Things to Do in Almaty: Places to Visit, Flights and Kazakhstan in Winter

The short answer: Almaty sits under the snow peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau, about 4–5 hours non-stop from Dubai on flydubai or Air Astana. In the city, the cable car up Kok-Tobe and the Medeu–Shymbulak run are the easy wins; further out, Big Almaty Lake (about 45 minutes), Charyn Canyon (around 3 hours) and the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes (5–6 hours, best as an overnight) are the sights people fly in for. Entry fees at the national parks are small – typically KZT 600–3,000 per person or per car – but the figures published online disagree with each other, so this guide flags that wherever it applies. Our National Day package covers the three biggest draws – Almaty, Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon – over 7 days and 6 nights from AED 3,899, departing 2 December 2026.

Most people searching for Almaty are either picking sights for a first trip or checking whether a specific place – Big Almaty Lake, Charyn, Kolsai – is realistic in the time they have. This guide covers both: twelve places worth the trip, grouped by how far they are from the city, with distances, fees and what each one needs in terms of time and season. For the visa and the practicalities of flying in, see the sections near the end.

Almaty at a glance

	Almaty from Dubai
Flight time	About 4–5 hours, non-stop on flydubai or Air Astana
Distance	Roughly 2,820 km
Visa	Depends on your passport, not your UAE residence – see our Kazakhstan visa guide
Best months	April–June and September–October for the mountains and canyons; December–March for skiing
Currency	Kazakhstani tenge (KZT); card machines are unreliable outside the city, so carry cash
Our package	7D/6N from AED 3,899 per person, departing 2 December 2026 (Almaty, Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon)

Where to go in Almaty: 12 places at a glance

Fee figures below come from tour operators and travel guides rather than a single official price list, and they often disagree by a factor of two or three. Treat them as a planning range, carry tenge in cash, and expect to pay the exact amount at the gate.

Place	From central Almaty	Entry fee (2026, approximate)	Time needed
Medeu & Shymbulak	15–20 km, 30–45 min	Free to Medeu; cable car and ski passes extra	Half a day
Big Almaty Lake	28 km, 45–90 min	Small eco-fee, roughly KZT 600–1,000	Half a day
Issyk Lake	About 70 km, 1.5–2 hours	Small eco-fee, roughly KZT 600–700	Half a day
Kok-Tobe	In the city	Park free; cable car roughly KZT 3,500–10,000 return	1–2 hours
Panfilov Park & Zenkov Cathedral	In the city	Free	30–45 min
Green Bazaar	In the city	Free to browse	About an hour
Almaty Arasan baths	In the city	Roughly KZT 2,500–3,200 per hour, per room	1.5–2 hours
Central State Museum	In the city	Roughly KZT 500	2–3 hours
Charyn Canyon	About 200 km, 3–3.5 hours	Roughly KZT 730–3,000, per person or per vehicle	Half a day
Kolsai & Kaindy lakes	About 300 km, 5–6 hours	Roughly KZT 700–1,000 per person, per park, plus a vehicle fee	Overnight recommended
Altyn-Emel & the Singing Dune	About 245–300 km, 4+ hours	Roughly KZT 700–1,800 per person per day, plus a vehicle fee	Full day or overnight
Tamgaly petroglyphs	About 170 km, 3.5–4 hours	Disputed – may be free with a guide required	Half a day including the drive

In the mountains above the city

These are the closest sights to Almaty, and the ones most trips do first, since they double as the ski access points in winter.

Medeu and Shymbulak

Medeu is a Soviet-era speed-skating rink set in a mountain bowl 15–20 km above the city, a 30–45 minute drive. From there, a three-stage cable car climbs to Shymbulak, Central Asia's largest ski resort, at around 3,200 m. A return ride up to Shymbulak costs roughly KZT 6,000–10,000 depending on season and which stages you ride, with a higher tariff reported around Christmas and New Year; a cheaper shuttle bus also runs to the top for about KZT 1,500–2,000. The ski season normally opens in early-to-mid December and runs into April or May. A full-day adult lift pass has recently run KZT 9,000–15,500, rising each of the last two seasons, so check shymbulak.kz before you travel. In summer the same cable car serves hikers; go early to avoid the crowds and the midday sun at altitude.

Big Almaty Lake

A turquoise glacial lake 28 km south of the city, inside Ile-Alatau National Park and a sensitive border zone. Reports disagree on road access: some say private cars have been barred from the final stretch since 2020, leaving a walk of several kilometres from a barrier; others describe a paved road most of the way to a viewing platform about 400 m from the water, a 45–90 minute drive depending on traffic. Either way, carry your passport, since border-zone checks happen, and budget a small Ile-Alatau eco-fee, reported at roughly KZT 600–1,000 per person. The lake supplies Almaty's drinking water, so swimming, fishing, camping and fires are all banned, and there are no food stalls on site – bring your own water and snacks. Confirm the current road status and fee with a local operator before you drive up, since the sources on this one genuinely conflict.

