Trekking Almaty Circuit
“Little Circuit” trek is one of the classical trekking routes around Trans-Ili Alatau. You will definitely enjoy its scenery and moreover, you will reach the altitude of almost four thousand meters, although the trek of moderate level.
Country: Kazakhstan
Region: Tien-Shan, Trans-Ili Alatau
Type of activity: Trekking
Fitness level: physically fit
Minimum group size: 1 person
Duration: 4 days
Season: July through October
Itinerary: Almaty – Big Almaty lake (2511m) – Kyzylsai river gorge – Tourists pass (3930m) – Left Talgar river gorge – “Sunny meadow” (2800m) – KazPI meadow (2200 m) – Butakov pass (2800m) – Medeu Sports Complex (1700m)
Detailed program:
Day 1. Almaty – Big Almaty lake (2511m) – Camp by Kyzylsai river (2900m) 2-3 hrs.
Firstly, we make an early short trip to Big Almaty lake, surrounded by mountain peaks (2511m), and that would be a starting point of our trek. The trailhead lies along a dirt road along Ozernaya river till its confluence with Kyzylsai river. We set up our camp and stay there overnight, at the altitude of 2900m. Dinner.
Day 2. Tourists pass (3930m) – Left Talgar gorge – “Sunny meadow” (2800m) 6-7 hrs.
After having a breakfast, we hike along Kyzylsai river. Rocky peaks rising on the both sides of the gorge, and we can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of icy cap of Molodaya Gvardiya peak (4394m). The path leads us to Tourists pass at the altitude of 3930m, above the snow line. Then we descend from the pass along the edge of a glacier towards one of the most beautiful valleys of Trans-Ili Alatau – Left Talgar river valley. We set up our camp on the Sunny meadow (2800m). Dinner.
Day 3. Passage to KazPI meadow (2100m) 3-4 hrs.
After having a breakfast we continue our trek along Left Talgar river valley. Due to being far from the main touristic routes and busy tracks, this valley remains pristine. You may even meet some of the wild animals here. We set our camp at KazPI meadow. It was named KazPI meadow since in 1937 the students of the pedagogical institute used to camp there during the first ski trip around Trans-Ili Alatau. Dinner.
Day 4. KazPI meadow (2100m) – Butakov pass (2800m) – Kim-Asar river gorge – Medeu Sports Complex (1700m) – Almaty. 5-6 hrs.
Next day we set off from the campsite after having a breakfast and continue our trek. We hike up along the path towards Butakov pass (2800m). Our route lies between the forest and the alpine meadows. There is a great view of Almaty city up from the pass. Then we move along the north-eastern mountainside without gaining any altitude and reach zhailau (summer pasture) in the riverhead of Kim-Asar river. After that we go downhill along the right bank of the river till we get to Medeu Sports Complex (1700m). Transfer to Almaty.
Cost in 2020
Group size | Cost in USD per person |
2 | 422 |
3 | 304 |
4 | 245 |
5 | 209 |
6 | 186 |
7 | 169 |
8 | 156 |
Sgl | 12 |
The price includes:
• Almaty-Big Almaty lake-Medeu-Almaty transfer
• Guide services
• Accommodation in 2 per tent with sleeping mat
• Food items + gas
• Ecological fees
Price doesn’t include:
• Insurance certificate
• Services not mentioned in the program
• Sleeping mat
• Porter services
• Cook services
Additional services:
Porter service – 50$/per day/15kg
Rent of sleeping bag – 5$/per day
Having an insurance certificate is a condition of booking a holiday.
Recommended equipment:
• Backpack (60l or more)
• Waterproof cover for a backpack
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Telescopic trekking poles
• Insulated travel flask or water bottle
• Headlamp
• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen with high SPF
• Personal hygiene facilities
• Personal First Aid Kit
Clothing and footwear:
• Trekking boots
• Sandals (Crocs or similar)
• Waterproof light jacket
• Waterproof light overtrousers
• Warm jacket or down waistcoat
• Polartec Jacket 200
• Trekking trousers
• Poncho-coat
• Thermal underwear
• Fleece gloves (Polartec or similar) – 1 pair
• Thermal socks – 2-3 pairs
• Warm hat
• Sunhat or cap
“Little Circuit” trek is one of the classical trekking routes around Trans-Ili Alatau. You will definitely enjoy its scenery and moreover, you will reach the altitude of almost four thousand meters, although the trek of moderate level.
