2-day tour to the Kolsai Lakes, combined with a visit to Lake Kaindy and Charyn Canyon. Or use this deals for RM180


  • ①ALMATY-⑦KAINDY LAKE-288km (?hours )

Long read here if you want...

  • ①ALMATY-⑧CHARYN CANYON-215km (hours )
Long read here if you want...

RELATED BLOGS
  • There is a very interesting blog about traveling to Kazakhstan which I find useful and worth sharing it here.
  • Click here for the blog link.
  • HIDDEN
  • Click for the blog link TASHKENT
  • HIDDEN
  • Click for the blog link BUKHARA
  • HIDDEN
  • Click for the blog link TASHK2
DAY JOURNALS
  • Next are our planned itineraries and daily journals during our six days stay in Almaty Kazakhstan. 
  • Click on the date to expand/hide the entries.

21-DEC-2024 (SAT)
DAY 1 - KL-ALMATY


FLIGHT KUALA LUMPUR - ALMATY
FLIGHT INFO
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Almaty (ALA)
Dep: 21 Dec 24 Jan · 12:35 GMT +08 KUL Arr: 21 Dec 24 17:40 GMT +05 ALA
Direct · 8h 5m
Economy AirAsia D7 600
Click here to see booking details.
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS: FLY KUL-ALA
  • Click here to view photos*
LANDED ALMATY AIRPORT
  • Almaty International Airport is located quite close to the city center. You can take either a bus or a taxi into the city from the airport. It’s great if you have the Go Yandex app already downloaded on your phone as you can pre-book an official taxi. There are many unofficial taxis working at the airport who may take advantage of a solo traveler who doesn’t know about regular taxi rates. Many people will be shouting ‘taxi, taxi’ out the front of the airport and for the majority, they are not official taxi drivers. Instead, keep your eyes open for someone wearing a bright yellow vest, as these vest indicate the official taxi drivers and they will be standing near the police stand.
  • The fare will cost you around $7 (3000 KZT) or alternatively you can use the Yandex app and the taxi fare will cost you just under $4 (1500 KZT). You can pay in cash or with credit card but let the driver know before you leave the airport how you’d like to pay as they will charge you for the fare via card there at the airport.✅If you opt for the bus, the #92 leaves from the airport and will take you to the Sayakhat bus station in the city centre. The bus fare will cost you less than a dollar, 150 KZT, and takes roughly half an hour to get to the station. Buses run every 15 minutes between 06:00 and 21:00
CHECK-IN HOTEL PANA INN
Hotel booked through booking.com
.6D 5N from 21/12/24 to 26/12/24 RM552 (KZT65000)
Location 55 Esenova Street, 050000 Almaty, Kazakhstan Phone +7 7058251422
Click here to view booking details
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS: ARRIVED
  • Click here to view photos
TIMELINE SAT, 21 DEC 2024
In a taxi 34 km 44 min 08:44 09:28 
Kuala Lumpur International Airport 64000 Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia 09:28 12:51 KLIA Terminal 2 Parking ZonePublic parking space
Flying5,188 km 8 hrs 38 min12:51 18:29
Almaty International AirportMailin St 2, 050039 Almaty, Kazakhstan18:29 19:31
In a taxi11 km 32 min19:31 20:03
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanArrived at 20:03


22-DEC-2024 (SUN)
DAY 2 - ALMATY
ALMATY CITY TOUR
  • Central Mosque
  • Green Bazaar
  • 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park
  • Ascension Cathedral
  • Metro ride
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS
  • Click here to view photos
TIMELINE SUN, 22 DEC 2024

The Pana InnEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanLeft at 08:34
Walking2.1 km 18 min08:34 08:53
Almaty Central MosquePushkin St 16, 050016 Almaty, Kazakshtan08:53 09:02
Walking450 m 14 min09:02 09:16
Green Bazaarулица ЖибСк Жолы 53, 050000 Almaty09:16 09:27
Walking450 m 11 min09:27 09:38
28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park 7X53+GMJ, p. Малая Алматинка, Almaty09:38 10:25
PlacesAscension CathedralRussian Orthodox church
KFCKFC Googla, Gogol St 44-51, 05000010:25 11:08
Walking140 m 3 min 11:08
Green BazaarΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ†Π° Π–ΠΈΠ±Π΅ΠΊ Π–ΠΎΠ»Ρ‹ 53, 050000 Almaty 11:11 12:16
PlacesAlma Shopping CenterShopping Centre Megatau 
On the underground6.0 km 13 min16:48 17:01
Walking800 m 41 min5:01 PM 5:42 PM
ALMATYCOURSEPushkin St 2, 050000 Almaty, Kazakhstan 17:42 18:54
Places Saffron Cafe
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanArrived at 18:54


