Private tours in Almaty and beyond

English-Speaking Guide
in Kazakhstan

About Me

Hi, I'm Malika — a certified private English-speaking guide and tour organizer based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
I've been guiding since 2024, and this year I took the leap — left my office job and committed to this work full time.
I speak English, Kazakh and Russian, and I lead personalised tours across Kazakhstan — from Charyn Canyon and Kolsay Lakes to Altyn-Emel and Almaty city tours.
I don't just show you places — I bring them to life with stories, history and genuine passion.
One day or many. City or wilderness. I take care of every detail.
Kazakhstan is one of the world's last undiscovered gems. Let me show you why 😊

Tours

Choose your adventure — from a day in the city to multi-day journeys through canyons, mountains and lakes

Almaty City & Shymbulak Tour

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Metro ride — two stations
Entrance to Museum of Musical Instruments

What's Excluded

Cable car tickets at Shymbulak (paid separately on arrival)
Meals and beverages
Personal expenses

Itinerary

09:00 — Pickup from your hotel
09:30 — Drive to Medeu cable car station
10:00 — Cable car to Shymbulak and Talgar Pass 3,200 m — panoramic mountain views
11:30 — Descend, drive into the city
12:15 — Lunch break (own expense) — café options available in the city centre
13:00 — Panfilov Park — Eternal Flame and 28 Guardsmen Memorial
13:30 — Zenkov Cathedral — wooden architecture, built without a single nail
14:00 — Museum of Musical Instruments
14:45 — Green Bazaar — spices, dried fruits, local sweets
15:30 — Rakhat Chocolate Shop
16:00 — Zhibek Zholy pedestrian street
16:30 — Almaty Metro — ride between two stations
17:00 — Academy of Sciences / Hotel Kazakhstan
17:30 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟢 Easy — suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Mostly flat walking with one cable car ride
What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Warm jacket or layer — it can be +5°C at Talgar Pass even in summer
Sunscreen and sunglasses

Good to Know

Green Bazaar is closed on Mondays
Cable car at Shymbulak may be under maintenance in May — confirm in advance
Medeu skating rink is currently under reconstruction until end of 2027

7-8 hours
From $260 per group · up to 4 guests

Alma-Arasan Gorge, Falcon Show & Big Almaty Lake

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Special vehicle transfer to Big Almaty Lake

What's Excluded

Falcon show tickets (paid separately on arrival ~5200 KZT per person)
Meals and beverages
Personal expenses

Itinerary

09:00 — Pickup from your hotel
Alma-Arasan Gorge — walk along the Prokhodnaya River to the "Maiden's Tears" waterfall, fresh mountain air and Tian Shan peaks all around
11:30 — Drive to Sunkar Falcon Centre
12:00 — Lunch break (own expense) near the centre
13:30 — Arrive at Sunkar — explore the sanctuary, meet the birds up close
16:00 — Falcon Show — golden eagle, saker falcon and white-tailed eagle in action
17:00 — Transfer to Big Almaty Lake
17:30 — Big Almaty Lake at 2,511 m — walk, photos, mountain views
18:30 — Drive back to Almaty
19:30 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟢 Easy — gentle walks, suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Light jacket — mountain air is cooler than the city
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Passport or ID — required at Big Almaty Lake (border zone)

Good to Know

Falcon show runs Wednesday to Sunday at 16:00 only
Tour available Wednesday to Sunday only
Personal vehicles not permitted on the road to Big Almaty Lake since 2020 — special transfer included
Pickup from any address in Almaty

8-9 hours
From $390 per group · up to 4 guests

Gunny Ethno Village & Big Almaty Lake

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Full cultural program at Gunny Ethno Village
Welcome ceremony
Masterclass — traditional Kazakh bread baking
Archery masterclass
Horse show and riding
Lunch buffet — beshbarmak, plov, manty and traditional drinks
Special vehicle transfer to Big Almaty Lake

