Almaty sights

The most famous attraction of the city is Medeu, a large-scale recreation area, located 15 km from the city center. It was built for the 2011 Asian Winter Games and boasts a wide variety of recreational facilities, including an Olympic-sized ice rink and ski slopes.

Another place you won't miss in Almaty is Chimbulak ski resort, which is about an hour drive from the city center. There are 7 ski elevators, which take skiers to a height of 1260 meters above sea level. The resort offers luxurious hotel rooms, as well as traditional Kazakh yurts (tepees).

Lake Kaindy

Another local attraction is Lake Kaindy, which is located among the magnificent pine forests at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level and is famous for its. It was formed by a powerful earthquake, which caused a landslide, creating a natural dam that blocked the water flow. The water in the lake freezes over, so the submerged trees are perfectly preserved and clearly visible through the clear surface of the water, and dry spruce stems are facing the surface of the water. It is impossible to describe in words, you have to see it with your own eyes.

The trees reflect off the surface of the lake as if they were underwater

Charyn Canyon

This is a unique natural complex of global proportions. It was formed during the Paleogene and reminds one of the Grand Canyon of Colorado in North America, though it is smaller in size. The ground is amazing: Here you can walk around surrounded by impressive towers of sedimentary rock. The valley as a whole is about 2 kilometers long and can be hiked down to a depth of about 80 meters, admiring along the way this incredible architecture that nature has created over millions of years. The idea of walking around where the bottom of the lake once stood makes you speechless! Of all the experiences of traveling in Kazakhstan, this is probably the most spectacular and will stay in your memory for a long time. At the bottom of the canyon, the walk ends in a cool oasis on the banks of the frozen Charyn River, where there is also an eco-park with several yurts (traditional houses) and a small café where you can relax after a long walk.

Charyn Canyon National Park in Kazakhstan

Kok Tobe

Kok Tobe Hill is the highest point of Almaty. It offers a truly breathtaking almost 360 degree view of the city, especially at sunset. The best way to get to the top is to use the comfortable cable car from where you can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains, gardens and historic houses. On top of the hill is an entertainment center with bars, restaurants, kiosks, toy trains, a Ferris wheel and even a monument to the Beatles! It is a perfect place for a few hours of rest at the end of the day or to admire the evening lights of the city.

Fabulous view of Almaty from the Kok-Tobe hill

Almaty also has several museums of interest to tourists, including the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan and the Almaty History Museum. They hold valuable exhibits relating to the history of Kazakhstan from ancient times to the present day. The Central State Museum of Kazakhstan houses more than 70,000 exhibits, including archaeological finds, numismatic objects, artwork, documents, photographs and other materials. A large number of rare objects are represented in the numismatic collection of the museum.

Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, located in Almaty

The modern face of Almaty can be seen in its many parks that are scattered throughout the city, streets with numerous stores and cafes. Almaty is a fast-growing megalopolis, one of the 600 most developed cities in the world, which accounts for 2/3 of the world's economy.