23-DEC-2024 (MON)
DAY 3 - ALMATY

KOLSAI LAKE AND CANYON DAY TRIP
  • Package RM326 $74 KZT 39,000 for two adults booked through agoda.
  • Meeting point Abay Ave 50
  • Click here for link voucher.
CHARYN CANYON NATIONAL PARK Distance 215 km from Almaty, 3-hour drive *
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - CHARYN
  • Click here to view photos
MOON CANYON *
BLACK CANYON *
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - MOON & BLACK CANYON
  • Click here to view photos
KOLSAI LAKE *
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - KOLSAI LAKE
  • Click here to view photos

TIMELINE MON, 23 DEC 2024

Pana Inn Hotel Esenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanLeft at 05:01
In a taxi6.8 km 20 min05:01 05:20
Abay Ave 50 Abay Ave 50, 050000 Almaty, Kazakhstan05:20 06:20
On a bus8.8 km 15 min06:20 06:35
Burger King Zoya Kosmodem'yanskaya 520, Almaty06:35 06:51
On a bus188 km 2 hrs 3 min06:51 09:24
Charyn Canyon National Park Tamerlik, Kazakhstan09:24 11:17
On a bus18 km 1 hr 55 min11:17 13:13 PlacesMoon Canyon11:40 11:50Black Canyon12:05 12:15
(LUNCH)Guest house "Maria" in the village Ultarakova Street 69, 041422 Saty,13:13 13:51
On a bus13 km 30 min13:51 14:21
Kolsay Lakes HotelX8WG+648, Unnamed Road, Kurmeti,...14:21 16:03
On a bus244 km 4 hrs 16 min16:03 20:19
Abay Ave 50 Abay Ave 50, 050000 Almaty, Kazakhstan20:19 20:33
In a taxi6.3 km 17 min20:33 20:51
Pana Inn Hotel Esenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanArrived at 20:51


24-DEC-2024 (TUE)
DAY 4 - ALMATY

VISIT TO SHYMBULAK
  • Self tour. You can visit journal of nomad through this link.
  • Click here to read how to get to Shymbulak
SHYMBULAK EXPENSES
  • KZT 3,500 Taxi to Shymbulak
  • KZT 13,000 (cable car for 2 pax)
  • KZT 400 Bus back to Almaty
  • TOTAL KZT 16,900  = RM145 = $32
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - SYMBULAK
  • Click here to view photos
TIMELINE TUE, 24 DEC 2024 

Pana Inn Hotel Esenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanLeft at 10:46
In a taxi16 km 41 min10:46 11:27
Medeu Cable Car, ShymbulakGornaya St 558, Almaty, Kazakhstan 11:27 11:48
In a cable car (1)4.6 km 20 min (upward)11:48 12:08
At 2260 meter heightBIGCHEF Restaurant12:08-12:16
In a cable car (2)10 min (upward)12:16 12:26
COMBI-2 Sign12:26-12:40
In a cable car (3)10 min (upward)12:40 12:49
At highest 3200 meter12:49-13:13
In a cable car (3)10 min (down)13:13- 13:23
Where Le Mint restaurant is13:23-13:33
In a cable car (2)10 min (down)13:33- 13:43
Where Bigchef is13:43-14:30
In a cable car (1)4.6 km 18 min down14:30 14:48END OF CABLE CAR RIDE
Walking1.0 km 30 min14:48 15:19
MedeuMedeo Rink, Gornaya St 465, 05002015:19 15:40
On a bus #1218 km 1 hr 14 min15:40 16:53
Walking1.0 km 29 min16:53 17:22
ALMATYKURSPushkin St 2, 050000 Almaty, Kazakshtan17:22 18:52
PlacesShafran Cafe(DINNER)
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanArrived at 18:52