Issyk Lake

A quieter alternative to Big Almaty Lake, about 70 km east of the city via the town of Esik and a gorge drive, 1.5–2 hours each way. It sits in the same Ile-Alatau National Park, with a similar small eco-fee (around KZT 600–700 per person). Fewer tour buses stop here, which makes it a reasonable half-day trip if Big Almaty Lake's access rules put you off, though do not confuse it with Issyk-Kul, the much larger lake across the border in Kyrgyzstan.

In the city

These sit inside Almaty itself and can be strung together into one or two days on foot and by taxi.

Kok-Tobe

A hilltop park above the city centre, reached by a cable car from behind the Hyatt Regency, or by a cheaper shuttle bus (about KZT 1,500–2,000 one-way) for anyone who would rather not pay the cable car fare. The park itself is free; the cable car return fare has been reported anywhere from KZT 3,500 to 10,000, so check the current price at the lower station. At the top: a viewing terrace over the city and the mountains behind it, a small zoo, fairground rides and a Beatles statue. Go for sunset if the weather is clear, and allow an hour or two.

Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral

A central park with the eternal flame war memorial and, at its heart, the pale-yellow Zenkov (Ascension) Cathedral – a wooden Russian Orthodox cathedral built without nails, and one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. Both are free, and the cathedral is generally open daily from around 7am to early evening. Thirty to forty-five minutes covers it, more if you want to sit in the park.

Green Bazaar

Almaty's main covered market, on Zhibek Zholy, for dried fruit, honey, spices, horse-meat sausage and the city's best cheap lunch stalls. It is free to walk through, open roughly 9am to 7pm most days (several guides say it closes on Mondays, so check before a Monday visit). An hour is enough unless you are shopping properly.

Almaty Arasan baths

A large public bathhouse complex in the centre, built in Soviet times, with private rooms rented by the hour rather than the usual single shared hall. Reported prices run roughly KZT 2,500–3,200 per hour depending on the time of day, cheaper before mid-afternoon. Bring your own towel, soap and flip-flops, or rent a set at the door. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Central State Museum

The Republic of Kazakhstan's main history museum, with Scythian gold artefacts, yurts, and exhibits running from the Silk Road to independence. Entry has been reported at around KZT 500, with opening hours roughly 9am to 6pm. Allow 2–3 hours for a proper visit, or book a guide if you want more context than the labels give.

Day trips: canyons, lakes and desert dunes

These are the sights that make Almaty worth a flight on their own, and the ones where fee figures online are least reliable – confirm the current amount at the gate rather than from any article, including this one.

Charyn Canyon (Valley of Castles)

A red sandstone canyon about 200 km east of the city, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours by road on the Kuljin highway via Shelek. The Valley of Castles, its most-visited stretch, has eroded walls rising 150–300 m that do look like ruined fortresses, with a path down into the canyon floor. Gate fees are reported anywhere from about KZT 730 to KZT 3,000, sometimes charged per person and sometimes per vehicle depending on the source, plus a camping fee if you pitch a tent; bring cash, since card machines are not always working. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best months: summer midday heat inside the treeless canyon has been reported above 40°C with no shade on the descent, and winter brings ice on the same path along with highs that can sit below freezing. Half a day covers the main walk, including the drive.

Kolsai and Kaindy lakes

Two separate alpine sites reached via the same road, about 300 km east of Almaty and 5 to 6 hours' drive, mostly on a paved highway through the village of Saty. Kolsai's lower lake is a short walk from the car park; the second and third lakes need a longer hike or a horse. Kaindy, with its drowned forest of bare trunks rising from blue-green water, is a different park entrance, reached from Saty by a rough 12 km mountain track best left to a hired local UAZ 4x4 (drivers wait in the village). The two parks charge separately, each roughly KZT 700–1,000 per person per day plus a vehicle fee, cash only at both gates. Given the distance, treat this as an overnight in Saty rather than a day trip from Almaty – the road alone is 10–12 hours round trip.

Altyn-Emel and the Singing Dune

A desert and steppe national park east of Almaty, best known for the Singing Dune, a 3 km ridge of sand reported to hum in dry, windy conditions. The usual Basshi entrance gate is about 245 km away, roughly 4 hours' drive, though other routes and reference points put the distance anywhere up to 300 km, so confirm your operator's route before you commit a day to it. From the gate, a 4x4 crosses the Ili river plain to reach the dune. Entry has been reported at roughly KZT 700–1,800 per person per day plus a separate vehicle fee, and some guides mention a mandatory ranger escort, around KZT 7,000–10,000 per vehicle, if you are not travelling with an accredited tour operator. This is a full day at minimum; most operators run it as an overnight with Kolsai or Charyn.