What's Excluded

Personal expenses
Optional activities not listed above

Itinerary

09:30 — Pickup from your hotel
10:00 — Drive to Gunny Ethno Village
11:00 — Arrive at Gunny Ethno Village
11:05 — Welcome ceremony — traditional Kazakh bread and drink
11:20 — Horse show — Kazakh equestrian games and acrobatics
12:00 — Archery masterclass
12:30 — Bread baking masterclass
13:00 — Lunch buffet
14:30 — Drive to Big Almaty Lake
15:15 — Special vehicle transfer up to the lake
15:30 — Big Almaty Lake at 2,511 m — walk, photos, mountain views
17:00 — Drive back to Almaty
18:00 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟢 Easy — flat terrain at Gunny, short walk at the lake. Suitable for all ages including children

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes
Light jacket — lake is cooler than the city
Passport or ID — required at Big Almaty Lake (border zone)

Good to Know

Gunny Ethno Village is located 35 km from Almaty near Talgar
Road to Big Almaty Lake closed to private vehicles since 2020 — special transfer included
Perfect for families with children
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $580 per group · up to 4 guests · 8-9 hours

Tanbaly Petroglyphs Day Trip

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Entrance tickets to Tanbaly Reserve
Vehicle entry fee to the reserve
Guided tour inside the reserve

What's Excluded

Meals and beverages
Personal expenses

Itinerary

09:00 — Pickup from your hotel
09:30 — Depart Almaty toward Tanbaly
11:30 — Arrive at Tanbaly Reserve — brief introduction at the Visitor Centre
12:00 — Guided walk through the petroglyphs — Bronze Age carvings, ancient sanctuaries, sun-headed deities and hunting scenes
14:00 — Free time to explore and photograph
14:30 — Depart back to Almaty
16:30 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟡 Moderate — walking on uneven rocky terrain. Comfortable shoes essential.
What to Bring

Comfortable closed shoes — rocky uneven path
Hat and sunscreen — open terrain, almost no shade
Water — at least 1.5 litres per person
Light jacket — wind is common in the gorge

Good to Know

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004
Over 5,000 rock carvings dating from Bronze Age to Medieval period
Located 170 km northwest of Almaty — approximately 2 hours drive each way
Best visited in the morning before midday heat
Strong winds common — bring a light layer
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $360 per group· up to 4 guests · 7 hours

Charyn Canyon Day Trip

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
Entrance fee to Charyn National Park
UAZ jeep transfers inside the canyon (both ways)

What's Excluded

Meals and beverages
Personal expenses

Itinerary

07:30 — Pickup from your hotel
08:00 — Depart Almaty toward Charyn Canyon
10:30 — Arrive at Charyn — brief overview from the canyon rim
10:45 — Descend into the Valley of Castles — walk 2 km along the canyon floor or (UAZ jeep transfer available for those who prefer not to walk — included)
12:30 — Lunch break by the Charyn River (own expense) — café available at the bottom
13:30 — Transfer to Black Canyon
14:30 — Transfer to Moon Canyon — pale yellow lunar landscape
15:30 — Upper rim trail — panoramic views over all three canyons
16:30 — Depart back to Almaty
19:00 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟡 Moderate — descent and ascent into the canyon, walking on uneven rocky terrain. Total walking approximately 5-6 km.
What to Bring

Comfortable closed walking shoes — rocky uneven path
Hat and sunscreen — almost no shade inside the canyon
Water — at least 2 litres per person
Light snack — long day with no restaurants inside the canyon
Light jacket for the evening drive back

Good to Know

Canyon is 12 million years old — one of the geological wonders of Central Asia
Three canyons in one day — Valley of Castles, Black Canyon and Moon Canyon
Valley of Castles walls reach up to 300 metres high
Almost no shade inside — start early to avoid midday heat
Private vehicles not permitted inside the canyon — UAZ jeep transfers included
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $380 per group · up to 4 guests · 10-11 hours

Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes Day Trip

What's Included

Private transportation throughout
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
UAZ jeep transfer to Kaindy Lake
Entrance fees to Kolsay Lakes and Kaindy Lake
Lunch in Saty village

What's Excluded

Dinner and beverages
Personal expenses

Itinerary

07:30 — Pickup from your hotel
08:00 — Depart Almaty toward Saty village
11:00 — Arrive at Kolsay Lakes — walk along Kolsay-1 forest trail, lakeside views or
13:00 — Lunch in Saty village — home cooked meal
14:00 — UAZ jeep transfer toward Kaindy Lake
14:30 — Walk 1.5 km through spruce forest to Kaindy Lake or (UAZ jeep transfer available for those who prefer not to walk — included)
15:00 — Kaindy Lake — the sunken forest, turquoise water, photo time
16:00 — UAZ jeep back to Saty
16:30 — Depart back to Almaty
19:30 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟡 Moderate — forest trails and some uneven paths. Walk to Kaindy is 1.5 km each way through the forest.
What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes or light trekking shoes
Warm layer — mountain air is cool even in summer
Insect repellent — ticks active in May and June
Water and snacks for the road

Good to Know

Early start essential — long drive of approximately 3 hours each way
Kaindy Lake water temperature is +4°C
No mobile signal at Kaindy Lake
Road to Kaindy requires UAZ jeep — included in the price
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $480 per group · up to 4 guests · 1 day · lunch in Saty village included

Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes

What's Included

Private transportation throughout (2 days)
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
UAZ jeep transfers inside Charyn Canyon (both ways)
UAZ jeep transfer to Kaindy Lake
Entrance fees to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes and Kaindy Lake
Overnight accommodation in Saty village
Meals in Saty village

What's Excluded

Personal expenses

Itinerary
Day 1 — Charyn Canyon

07:30 — Pickup from your hotel
08:00 — Depart Almaty toward Charyn Canyon
10:30 — Arrive at Charyn — overview from the canyon rim
10:45 — Descend into the Valley of Castles — walk 2 km along the canyon floor or UAZ jeep transfer
12:30 — Lunch break by the Charyn River (own expense) — café available at the bottom
13:30 — Transfer to Black Canyon
14:30 — Moon Canyon — pale yellow lunar landscape
15:30 — Upper rim trail — panoramic views over all three canyons
16:30 — Drive to Saty village
18:30 — Check in to guesthouse — dinner

Day 2 — Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes

08:00 — Breakfast included
08:30 — Drive to Kolsay Lakes
09:00 — Kolsay-1 — forest trail, lakeside views
11:00 — Drive back to Saty village
12:00 — Lunch in Saty village — home cooked meal included
13:00 — UAZ jeep transfer toward Kaindy Lake
13:30 — Walk 1.5 km through spruce forest to Kaindy Lake (UAZ jeep available for those who prefer not to walk — included)
14:00 — Kaindy Lake — the sunken forest, turquoise water, photo time
15:30 — UAZ jeep back to Saty
16:00 — Depart back to Almaty
19:00 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟡 Moderate — canyon descent and ascent on Day 1, forest trails on Day 2. Total walking approximately 6-8 km over two days.
What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes or light trekking shoes
Warm layers — Saty village can be cool at night
Sunscreen and hat — almost no shade in Charyn Canyon
Insect repellent — ticks active in May and June
Water — at least 2 litres per person per day
Cash for meals not included

Good to Know

Drive from Almaty to Charyn approximately 2.5 hours
Private vehicles not permitted inside Charyn Canyon and Kaindy — UAZ jeep included
Walk to Kaindy is 1.5 km — UAZ jeep available for those who prefer not to walk, included
Kaindy Lake water temperature +4°C
No mobile signal at Kaindy Lake
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $920 per group · up to 4 guests · 2 days · overnight stay and lunch in Saty village included

