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