Tamgaly petroglyphs

A UNESCO World Heritage archaeological reserve about 170 km northwest of Almaty, 3.5 to 4 hours by road, mostly on the Bishkek highway with a rough final stretch. Thousands of Bronze Age rock engravings cover the gorge walls here – not to be confused with Tamgaly-Tas, a different and closer site with later Buddhist carvings on the Ili River. Sources disagree on whether admission is free or ticketed, but several say a guide is required to walk the site properly. This is one for a second Almaty trip rather than a first: allow half a day including the drive, and book through a local operator who can confirm the current entry arrangement.

Almaty in winter

If you are travelling on our 2 December 2026 National Day departure, or any other winter date, Almaty is a genuinely different trip. Snow typically settles on the city by December and stays until around mid-March; December averages sit around -5 to -6°C, and January, usually the coldest month, a little lower. Shymbulak's ski season is normally running by the time you land, which makes the city one of the few on this list where December is the better half of the year, not the worse one.

Plan around the season rather than against it. Medeu and Shymbulak, Kok-Tobe, Panfilov Park and the cathedral, the Green Bazaar, the Arasan baths and the Central State Museum all work fine in winter and some are more atmospheric for it. Big Almaty Lake and Issyk Lake are usually still reachable, though the roads can ice. Charyn Canyon's descent path gets slippery and operators run fewer tours out there in winter; Kolsai, Kaindy, Altyn-Emel and Tamgaly are long drives on mountain or desert tracks that are harder going in snow and are best left for a spring or autumn return trip. Pack proper winter layers – a down jacket, hat and gloves – even if Dubai has you out of the habit.

Flights and visa basics from the UAE

flydubai and Air Astana both fly non-stop between Dubai and Almaty; schedules put the flight at roughly 4 hours 15 minutes to just under 5 hours depending on direction and season, so check the airline's own site for your dates rather than a fixed figure. Sharjah and Abu Dhabi do not currently have the same non-stop service, so most UAE residents outside Dubai connect through Dubai or fly via a hub.

Kazakhstan's entry rules follow your passport, not your UAE residence, and the categories are genuinely different by nationality – broadly, some passports (including Emirati) get 30 days visa-free, some get a shorter visa-free allowance, and others need an e-visa arranged in advance. Kazakhstan is also phasing in QazETA, an electronic travel authorisation, for visa-free travellers; it was not yet mandatory for every nationality when we checked, so confirm the current requirement before you fly. We cover the detail, passport by passport, in our Kazakhstan visa guide for UAE residents.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Almaty?

For a first trip: the Medeu–Shymbulak cable car, Big Almaty Lake, Kok-Tobe and Panfilov Park in the city, then Charyn Canyon as the day trip most people prioritise. With more time, add the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes as an overnight, and the Green Bazaar and Arasan baths for a half-day in the centre.

How do I get to Big Almaty Lake, and do I need a permit?

It is about 28 km south of the city, 45 to 90 minutes by road depending on current access rules, which sources describe differently – some say private cars are barred from the final stretch. Carry your passport, since the lake sits in a border zone, and budget a small Ile-Alatau National Park eco-fee at the gate. Confirm the current road status with a local operator before you go.

How far is Charyn Canyon from Almaty, and is it worth the drive?

About 200 km, 3 to 3.5 hours each way. Most visitors who make the trip rate the Valley of Castles section highly, but go in spring or autumn: the canyon floor is reported well above 40°C in summer with no shade, and icy underfoot in winter.

Can I visit the Kolsai Lakes as a day trip from Almaty?

Technically yes, but it is a long one: about 300 km and 5 to 6 hours each way, so 10 to 12 hours of driving alone. Most people stay a night in the village of Saty instead, which also makes the rough 12 km track to Kaindy Lake easier to fit in.

What is Almaty like in winter, and is it worth visiting for the UAE National Day holiday?

Cold and snowy – December averages around -5 to -6°C – but this is when Shymbulak's ski season is running, which makes winter one of Almaty's better seasons rather than a reason to avoid it. The city sights all work in the cold; save Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy and Altyn-Emel for a return trip when the mountain and desert roads are easier going.

How many days do I need in Almaty?

Three to four days covers the city and one or two day trips (Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon, say). Add two more days, and a night in Saty, if you want to reach the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes as well.

Plan your Almaty trip with Holidayys

Our National Day package runs 7 days and 6 nights from AED 3,899 per person, departing 2 December 2026, and covers Almaty, Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon – see UAE National Day packages for the current inclusions and dates. If you need help with the visa, or want us to check which category applies to your passport, see our Kazakhstan visa guide.

For a custom itinerary, a different length of trip, or to add the Kolsai Lakes as an overnight, message us on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001 or use our contact page.

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Last checked 9 October 2026 against flydubai's and Air Astana's route information, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa and QazETA guidance, Shymbulak's published tariffs, and multiple tour-operator and travel-guide pages for Ile-Alatau National Park (Big Almaty Lake, Issyk Lake), Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai-Kaindy and Altyn-Emel national parks and the Tamgaly reserve, since no single official fee schedule for these sites was available. Entry fees, road access and opening hours at Kazakhstan's national parks change and are reported inconsistently online; confirm the current amount and access rules with a local operator or at the gate before you travel.