Kazakhstan · Wildlife

10-Hour Big Almaty Lake Tour with Cosmo Station and Falconry

10 Hours Round trip from Almaty Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Witness the breathtaking beauty of Big Almaty Lake in the alpine landscape
02 Enjoy scenic photo stops, free time by the lake, and a small hike in pristine surroundings
03 Explore the still-working Base of the Cosmo Station in the Zhusaly-Kesen Pass
04 Take in magnificent panoramic views from heights of up to 3,600 m
05 Visit a unique falconry kennel to see Eagle Owl, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Falcon, and Griffin

Catch sight of Big Almaty Lake, a natural alpine reservoir in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains and one of the region's most famous sights, set at an elevation of 2,500 m. Revel in its pristine surroundings, enjoy scenic photo stops and a small hike, then continue to the Base of the Cosmo Station in the Zhusaly-Kesen Pass to explore this still-working Soviet-era site. The day ends with a visit to a unique falconry kennel before returning to Almaty.

Catch sight of Big Almaty Lake, a natural alpine reservoir in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains and one of the region's most famous sights, set at an elevation of 2,500 m.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Almaty

Languages English, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Big Almaty Lake, Cosmo Station and Falconry Kennel

Depart from Almaty between 9:30 and 10:00 am, followed by pickup from your hotel or apartment. On the way, stop at a local supermarket to buy lunch products produced in Kazakhstan.
11:00 am: Arrive at Big Almaty Lake. Witness exciting places for unusual photo opportunities and do a small hike near the lake.
12:00 pm: Have lunch with lakeside views. Enjoy some free time and capture as many beautiful photos of the lake region as possible.
1:00 pm: Drive to a panoramic area that offers a magnificent view of the lake from a height of 3,100 m.
1:30 pm: Visit the Base of the Cosmo Station. This base was built in 1957 during the Soviet Union and is located in the Zhusaly-Kesen Pass at an altitude of 3,336 meters above sea level. Projects to register particles of cosmic radiation are carried out here, and the Cosmo Station is still in working condition. Have the opportunity to explore the station, then continue past it to a viewpoint overlooking Almaty City from a height of 3,600 m. Make a trip to the panoramic platform for magnificent views all around.
4:30 pm: Descend along the serpentine road and stop at a unique place to visit the falconry kennel. See wild birds here such as Eagle Owl, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Falcon, and Griffin before returning to Almaty city.