Best Time to Visit Kazakhstan: Almaty and Astana Month by Month

The short answer: for Almaty and the mountains around it, the best time to visit is late April to early June or September to mid-October, when days run 18–28°C and the roads to Kolsai, Kaindy and Charyn Canyon are open. Astana is a different country climate-wise: January there averages around -14°C, against Almaty's milder 1°C by day and -8°C overnight. Winter (December to March) is for skiing at Shymbulak above Almaty, where the season typically runs from late November into April.

Month	Almaty avg. high / low (°C)	Precipitation	What's on
January	1 / -8	35mm	Coldest month; Shymbulak in full swing, busiest around New Year
February	3 / -6	43mm	Still cold; good ski conditions, fewer queues than January
March	10 / 0	72mm	Snow lingers on the peaks; Nauryz (21–23 March) brings yurts and music to the squares
April	18 / 7	112mm	Blossom in the city, wettest month; Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai road start reopening
May	23 / 12	99mm	Warm and green; tulips and steppe flowers; good hiking before the heat
June	28 / 16	59mm	Hot starts; Kolsai and Kaindy lakes season gets going
July	31 / 19	43mm	Hottest month; peak Gulf summer-holiday season
August	30 / 17	34mm	Hot and mostly dry; orchards around the city turning
September	25 / 12	28mm	Best all-round month; apple harvest, cooling evenings
October	17 / 5	50mm	Golden colour continues; first snow dusts the peaks
November	8 / -1	55mm	Cooling fast; Shymbulak's technical opening, first skiing
December	2 / -6	44mm	Cold, snow settles; Shymbulak and the National Day/winter-break season for Gulf visitors

Figures are 1991–2020 climate normals for Almaty, from Wikipedia's climate tables (sourced there to Pogoda.ru and NOAA). They are long-run averages, not a forecast, and Astana runs an entirely different band, below.

Astana is a different climate entirely

Don't plan Astana on Almaty's numbers. Kazakhstan's capital sits out on open steppe, about 1,100km of flat ground from Almaty (the distance our two-capitals tour's overnight sleeper covers, below), and its winters are among the coldest of any national capital. January averages around -14.5°C, with spells of -30°C to -35°C common from mid-December to early March, per Wikipedia's climate data for the city. Summer is milder and closer to Almaty's: July highs average around 27°C, with less shelter from the wind.

For most UAE travellers, Astana works better as an add-on to an Almaty trip than a winter destination: see it on the overnight train (below), or visit May to September, when the Baiterek tower, Khan Shatyr and the Nur Alem EXPO sphere are comfortable to walk between.

Winter (December–March): Shymbulak, Medeu and real cold

Shymbulak, in the Zailiysky Alatau range above the city (also called the Trans-Ili Alatau), is a gondola ride of under half an hour from the Medeu valley and climbs to about 3,200m at Talgar Pass, central Asia's biggest ski area. Recent seasons opened in the second half of November and ran fully from December into around April; shymbulak.com had not posted confirmed 2026-27 dates when we checked, so confirm there before booking flights around it.

Medeu, the valley below Shymbulak and once home to the world's highest-altitude speed-skating rink, is mid-way through a multi-year rebuild: Kazakh media reported the rink closed after the 2024-25 season, reconstruction targeted for completion around the end of 2027. If skating is the reason for your trip, check its status first; the valley still works as the first stage up to Shymbulak either way. And Astana's cold is a different order from Almaty's: pack for -30°C, not just -6 to -8°C.

Spring (April–May): blossom, Nauryz and the passes reopening

April and May are when Almaty is at its best to walk around: avenues and orchards blossom, the steppe greens up with wild tulips, and the heaviest rain of the year (112mm in April) comes with it, so pack a layer for showers.

Nauryz (Nauryz Meyramy), the Central Asian new year and spring festival, runs 21–23 March and is a public holiday: expect yurts in city squares, dombra music, horse games and kymyz (fermented mare's milk) on sale, rather than one ticketed event. It falls at the cold end of spring, so bring a coat.

