Assy Plateau tour from Almaty at a glance
- Countries
- Length
- 2 days / 1 night
- Group size
- Private tour, up to 6 travellers
- Season
- Summer only
- Style
- Hiking & off-road
- Price
- from $364 per person (4–6 travellers)
Turgen Gorge hike and Assy Plateau, day by day
Day 1
Almaty – Turgen Gorge – Kairak waterfall – our glamping camp
We pick you up in Almaty early in the morning and drive about 80 km east, past Issyk village and the Turgen trout farm, with a short stop at the national park gate. The asphalt ends at the Batan forestry, and the hike starts where the Kishi-Turgen meets the Turgen river. A former park road, whose main bridge was swept away by a mudflow, runs about 8 km up the valley with no big height gain and no steep or dangerous sections. It crosses 11 old bridges and passes Schrenk spruce, mossy meadows full of flowers, ash shrubs and wild Sievers apple trees, the ancestor of all cultivated apples. At the Kairak confluence we turn left and climb for about 20 minutes through spruce to Big Kairak waterfall, more than 55 m high (about 70 m in all), which never dries up. Allow 2.5–3 hours up, 30–40 minutes at the falls for photos and a snack, and about 2 hours back. From Batan we drive to our glamping camp on the riverbank for a late lunch, time in the hammocks among the trees, dinner and the night. Walking: about 5–6 hours, 16 km, 430 m up and down (1,700–2,130 m). Driving: about 2 hours, 80 km.
Meals: lunch, dinner
Day 2
Off-road day on the Assy Plateau – Almaty
After breakfast at camp a 4x4 takes the rough track up the gorge. At about 2,600 m the forest ends all at once and the green Assy highland valley opens up, at around 3,000 m. In summer this is pasture for goats, sheep and horses, with white yurts and shepherds working with Tazy hounds; we stop at a yurt for Kazakh tea with salted kurt. The plateau also holds ancient Saka (Scythian) ruins and burial mounds, Bronze Age rock carvings and plenty of wildlife, and we call at the Assy space observatory. Lunch is a picnic with views of the snow peaks and glaciers of the Tien Shan. In the afternoon we drive back down to camp, pack up and return to Almaty. Walking: about 1 hour, 2.5 km. Driving: about 7 hours, 130 km, most of it off-road on the plateau.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Assy Plateau tour prices, season 2026
| Hotels | 1 traveller | 2 travellers | 3 travellers | 4–6 travellers | Single supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private tour | $891 | $559 | $423 | $364 | On request |
Prices are per person in USD for a private tour, by group size, sharing a tent. A tent of your own is on request.
More tours in this region
Combine this trip with another private Almaty route or a longer Silk Road journey through Central Asia.
3 Stans Discovery: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan
14 days / 13 nights
from $2643 per person (10–11 travellers, 3*)
What the trip includes
- Private tour with our English-speaking guide on both days, including the guided hike and excursions
- Pick-up and drop-off in Almaty and all transfers in the itinerary
- Off-road 4x4 day on the Assy Plateau
- 1 night at our glamping camp in Turgen Gorge, sharing a large furnished double tent with beds, mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags and linen; shared showers and toilets
- Meals: 2 lunches, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast, plus drinking water
- Entry fees and permits for Ile-Alatau National Park and the Assy reserve
- Group first-aid kit, radio for larger groups and inspected off-road vehicles
Not included
- International flights to and from Almaty
- Airport, railway and bus station transfers
- Hotels, meals and activities in Almaty before and after the trip
- Visa and migration fees or support
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Rental of clothing, footwear and gear
- Porters for luggage and backpacks
- Soft and alcoholic drinks and snacks
- The camp sauna (arranged on site)
- A tent of your own (single supplement on request)
Turgen waterfall and Assy Plateau: questions
How much does the Assy Plateau tour cost?
For the 2026 season it costs $364 per person for 4–6 travellers, $423 for 3, $559 for 2 and $891 for one traveller, in USD. The price assumes a shared tent; a tent of your own is on request.
Is the Turgen waterfall entrance fee included?
Yes. Entry fees and permits for Ile-Alatau National Park and the Assy reserve are included.
Can I visit the Assy Plateau in June?
Yes, the trip runs in summer only. In June ticks are active in the forest, so wear long trousers and bring repellent.
What is the Turgen Gorge weather like in summer?
Between 1,700 and 2,700 m days are usually +15 to +25 °C and nights +5 to +15 °C. On the plateau, above 2,700 m, days are about +10 to +20 °C and nights 0 to +10 °C. Bring a warm fleece, thermal layers, a wind and rain jacket, a hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen.
What is our glamping camp like?
Large, fully furnished double tents with beds, mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags and linen, with shared showers and toilets. Towels, toiletries and slippers are not provided, and there is no wi-fi or mobile signal. Breakfast and dinner are served at camp; special diets are possible if you ask in advance.
What luggage and money should I bring?
One duffel bag and one small backpack per person, because the trip uses off-road vehicles. Bring some cash in tenge for the plateau and the villages.