How to Spend 24 hours in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty may no longer be Kazakhstan’s capital, but it remains the country’s cultural heart – and with the dramatic Tian Shan Mountains as its backdrop, it’s one of Central Asia’s most scenic cities. If you only have 24 hours in Almaty, you can still experience an incredible mix of nature, history and local life. From wandering through leafy Panfilov Park and browsing the colourful stalls of the Green Bazaar, to riding up Kok-Tobe Hill and escaping into the mountains at Medeu and Shymbulak, this one-day itinerary packs in the city’s highlights.

We were traveling to Kazakhstan as part of our 22-day 5 Stans Unveiled guided tour with Inspiring Vacations. IV briefly suspended tours in the central Asian region due to the instability and conflict in the area, but tours seem to be up and running again… yay!

Where is Almaty?

Located in the far southeast of Kazakhstan, Almaty lies at the foot of the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains, close to Kazakhstan’s border with Kyrgyzstan and not far from China.

Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and is probably the most well-known of all the Stans thanks to Borat! Actually, it was the only Stan that I had heard of when my friends started talking about booking a tour there. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were all unknowns to me. Ultimately, it was the Stan that we spent the least amount of time in. With just over 24 hours in Almaty, I feel that Kazakhstan is a country I need to return to and explore further.

Having said that, we squeezed a lot into those 24 hours! The adventure began as soon as we crossed the border.

Crossing the Border

Our border crossing into Kazakhstan from Kyrgyzstan would have to be the easiest and most picturesque of all the border crossings we did throughout our 5 Stans trip. The check point lay on a wide, flat, sealed road (easy to wheel suitcases across), with the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains surrounding us…. it is stunning.

Once we were through passport and border control, our Kazakhstan guide met us in our new bus. We waved goodbye to our Kyrgyzstan guide on the other side and excitedly listened to what our first destination was to be. While Borat quotes flew around thick and fast…. my first impression of Kazakhstan was that it was the most touristy of all the Stans we had visited, but that it really was ‘Very Niiice!’

The first thing we saw on the drive into Almaty, apart from the Tian Shan Mountains, was a herd of two-humped or Bactrian camels native to Central Asia, grazing by the side of the road.

Where to Stay in Almaty

The accommodation on our Inspiring Vacations tour was all organized by the tour company, but we liked our chosen hotel’s central location. The Grand Sapphire Hotel has lovely sapphire accents in the decor as the name would suggest, but what we loved the most was the dining and bar area. Kazakhstan was the last of our Stans, this hotel would be the place we would be saying our goodbyes, and a few farewell drinks were definitely in order! The bar/dining areas in the hotel were therefore quite important.

As we were enjoying each other’s company over a few beverages, the whole dining area transformed into a Shishka bar! Groups of locals playing backgammon, quietly talking and smoking shishka pipes turned the whole place into some sort of Central Asian speakeasy – smokey, dark and moody. I’ve never seen anything like it!

We were by far the rowdiest group in the place!

Things to See On the Way into Almaty

One of the big-ticket, must-see items on an Almaty itinerary can be ticked off on the way into the city. Charyn Canyon is located about 200km east of Almaty, in Southeastern Kazakhstan.

There are a series of canyons that make up the Charyn Canyon system.

We stopped at one of these canyons along the Charyn River, east of Charyn Canyon for our first taste of this stunning landscape. I believe it was Moon Canyon, but there are several others including the Black Canyon and Yellow Canyon. While the canyon was stunning, it was disappointing to find local operators offering photo and video packages to tourists, claiming that we couldn’t access certain sections of the trail as it ‘belonged to them’. Even when they had no clients and the prime viewing area was empty, we were denied access to take a photo of the canyon, unless we booked one of their photo packages.

This left a sour taste in my mouth, and I knew then that Kazakhstan was more used to tourists than its neighbours. We pressed on to reach Charyn Canyon by mid-afternoon.

Charyn Canyon

Affectionately nicknamed the Grand Canyon’s little brother, this 50km stretch of dramatic red sandstone cliffs carved by wind and the waters of the Charyn river over thousands of years, is not to be missed!

Charyn Canyon itself, is a little more controlled without any rogue independent operators making up their own rules. It is a National Park and an entrance fee of around 730 KZT or $3USD is required.

Visitors can choose to walk several walking trails including along the canyon from above or follow the trail to the canyon floor to reach the Charyn River.

For those with mobility issues, or even those of us who have just had enough of walking, ‘taxi’ services are available, for an additional cost, to transport people down and back. It is a popular service, and people were booking their ride in advance. Be aware, even though you can ride to the Canyon floor you still need to be able to descend and ascend a decent set of stairs at get to the ‘taxis’.

If interested in a guided hike through the stunning Charyn Canyon, but don’t have access to a car, several operators offer day trips from Almaty.

Things to See and Do in Almaty

Although Charyn Canyon is outside the city of Almaty, you should make time to include it in your itinerary. The following attractions are easily accessible within the city centre.

Kok-Tobe Hill

Kok-Tobe Hill rises above the city of Almaty and is one of the best places to enjoy sweeping views of the city. Reached by a scenic cable car ride from the city centre, the hilltop is a popular leisure spot with walking paths, restaurants and souvenir stalls.

