Almaty by private car: transfers, day trips and drivers

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city and its most relaxed one: tree-lined avenues on a slope, the Zailiysky Alatau rising to 4,000 m straight behind the apartment blocks, good coffee, better restaurants and a city centre that is surprisingly walkable. You rarely need a car for the centre itself. You need one the moment you want the mountains, the canyons to the east or the road to Kyrgyzstan, because public transport to those places is either slow, seasonal or non-existent.

When to go

Mid-May to mid-June and September to early October are the sweet spots: warm days, cool nights, the gorges green or golden, and roads to the lakes open. July and August are hot in the city (often 35 °C) but perfect in the mountains. December to March is ski season, with Shymbulak usually running from early December into April. The canyons are possible in winter if you dress for −10 °C and short days.

Arriving

International flights land at Terminal 2 of Almaty airport. A private airport transfer costs from $40 per car to any hotel in the city, with a name sign, flight tracking and 90 minutes free waiting. If you are going straight to the slopes, the airport to Shymbulak transfer is from $70. To compare taxis, apps and buses honestly, read our Almaty airport guide.

A car and driver in the city

For a day of Kok-Tobe, the Medeu ice rink, the Green Bazaar, a winery or a string of meetings, book a private driver in Almaty from $160 for 8 hours. Executives and wedding parties use the chauffeur service with a Mercedes E- or V-Class. If you want commentary as well as transport, take a car with an English-speaking guide. The shortest mountain outing is the Medeu and Shymbulak half-day from $80.

Day trips from Almaty

• Charyn Canyon: 200 km east, the Valley of Castles walk to the river, from $160.
• Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy in one day: a long, early day, from $340.
• Kaindy Lake and its sunken forest, Land Cruiser only, $380.
• Big Almaty Lake, 30 km up the gorge, from $90; the last stretch is on foot.
• Assy Plateau for summer pastures and yurts, by Land Cruiser, $300.
• Turgen Gorge waterfalls from $110 and the UNESCO Tamgaly petroglyphs from $120.
• Altyn-Emel and the Singing Dune, by Land Cruiser, $450; better split over two days.

Longer trips

The Kolsai Lakes and Charyn in 2 days adds a night in the village of Saty. The Almaty region in 5 days covers canyons, lakes, petroglyphs and the steppe with one driver, and the Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 7 days loop crosses into Kyrgyzstan around Lake Issyk-Kul. For a self-designed route, see the multi-day private driver and our 7- and 10-day itinerary.

Skiing

Shymbulak, Oi-Qaragai and Ak-Bulak are all within 1 h 15 min of the city. Start with the Almaty ski resorts guide, then the Shymbulak ski transfer from $50.

Across the border to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Almaty to Bishkek runs through the 24-hour Korday crossing. For Lake Issyk-Kul, compare routes in Almaty to Issyk-Kul; Almaty to Karakol is from $280, using the shorter Kegen–Karkara post when it is open. Heading south, Almaty to Tashkent is a long, scenic 800 km from $420.