Altyn-Emel National Park

What's Included

Private transportation throughout (2 days)
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
4WD jeep transfers inside the park (both days)
Entrance fee to Altyn-Emel National Park
Overnight accommodation in Basshi village
Meals in Basshi village

What's Excluded

Personal expenses

Itinerary
Day 1 — Aktau & Katutau Mountains

08:00 — Pickup from your hotel
08:30 — Depart Almaty toward Altyn-Emel National Park
12:00 — Arrive at Basshi village — park entry, permits
12:30 — Lunch in Basshi village — home cooked meal
13:30 — 4WD jeep transfer to Aktau Mountains
14:00 — Aktau Mountains — ancient ocean-floor cliffs painted in white, blue, red and yellow
15:30 — Katutau Mountains — volcanic lava sculptures 250 million years old
16:45 — Return to Basshi before park closing time
17:00 — Check in to guesthouse — dinner

Day 2 — Singing Dune

08:00 — Breakfast
09:00 — 4WD jeep transfer to the Singing Dune
09:30 — Singing Dune — climb the 3 km wall of sand, listen to it hum
11:30 — Lunch in Basshi village
12:30 — Depart back to Almaty
16:30 — Drop off at your hotel

Difficulty Level 🟡 Moderate — walking on uneven rocky terrain at Aktau and Katutau, sand climbing at the Singing Dune. Total walking approximately 5-7 km over two days.
What to Bring

Comfortable closed walking shoes
Hat and sunscreen — almost no shade in the park
Water — at least 2 litres per person per day
Warm layer for the evening — Basshi can be cool at night
Cash for meals not included

Good to Know

Altyn-Emel is Kazakhstan's largest national park — 520,000 hectares
Park closes at 17:00 — early start on Day 1 essential
Wild kulans, dzheiran gazelles and Przewalski's horses roam freely — keep eyes open on the road
The Singing Dune produces a deep resonant sound when wind moves the dry sand — best heard in dry weather
Drive from Almaty approximately 3.5 hours
Pickup from any address in Almaty

From $1,200 per group · up to 4 guests · 2 days · overnight in Basshi and lunch included

Custom Tour — Built Around You

Don't see exactly what you're looking for? Tell me what you'd love to experience — canyons, lakes, mountains, culture, history or all of it — and I'll design a tour around your interests, pace and schedule. I take care of every detail: transport, accommodation, bookings and entrance tickets. You just enjoy the journey with a guide by your side

Price on request · any duration · fully personalised

Airport Transfer

I'll arrange a comfortable transfer from Almaty Airport to your hotel or apartment. The driver will meet you with a name sign and take care of the ride — the easiest way to start your trip after a long flight

Arrange via WhatsApp

Reviews

My greatest goal is to make people happy and help them fall in love with my homeland. Come and see — it's worth every moment

Huge thanks to our incredible guide Malika for making this adventure so unforgettable! She took care of all the details and completely smashed it! Traveling with a little one can be tricky — we really appreciated how flexible and understanding Malika was. That kind of care and adaptability made a huge difference

Avinash & family, India 🇮🇳

Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes
Malika exceeded all our expectations. She was punctual, knowledgeable, professional, and made communication effortless. Beyond being an excellent guide, she helped with restaurant orders, dietary requirements, hotel coordination, and countless other details that made our trip smooth and enjoyable

Priyanka & family, India 🇮🇳

Almaty City & Shymbulak Tour
Malika provided detailed explanations and helped ensure the tour went smoothly. She was attentive to our needs and the changing weather — she even noticed we love teas and recommended great local cafes and tea selections. It was a really enjoyable time, and we hope to join her tour again if we're back in Almaty!

Faizah & group, Malaysia 🇲🇾

Almaty City & Shymbulak Tour

Read all reviews on Google →

Get in Touch

Book a tour or transfer, choose a date and time that suits you, or just ask me anything. I'd be happy to help you plan your journey through Kazakhstan :)

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guidewithmalika@gmail.com

Feel free to message me with any questions about your trip to Almaty — I'd be happy to help!