Country: Kazakhstan
Region: Tien-Shan, Trans-Ili Alatau
Type of activity: Trekking
Fitness level: physically fit
Minimum group size: 1 person
Duration: 4 days
Season: July through October
Itinerary: Almaty – Big Almaty lake (2511m) – Kyzylsai river gorge – Tourists pass (3930m) – Left Talgar river gorge – “Sunny meadow” (2800m) – KazPI meadow (2200 m) – Butakov pass (2800m) – Medeu Sports Complex (1700m)
Detailed program:
Day 1. Almaty – Big Almaty lake (2511m) – Camp by Kyzylsai river (2900m) 2-3 hrs.
Firstly, we make an early short trip to Big Almaty lake, surrounded by mountain peaks (2511m), and that would be a starting point of our trek. The trailhead lies along a dirt road along Ozernaya river till its confluence with Kyzylsai river. We set up our camp and stay there overnight, at the altitude of 2900m. Dinner.
Day 2. Tourists pass (3930m) – Left Talgar gorge – “Sunny meadow” (2800m) 6-7 hrs.
After having a breakfast, we hike along Kyzylsai river. Rocky peaks rising on the both sides of the gorge, and we can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of icy cap of Molodaya Gvardiya peak (4394m). The path leads us to Tourists pass at the altitude of 3930m, above the snow line. Then we descend from the pass along the edge of a glacier towards one of the most beautiful valleys of Trans-Ili Alatau – Left Talgar river valley. We set up our camp on the Sunny meadow (2800m). Dinner.
Day 3. Passage to KazPI meadow (2100m) 3-4 hrs.
After having a breakfast we continue our trek along Left Talgar river valley. Due to being far from the main touristic routes and busy tracks, this valley remains pristine. You may even meet some of the wild animals here. We set our camp at KazPI meadow. It was named KazPI meadow since in 1937 the students of the pedagogical institute used to camp there during the first ski trip around Trans-Ili Alatau. Dinner.
Day 4. KazPI meadow (2100m) – Butakov pass (2800m) – Kim-Asar river gorge – Medeu Sports Complex (1700m) – Almaty. 5-6 hrs.
Next day we set off from the campsite after having a breakfast and continue our trek. We hike up along the path towards Butakov pass (2800m). Our route lies between the forest and the alpine meadows. There is a great view of Almaty city up from the pass. Then we move along the north-eastern mountainside without gaining any altitude and reach zhailau (summer pasture) in the riverhead of Kim-Asar river. After that we go downhill along the right bank of the river till we get to Medeu Sports Complex (1700m). Transfer to Almaty.
Cost in 2020
Group size | Cost in USD per person |
2 | 422 |
3 | 304 |
4 | 245 |
5 | 209 |
6 | 186 |
7 | 169 |
8 | 156 |
Sgl | 12 |
The price includes:
• Almaty-Big Almaty lake-Medeu-Almaty transfer
• Guide services
• Accommodation in 2 per tent with sleeping mat
• Food items + gas
• Ecological fees
Price doesn’t include:
• Insurance certificate
• Services not mentioned in the program
• Sleeping mat
• Porter services
• Cook services
Additional services:
Porter service – 50$/per day/15kg
Rent of sleeping bag – 5$/per day
Having an insurance certificate is a condition of booking a holiday.
Recommended equipment:
• Backpack (60l or more)
• Waterproof cover for a backpack
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Telescopic trekking poles
• Insulated travel flask or water bottle
• Headlamp
• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen with high SPF
• Personal hygiene facilities
• Personal First Aid Kit
Clothing and footwear:
• Trekking boots
• Sandals (Crocs or similar)
• Waterproof light jacket
• Waterproof light overtrousers
• Warm jacket or down waistcoat
• Polartec Jacket 200
• Trekking trousers
• Poncho-coat
• Thermal underwear
• Fleece gloves (Polartec or similar) – 1 pair
• Thermal socks – 2-3 pairs
• Warm hat
• Sunhat or cap