We posed for a photo with the Fab Four statue, which you’ll find along one of the walking trails. Not sure what the connection is between Kazakhstan and the Beatles, but the sculpture was unveiled in 2007 and is one of the few monuments in the world depicting all four of the Beatles together. Maybe it is a homage to their popular song. … ‘Back in the USSR’ from when Kazakhstan was under Soviet Rule?? 😁

Kok-Tobe Hill is also home to one of the world’s tallest TV towers, standing at 372 metres tall.

Shymbulak Mountain Resort

If you have read any of my other 5 Stans blog posts, you will know how much I wanted to see snow on this tour of Central Asia. We were lucky to experience a flurry in Kyrgyzstan, but it was here in Almaty that we finally got to frolic in some snow!

In winter, the Shymbulak Mountain Resort is Almaty’s premier alpine destination. Surrounded by dramatic snow-capped peaks, the resort is best known for its excellent skiing and snowboarding, with long scenic runs.

We were visiting in September, and it was perfectly in between seasons. No skiing yet, but there was snow thick on the ground and the air was crisp and clear. Taking the gondola up the mountain, my excitement grew as I saw the snow-blanketed slopes approaching. We alighted at Le Mont resort, with an altitude of 2,850 metres, and explored this luxury alpine destination.

It was perfect for a snowball fight, a little snow angel action and a warm beverage while taking in the stunning views. Everyone in our tour group knew that I was one happy camper now that I had my snow fix.

Medeu

Medeu or Medeo is the highest Olympic-size skating rink in the world, located about 1700 metres above sea level, in the mountains just outside Almaty. It has hosted numerous skating contests and has witnessed many speed-skating records being broken. In winter, visitors can watch the skaters doing their thing or in summer, the area is popular for walking and hiking.

The statue of the bears outside the rink got me a little excited about the possibility of seeing a bear during our visit, but alas, we did not. They do live in the area apparently, but are shy of humans, so if you are visiting in summer and plan on going for a hike in the area, best brush up on your bear avoidance tactics. 😬🐻

Panfilov Park

Located in the heart of the city, Panfilov Park is an important site of national remembrance. Visitors enter the park through an area displaying Soviet-era military vehicles, a reminder of the park’s connection to World War II.

Memorial of Glory

The park is named after the Soviet general Ivan Panfilov, who commanded a division which was largely made up of soldiers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In 1941, during the German advance into Moscow, Panfilov’s division played a key role in defending the capital. According to soviet sources, a group of 28 soldiers from his division heroically held off a number of German tanks, sacrificing their lives to slow the German advance. These soldiers became known as ‘Panfilov’s 28 Guardsmen’ and the Memorial of Glory inside the park, which also guards the eternal flame, was erected in their honour.

Zenkov Cathedral

Walking through the peaceful green space, past the Memorial of Glory, you will come across a beautiful Russian Orthodox church. The Zenkov Cathedral was built in 1907 entirely out of wood. It’s colourful, striking exterior is matched only by its ornate gilded interior. Zenkov Cathedral is one of the tallest wooden cathedrals in the world and it is truly beautiful.

After wandering around the park, as you are making your way back to the exit, you will notice a striking wooden building with a green roof, to the left of the entrance. This building is the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments or the Ykhlas Museum. It was built in 1908 and originally housed officers during the Russian imperial period. Even if you don’t go inside, the exterior of this gorgeous building is worth an inspection.

Green Market

Located near Panfilov Park, in the city centre is Almaty’s lively and colourful markets – Green Market or Green Bazaar. Inside the large market hall and surrounding stalls, vendors sell a wide range of fresh and dried produce. By this stage of the tour, we had visited many markets and bazaars (every city seemed to have one), so I wasn’t particularly curious about this one, but it is something to add to your itinerary.

I was more interested in the famous Kazakhstan chocolate that I had heard so much about. Think of it as the Lindt of Central Asia. Our guide took us to the Lotte Rakhat candy factory, right near the Green Market, where we filled our baskets with Kazakhstan chocolate. This makes the perfect gift to give to family back home if, like me, you have reached the end of the tour and completely forgotten to buy souvenirs for your loved ones at home!

The End of an Epic Central Asian Adventure!

As is often the case, heading to a relatively unknown destination, leaves the door wide open for you to be pleasantly surprised with no pre-conceived ideas about what you will be seeing and experiencing. I am a lover of history and on this guided tour, I learnt so much about the Silk Roads and what life was like for people in Central Asia during that time of great trade and discovery.

I would highly recommend Inspiring Vacations as a tour company. The whole trip was well organized, great accommodation and communication, comfortable buses with terrific guides.

Our farewell drinks at the Grand Sapphire Hotel, on our last night, were bittersweet. We were lucky to travel with the most wonderful group of people who I feel so privileged to now call my friends. Our last night was full of cheer, sharing funny memories and some terrible singing…. the perfect way to end our epic Central Asian adventure!

For now, Central Asia remains a lesser-known travel destination, but it won’t be for long. Lonely Planet has called it one of the emerging places to visit in 2026. The war in the middle East has made flights into the region a little trickier for now, but if you are thinking about traveling to the region, do it sooner rather than later, before everyone else discovers it!