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Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise mountain lake at 2,500 metres, an hour’s drive from the city.
Photos and videos
How to get there from the apartment
- Apartment
- taxi1 h
- Big Almaty Lake
Total travel time: 1 h
Times do not include traffic or waiting for transport.
Open the route in a navigation app
Useful information
- The lake is inside Ile-Alatau National Park. An eco fee is charged at the checkpoint: about 650 ₸ per pedestrian in 2026 (free for under-18s and pensioners). You can pay at the checkpoint, including by Kaspi QR. Bring your ID or passport.
- Private cars are not allowed up to the lake. A taxi can take you to the lower checkpoint at the GES-2 junction; from there it is a long uphill walk: about 15 km along the road (4–6 hours up) or about 10 km on a steep path along the water pipe. Take the path only in dry weather, and never walk on the pipe itself.
- Swimming and fishing are forbidden: the lake supplies the city’s drinking water. Bring water, snacks and warm clothes, as it is cold up there even in summer.