By late April the mountain roads start to reopen: Charyn Canyon and the road toward the Kolsai lakes are the first reliably passable, though the approach to Kaindy can hold snow into May. Our guide to things to do in Almaty covers the fees, distances and road conditions for all of these.

Summer (June–August): Kolsai, Kaindy, Big Almaty Lake and the heat

Almaty is properly hot by June, July the hottest month at around 31°C by day (table above); this is also when UAE schools break, so it's Kazakhstan's busiest season for Gulf visitors. It's also the best window for three places that make a Kazakh summer trip:

• Kolsai Lakes, three lakes in spruce forest near the Kyrgyz border, usually seen via an overnight in the village of Saty.
• Kaindy Lake, the "sunken forest" lake nearby, drowned spruce trunks standing out of turquoise water.
• Big Almaty Lake, about 28km south of the city, inside Ile-Alatau National Park and a border zone. Access rules have shifted more than once recently: Kazakh reporting describes a temporary ban on vehicles, taxis included, over wildfire risk, plus restricted shoreline access since it is one of Almaty's drinking-water sources. Carry your passport and check the current access rule before you go; don't assume you can drive to the shore.

Hiking season in the foothills runs through summer too, though the city itself is hot enough by midday that most people start early and are back down before the afternoon heat.

Autumn (September–October): the best all-round month, and the apple harvest

This is the strongest case for a first visit. Days cool to a comfortable 17–25°C, nights are crisp rather than cold, and the orchards behind Almaty's old name (Alma-Ata, roughly "father of apples") are in harvest through these two months. Expect golden colour in the parks and foothills, noticeably fewer visitors at Kolsai and Charyn than in July and August, and the first dusting of snow on the peaks by late October, a preview of the ski season ahead.

When Gulf travellers go, and when it gets busy

• Summer school holidays (June–August): the busiest season, since it's also Kazakhstan's own peak domestic travel time. Book Kolsai, Kaindy and Almaty hotel rooms well ahead.
• UAE National Day (2–3 December 2026) and the winter break (14 December 2026–3 January 2027): this lines up with early ski season at Shymbulak, so expect a cold-weather trip rather than an outdoor-sightseeing one; see our UAE National Day holiday and UAE winter break guides for exact dates.
• Eid al-Adha, forecast around 15–16 May 2027 (moon-sighting dependent, not yet official): close to Almaty's best spring weather, a strong window if the date holds.

Outside those peaks, Almaty is noticeably quieter and hotel rates easier to find: late April to early June and September to mid-October give the good weather without the crowds.

Before you go: what to pack and know

• Layers, whatever the season. The mountains above Almaty run 10–15°C cooler than the city on the same day, so even a summer trip up to Kolsai or the Assy plateau wants a fleece and a windproof layer.
• Proper winter kit for Astana or the mountains. A Dubai winter coat is not enough for -14°C; pack thermals, a windproof layer, gloves and a warm hat.
• Cash in tenge. Park, lake and canyon fees are generally charged in Kazakhstani tenge (KZT) cash; card acceptance away from the main cities is patchy.
• Your passport, not a copy. Border-zone areas such as Big Almaty Lake, and parts of the Charyn and Kolsai routes, can involve document checks.
• Altitude. Shymbulak's top station and the Assy plateau sit above 2,500–3,200m; take the first day gently if you feel short of breath.

Flights from the UAE to Kazakhstan

Almaty is the easiest Kazakh city to reach, in around 4 to 5 hours nonstop:

• flydubai flies Dubai–Almaty and Dubai–Astana nonstop (about 4 hours 45 minutes on the Astana route).
• Air Astana flies Almaty–Dubai and Astana–Dubai too, after suspending Dubai services in July 2026; it restarted Almaty–Dubai on 1 October 2026 and Astana–Dubai a day later, building up frequency, though the schedule may still change.
• Air Arabia flies Sharjah–Almaty, and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flies Abu Dhabi–Almaty.
• Wizz Air no longer serves this market: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which once flew to Almaty, shut down all operations on 1 September 2025.

