Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 71 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience worth booking?
Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience is a 5-hour experience in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from $65 per person. It scores 80 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 71 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 80 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (71)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $65 per person
Big Almaty Lake sits at 2,500 meters above sea level — a turquoise alpine gem surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Tian-Shan mountains, just 30 minutes from Almaty. Choose your adventure: Group Hike — Trek 10 km one
What you get
- National parks entrance fees
- English speaking guide
- Hotel Pick-up and drop
- In-vehicle air conditioning
About this experience
Big Almaty Lake sits at 2,500 meters above sea level — a turquoise alpine gem surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Tian-Shan mountains, just 30 minutes from Almaty. Choose your adventure: Group Hike — Trek 10 km one way through alpine meadows and pine forests to reach the lake. Hiking sticks provided. Best for active travelers who love a real challenge. Hike + Falcon Show — Same epic 10 km hike, plus a traditional Kazakh falconry show on the way back. A perfect mix of nature and culture. Private Hike — The full 10 km trail with your personal guide, at your own pace. No strangers, total focus on your group. Car Tour — Drive directly to the lake and enjoy breathtaking views without the hike. Perfect for families or those with limited time. English-speaking guide included in all hiking options. Hotel pickup available. All national park entrance fees included.
What's included
Included
- National parks entrance fees
- English speaking guide
- Hotel Pick-up and drop
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Not included
- Lunch
- Snacks
What you'll see and do
Big Almaty Lake
Duration: 6-7 hours Difficulty: Moderate Distance: ~10 km round trip Elevation gain: Around 600–800 meters
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Hiking and Falcon Show
Falcon Show: 10 km one way hike to Big Almaty Lake plus a traditional Kazakh falconry show. Nature and culture in one epic day Pickup included
Big Almaty Lake tour by car
Big Almaty Lake tour by car: Drive to Big Almaty Lake at 2,500m. Breathtaking views, no hiking required. Pickup included
Private hiking to the Lake
Hiking to Big Almaty Lake: Full 10 km one way trail with your personal guide at your own pace. No strangers — just your group and the mountains. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Kazakhstan Very Nice
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 71 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Physical effort
8 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
4 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
71 verified traveler reviews for Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Wow! What a day!
A colleague and I booked this hike at the last minute. Despite our concerns about the last minute booking, the trip was well organized. Our guide, Leana, was fantastic! She contacted us the night before and the morning of our hike to ensure we were fully prepared. Leana was very personable and this made the experience that much better. She educated us on the lake, nearby mountains and Kazakh culture. She was very easy-going on the trail. And the hike was great! Challenging and a great workout, but the hike through the alpine forest and the views of Big Almaty Lake at the end of the hike were worth it! I would definitely recommend it!
via Tripadvisor
Guided hike review
John/Nuzhan was an excellent guide. Flawless English and good company. The hike to the lake is easy and not technical at all (there is even an option to walk the whole way on a concrete road), but with quite some meters of ascend it makes for a nice excercise. Overall a fun, active day trip just a short drive from Almaty.
via Viator
Highly recommended tour in Almaty!
John and Jandos showed a good teamwork in guiding us! Was a pretty rough start but they made the big group feel comfortable! Responsible, dedícated young men who show passion with what they do. Thank you for making my Almaty trip safe and full of adventure!
via Tripadvisor
Very nice lake with a wonderful guide
Our guide Aidyn was a very nice person and explained us many interesting facts about the lake and Kazakh culture and history. Moreover, he could manage a group with people hiking with very different pace guaranteeing the best experience for all of us. The lake is also very beautiful with several viewpoints with a wonderful landscape on the lake itself and the surrounding peaks. However, the logistics of the trip was not as great as the rest. Despite the car that brought us there was big and comfortable, when we came back we found out that the driver abandoned us there for a problem with his car and the agency could not send an other one. Even though the guide tried its best to help us, we waited for an hour and, in the end, we had to take a Yandex to come back to Almaty.
via Viator
Avoid this scam tour
Don't book with this company - they cancelled our hike 15 minutes before an early morning pickup, and said they would move us to a 1pm slot without hiking. They offered no discount for the shortened excursion, but we agreed in writing to join the 1pm group anyways. At 1:05pm, we began texting to see where the driver was. The company did not and has still not returned our texts, they just ghosted us. Disappointing because we wasted a day just waiting around for them. Their tour company name is Kazakhstan Very Nice. I suggest booking with a different company.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 10+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $65 to $90
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 25
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Kazakhstan Very Nice, who run 8 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 78.4 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Kazakhstan Very Nice runsWhy this scores 80
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Almaty.
How much does Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience cost?
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Prices start at $65 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Almaty usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Almaty is not rushed.
Is Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 80 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 71 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Almaty, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 10. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 5-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience?
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Around 25 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Almaty can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Almaty and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Big Almaty Lake Hike and Falcon Show Experience start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Almaty within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Almaty?
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On Outty we rank every Almaty experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small Group Tour, Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour, Small-Group Tour: Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Almaty?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Almaty?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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