Going to the mountains in Kazakhstan: trekking & hiking

Hiking in the mountains in Kazakhstan is a must. Why?

• The mountains of Kazakhstan are beautiful and almost untouched
• It is the only way to discover most of the picturesque places

Fortunately, in Kazakhstan, there is mountain hiking and trekking for all levels: from beginner to advanced mountaineer.

I'll tell you more about it in this article.

What mountains in Kazakhstan?

In Kazakhstan, there are two mountain ranges:

• The Altai Mountains, in the north east of the country
• The Tianshan Mountains, in the south and south east of the country

Both regions are absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. But there is however a major difference to take into account : while the Tianshan Mountains are slowly beginning to become more and more practical and marked for tourists, thanks in particular to their proximity to the city of Almaty and their milder climate, the Altai Mountains are much more difficult to access.

Winter is harsher and longer (from October to the end of May) and it is very complicated to get there by yourself, without a local guide.

For the purposes of this article, I am going to focus on Tianshan, and more specifically the Ile-Alatau National Park near Almaty, which is easily accessible for Western tourists.

However, if you are interested in a trip to the Altai Mountains or to more remote corners of Tianshan, do not hesitate to contact me, I will refer you to trusted local guides.

Discover the mountains of Kazakhstan near Almaty

From the Kok Zhailau Plateau to Terra, the Ile-Alatau National Park near Almaty offers wonderful landscapes that are easily accessible for hikers of all levels, even beginners.

As for mountaineers or experienced hikers eager to conquer new peaks, the choice is vast: the Grand Peak of Almaty (3,680 m), the Tourist Peak (3,954 m), the Sovetov Peak (4,317 m), or even the Nursultan Peak (4,376 m), among a multitude of others.

However, trekking in Kazakhstan is not the same as hiking in the Alps: here, not all the paths are always very well marked, and there are no houses or inns waiting for you for the night.

So, we take the backpacks and get ready to sleep in the mountains.

Hiking in Kazakhstan: how do you go about it?

First of all, I don't recommend going alone. Even if you are in a group. Even if you are used to the mountains.

The mountain is unpredictable, and you don't know Tianshan. Find a guide who can help you.

There are also many groups of hiking enthusiasts and companies that organize hikes at low cost. You can usually find them on Instagram.

As I doubt that you will come to Kazakhstan with your tent, I advise you to join a group trip with a local company. They will provide you with the necessary equipment.

Do not hesitate to contact me on Insta or Whatsapp so that I can help you organize an itinerary.

Hiking in Kazakhstan near Almaty: 3 routes

Here are three ideas for itineraries that I recommend for a day hike in Kazakhstan starting from the city of Almaty, for an average physical condition:

1 - The Big Almaty Lake + Big Almaty Peak (Большое Алматинское Озеро + Большой Алматинский Пик), more often called BAO (БАО) and BAP (БАП)

The first is located at an altitude of 2510 m and is perfectly visible from the summit of the same name, at an altitude of 3,680 m. An asphalt path takes you to BAO, and you have to continue to Kosmostantsya (the space station) to get to the foot of the BAP summit.

Local taxi drivers also take tourists directly to the station, but it is quite expensive (minimum 80-100 eur per trip), as the road is normally closed for cars.

2 - The Furmanova and Panorama peaks

At 3053 m and 3260 m respectively, the paths to these two peaks are easy to find from the base of Medeu. I advise you to go all the way to Panorama - the view that opens up there is magnificent.

3 - Kok Zhalauy (Кок Жайляу), Three Brothers Peak (Три Брата) and Kumbel (Кумбель)

This is a three-stage itinerary, depending on your physical condition. Kok Zhalauy is at an altitude of 1,450 m, the Three Brothers are at 2,871, then Kumbel Peak at 3,230 m. This hike is also very good in winter.

Note: Here I did the top 3 hikes for the average sports tourist. Itineraries not recommended for those who never hike, but also not too complicated for the average tourist. If you are interested in more extreme routes or if you are a confirmed mountaineer, do not hesitate to contact me on Instagram @kre_tina or WhatsApp, I will recommend itineraries and guides.