There is no reliable nonstop service from the UAE to Shymkent or Aktau. Fly into Almaty or Astana first, then take a short domestic hop; Air Astana runs frequent Almaty–Aktau flights, which is how most Gulf visitors reach Aktau for the Mangystau desert, below.

Visa: who needs one

Entry rules depend on your passport, not your UAE residence. UAE and Philippine holders get up to 30 days visa-free per visit; Indian and Iranian holders get 14 days; Turkish holders get up to 90 days. Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan holders need a single-entry e-visa (up to 30 days, via an invitation from a licensed Kazakh host). Kazakhstan is also rolling out QazETA, an electronic travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, moving from voluntary to mandatory at a date not yet confirmed. Our Kazakhstan visa for UAE residents guide has the full nationality list and fees.

Ways to see Kazakhstan from Dubai

Our short Almaty package covers the city, Kok-Tobe, Medeu and Shymbulak, and a morning at Big Almaty Lake, over 3 nights and 4 days: a good fit for the September–October window above. For longer trips, four private Kazakhstan tours are worth knowing:

• A 6-day Kazakhstan winter escape from Almaty, ski days split between Shymbulak and the gentler Tabagan resort (check the Medeu note above first).
• A 5-day Kazakh nomad experience, two nights in a yurt on the Assy plateau, a summer-season trip given the altitude.
• A 7-day two capitals tour, Almaty and Astana joined by the overnight Talgo sleeper instead of a flight.
• A 5-day Mangystau desert expedition from Aktau, chalk canyons and salt flats on the Caspian side, best outside the summer heat.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Kazakhstan from the UAE?

Late April to early June or September to mid-October, for the most comfortable Almaty weather (roughly 18–28°C) and open mountain routes to Kolsai and Charyn. Winter suits a ski trip to Shymbulak instead, and summer suits Kolsai, Kaindy and the Assy plateau despite the Almaty heat.

Is Kazakhstan cold in winter?

It depends which city. Almaty is cold but manageable, averaging around 1°C by day and -8°C overnight in January. Astana is far harder: around -14.5°C on average, with spells of -30°C to -35°C common from mid-December to early March.

Does it snow in Almaty, and when does the ski season start?

Yes. Snow usually settles by December, and Shymbulak's season has typically had a technical opening in late November, running fully from December into around April. Exact 2026-27 dates had not been posted when we checked, so confirm closer to travel.

Why is Astana so much colder than Almaty?

Astana sits out on open steppe with no mountains to shelter it, while Almaty is backed against the Zailiysky Alatau range, which moderates its winters. The two cities are about 1,100km apart and sit in effectively different climate zones.

When is Nauryz, and should I plan around it?

Nauryz, the spring new year festival, runs 21–23 March and is a public holiday, with yurts, music and food in city squares rather than one ticketed event. Worth timing a spring trip around if you want to see it, though the weather is still cool.

Is Big Almaty Lake open in winter?

The road is usually passable but can ice over, and access has been restricted to pedestrians at times over the past two years, for wildfire risk and because it is a drinking-water source in a border zone. Check the current access rule before you go, in any season.

Plan your Kazakhstan trip with Holidayys

We can put together an Almaty trip around whichever season suits you, book the flights and hotel alongside it, and talk you through the visa route for your passport before you commit to dates. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 4 589 0001 or use our contact page.

Related guides

• Things to do in Almaty: places to visit, flights and Kazakhstan in winter
• Kazakhstan visa for UAE residents
• Gudauri ski resort, Georgia: what to know before you go
• Ski holidays from Dubai: the nearest resorts compared
• Best places to visit in January from the UAE
• Best places to visit in December from the UAE

Last checked 4 November 2026 against Wikipedia's climate-normal tables for Almaty and Astana (1991–2020 data, via Pogoda.ru and NOAA), Tengrinews and Astana Times reporting on the Shymbulak season and the Medeu rink's reconstruction, Gulf News and Trend.az on flydubai, Air Astana and Air Arabia, and current UAE media forecasts for Eid al-Adha 2027. Shymbulak's exact opening date, Medeu's reopening date, Big Almaty Lake's access rule and the Eid date are not yet confirmed; prices and dates change, so check before you book.