Passenger transport in Almaty by private Toyota Hiace minibus with driver

Our passenger transport is charter only: you book the whole Toyota Hiace minibus with 13 passenger seats, together with the driver. We drive around Almaty at an hourly rate, meet people at the airport and the railway station, take guests to weddings and corporate events, go on day trips, travel across Kazakhstan and to Kyrgyzstan and Russia, and run staff and school shuttles. There are no scheduled runs, and we don’t sell individual seats or tickets.

The Toyota Hiace has 13 passenger seats plus the driver’s seat. You rent the whole cabin: the price is the same for one passenger or for thirteen, and we don’t add other passengers. The seats are soft and the backrests recline; luggage travels in a separate compartment. If there are more than thirteen of you, message us and we’ll suggest the most convenient way to move your group.

Neither. We don’t sell seats or run on a schedule like a marshrutka, and we don’t pick up other passengers. You book the whole minibus with a driver: it comes to your address at the agreed time and carries only your group — up to 13 people traveling light or up to 9 with large suitcases. There is one price per vehicle, and we quote it before departure.

Yes, the minibus has air conditioning that works for both cooling and heating. A comfortable temperature at any time of year.

Yes, 24/7. Night and pre-dawn departures are a normal part of the job: trips to Charyn Canyon leave early in the morning to reach the Valley of Castles before the heat, and trips to Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol often set off in the dark to be on the shore by lunchtime. We meet night flights at the airport too: the driver tracks the flight number and waits if the plane is delayed.

For trips around the city and short bookings, no prepayment is needed — you pay after the trip in cash or by Kaspi transfer (a Kazakh banking app). For long intercity and multi-day trips we ask for a partial prepayment to secure the date: we tell you the amount when we confirm the booking, and the rest is paid before departure. We don’t take a deposit for the vehicle — it always comes with its own driver.

The same driver is at the wheel every time, with more than 20 years of experience. We take out passenger insurance for every trip, and the minibus gets regular scheduled maintenance. Before long trips we check the vehicle separately.

Yes. Intercity trips are priced per trip as a whole, not per seat: Konaev (formerly Kapchagay) — from 60,000 ₸ round trip, Taldykorgan — from 90,000 ₸ round trip, Shymkent — from 150,000 ₸ one way, Astana — from 200,000 ₸ round trip. Bishkek — from 90,000 ₸, Issyk-Kul — from 150,000 ₸ one way; passengers cross the border checkpoint on foot, while the vehicle goes through separately and waits on the other side. For Russia, the guide price is about 150 ₸ per kilometer, including the return trip. People also often go to Lake Balkhash, Lake Alakol, Chundzha and the ski resorts.

Yes. If you let us know at least 24 hours before pickup, cancellation is free. If you cancel later, when the driver has already set off, a pickup fee may be charged. Plans change — just call or message us on WhatsApp, and we’ll rearrange everything.

For city trips and the airport, we can often go the same day — call us and we’ll tell you whether the minibus is free. For intercity trips and day trips, it’s best to book 1–3 days ahead. In summer, on weekends and on holidays, dates for Charyn, Kolsai, Balkhash and Alakol get booked up early, so it’s worth securing such a trip a week ahead.

Call or message us on WhatsApp at +7 707 510 17 05: where to pick you up, where you’re going, the date and time, and how many people and how much luggage. We’ll tell you right away whether the minibus is free and quote the price for the whole minibus — it doesn’t change on the road. No prepayment is needed in the city; for long intercity trips we ask for a partial prepayment to secure the date.

There’s a DVD player, a TV and MP3 — you can put on cartoons for the kids or play your own music. On a long drive, other things matter more: the air conditioning works for both cooling and heating, the seatbacks recline, and luggage rides in a separate compartment, not on your lap. That makes 470 km to Lake Balkhash and 600 to Lake Alakol noticeably easier.

Cash to the driver, Kaspi transfer, or bank transfer for companies — with an invoice, a contract and closing documents for your accounting department. In the city and for short bookings no prepayment is needed — you pay after the trip; for long intercity and multi-day trips we ask for a partial prepayment to secure the date.

Yes, from a few hours to several days. That’s how people do Charyn and Kolsai over two days, Lake Alakol and Lake Balkhash with a night on the shore, or Burabay (Borovoe) — 1,450 km with an overnight stop on the way. The minibus stays with you the whole time, together with the driver. We calculate the price from the route and the number of days and quote it before departure — it doesn’t change on the road.

The driver speaks Russian and Kazakh. The easiest way to arrange a trip from abroad is WhatsApp: write in English, and we will agree on the route, date and price in writing.