25-DEC-2024 (WED)
DAY 5 - ALMATY
GREEN BAZAAR *
CENTRAL MOSQUE
  • Here 45 minutes until 12:35
DONER RESTAURANT
  • Lunch here 20 minutes
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - BAZAAR AND MOSQUE
  • Click here to view photos
VISIT KOK TOBE
  • Kok Tobe is a hill located within the city area offering wonderful view of the city and mountains near Almaty. The place is famous for tourist especially those with families of kids as there is a zoo and small amusement park
  • From our place: bus fare KZT200/each. 25 minutes ride to Republic Palace, then walk a little bit to Kok Tobe Cable car station.
  • Fare (cable car) return trip KZT6,000 each person. Six minutes ride already arrived at top station. Stayed at the park for 1.5 hours.
  • The day we went there most of the park activities were closed (may be due to Christmas/winter). Walking through the park however was pleasant and calm as there was no crowd.
ICE SKATING RING
  • Not far from Cable car station. Very suitable for youngsters
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - KOK TOBE
  • Click here to view photos
TIMELINE Wed, 25 Dec 2024
Wed, 25 Dec 2024
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanLeft at 09:23
Walking600 m 25 min09:23 09:48
Green BazaarΡƒΠ»ΠΈΡ†Π° Π–ΠΈΠ±Π΅ΠΊ Π–ΠΎΠ»Ρ‹ 53, 050000 Almaty 09:48 11:35
PlacesMegatau Shopping CentreAlma Shopping Center
Walking1.5 km 14 min11:35 11:50
Almaty Central MosquePushkin St 16, 050016 Almaty, Kazakshtan 11:50 12:30
Walking350 m 25 min12:30 12:55
Doner&burgerPushkin St 2, 050000 Almaty, Kazakshtan12:55 13:15
Walking350 m 9 min13:15 13:24
On a bus4.1 km 24 min13:24 13:47
Republic PalaceDostyk Ave 56, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan13:47 13:48
Walking850 m 10 min13:48 14:01
Kok Tobe Hill Gondola CablewayLuganskiy St 2, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
In a gondola lift1.9 km 5min14:03 14:08
Kok Tobe6, проспСкт Достык 1048, 050010 14:08 15:40
In a gondola lift1.8 km 6 min15:40 15:46
Skating6.3 km 41 min15:53 16:35
Moving1 hr 17 min16:35 17:52
On a (packed) bus3.5 km 24 min17:52 18:16
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanArrived at 18:16


26-DEC-2024 (THU)
DAY 6 - ALMATY > BISHKEK

TRANSFER ALMATY TO BISHEK
  • Today we moved from Almaty to next destination: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  • Distance between the two cities is 236km. Travel duration was about 6 hours. 
  • We traveled on a bus from Almaty Sairan bus station to the border, on foot crossing border and then took a taxi to our hotel in the Bishkek city.
  • Check-in Hotel Tumar, Bishkek.
  • Transport expenses: Hotel to Sairan bus station by Yandex $7, Sairan bus station to Bishkek/border $13 (2 adults), taxi from border to hotel $12. (total $32).
  • Hotel expenses 5D/4N: $105
πŸ“·GOOGLE PHOTOS - ALMATY - BISHKEK
  • Click here to view photos
TIMELINE Thu, 26 Dec 2024

Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, KazakhstanLeft at 05:40
Walking500 m 9 min05:40 05:48
Almaty Central MosquePushkin St 16, 050016 Almaty, Kazakshtan05:48 06:32
Walking300 m 6 min06:32 06:38
Pana Inn HotelEsenova St 55, 050000 Almaty, Kazakhstan06:38 08:47
In a taxi9.5 km 24 min08:47 09:11
Bus station "Sayran"6VV5+F99, Utegen Batyr St, Almaty09:11 10:15
On a bus(BUS TO BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN)100 km 1 hr 37 min10:15-11:52
Avrasya 8МН4+FΠ‘Π‘, БСріктас, Kazakhstan11:52 12:18
On a bus125 km 1 hr 19 min12:18 13:37
Zapravka Gazom Agzs "Beyba... Π–Ρ–Π±Π΅ΠΊ Π–ΠΎΠ»Ρ‹ ΠΊΣ©ΡˆΠ΅ΡΡ– 253, 08040013:37 13:44
On a bus1.4 km 12 min13:44 13:56
Korday2PG4+6GC, M39, Korday, Kazakhstan(BORDER CROSSING TO KYRGYZSTAN)13:56 14:15
(WELCOME TO KYRGYZSTAN)
Walking700 m 14 min14:15 14:29
Akzhol Magazin2MCX+XV3, Lugovoye, Kyrgyzstan14:29 14:37
In a taxi20 km 53 min14:37 16:30
Tumar(HOTEL CHECK-IN)77 Toktogul Street, Bishkek 72004016:30 17:36
Walking350 m 21 min17:36 17:57
TSUM Aichurok 155 Chuy Ave, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan(SHOPPING COMPLEX)17:57 19:36
PlacesGlobus SupermarketSupermarket Central BazaarFruit and vegetable shop
Walking550 m 11 min19:36 19:47
Tumar (HOTEL)77 Toktogul Street, Bishkek 720040Arrived at 19:47