The 7 Best Issyk Lake Tours from Almaty

1.Esik Lake and Turgen Waterfall Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 203 reviews · 10 hours · from $28Our pick

Join a 10-hour group trip from Almaty to Turgen Waterfall and Issyk Lake. You will hike about 1.3 km to the falls, stop at a trout farm for optional lunch, and spend up to two hours by the lake. Guides such as Sayana, Aigerim, and Altynai have been praised for friendly help and clear explanations, but transport and restaurant quality can vary.

“it was great!! , Guide Sayana was fabulous, she explained the location very well. we were vegetarians she even helped us with food everywhere”

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2.Lake Issyk with Turgen Waterfall Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 127 reviews · 9 hours · from $32

Travel from Almaty by air-conditioned minibus to Bear Waterfall in Turgen Gorge, then stop for an à la carte lunch before visiting turquoise Lake Issyk at 1,756 meters. Guides such as Aika, Amal, Shakh, and Zhenis add local stories and practical help. Expect a full day, a rocky walk, and no custom hotel pickup.

“The tour trip was amazing, and the guide really kind and helpful, we even had some snow near the lake, thank you again for this beautiful day :)”

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3.Lake Issyk with Turgen (Bear) Waterfall tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · from $32Top rated

Spend 9 to 10 hours beyond Almaty, combining a short mountain hike to Turgen’s Bear Waterfall with two hours beside Lake Issyk. You’ll ride in an air-conditioned minibus, receive water and park admission, and eat lunch at a local café at your own cost. Guides such as Aza, Medina, and Azamat have led this route.

“An awesome day trip to a very beautiful lake. The lake is emerald in colour like in the pictures and it’s very quiet with not many tourists around. A true hidden gem! My tour guide Azamat speaks excellent English and explains things in great detail. He got us water and chocolate too, very hospitable.”

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4.Issyk lake half – day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $134

Travel privately from Almaty to Issyk Lake in an air-conditioned vehicle, then spend about an hour or more by the alpine water and riverside. You can adjust the outing for your group, add Tourgen Waterfall or the Museum of a Golden Man, and arrange a picnic for an extra charge. Pickup is included.

“Excellent service! They picked us up punctually and provided a comfortable ride to this stunning venue. The location is absolutely breathtaking - a peaceful paradise surrounded by beautiful green waters. This trip exceeded all expectations Read more”

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5.Issyk Lake, Bear Waterfall & Trout Farm Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 7 reviews · 1 day · from $32

Leave Almaty at 7:30 AM for a full mountain day with a guide in Kazakh, Russian, or English. Walk around turquoise Issyk Lake, hike to Bear Waterfall near Turgen, and visit a trout farm with optional food at your own cost. Driver Madi has earned praise for safe, friendly service, but confirm your guide speaks your language.

“Anularon una hora antes la excursión, me dieron opción de otro día y ese día la volvieron a anular. Una tomadora de pelo. Nunca mas con esta compañía.”

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6.Issyk Lake – shining pearl of Almaty surroundings + Golden Man museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $117

Leave Almaty for a private six-hour outing to Issyk Lake and the Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum. Your guide, such as Nursultan or Ruslan, provides local context in English, with time for a walk, picnic, or boat ride. A trout farm cafe offers lunch at extra cost.

“It was a great trip and highly recommended . Our tour guide Mr. Nursultan was very helpful and informative and has shared us a lot of information and insight about all the places we went and also regarding the local culture and practices. He helped us to make the trip more intresting. Overall it was a very good journey.”

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7.1 Day Express Tour: Issyk Lake, Assy Plateau & Turgen Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $257

This private 10 to 12 hour trip from Almaty takes you to Issyk Lake, the high Assy Plateau, and Turgen Gorge. You’ll see alpine scenery, open pasture, forests, waterfalls, and village life. Guides such as Boris and Chingiz have adapted routes around snow and road closures. Pickup and group discounts are available.

“The tour was good however it is not explained properly. It is a private tour and there is decent amount of walking involved about 5km. 2.5km is trek to the waterfall and 2 km walk to the lake. Therefore, I would advise to wear proper shoRead more”

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