Travel Blog: Trips and Getaways from Almaty
Where to go from Almaty for the weekend, what to see in a day, what minibus hire costs, and how to get to Bishkek and the lakes.
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.
Prices 8 min read
Intercity Trips from Almaty: Distance and Travel Time by Destination
How long it takes to get from Almaty to Bishkek, Balkhash, Taraz and Astana: 14 destinations with distance, travel time and the price of the trip by minibus with a driver.
Destinations 9 min read
Almaty to Bishkek: Distance, Drive Time and How to Get There
Almaty to Bishkek is about 240 km by road: roughly four hours of driving plus the Kordai border, five to six hours in all. Which documents you need at the checkpoint, when the lines are shortest and the easiest way to get there: by bus, by car or by minibus with a driver.
Destinations 9 min read
How to Get to Lake Alakol from Almaty: 4 Ways Compared
Lake Alakol is about 600 km and eight hours by road from Almaty, via Taldykorgan and Usharal. Four ways to get there (train, scheduled bus, your own car and a minibus with driver): prices, travel times and tips for the long drive.
Guide 10 min read
Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy in Two Days: Hour-by-Hour Itinerary and Price
The three best-known sights of Almaty Region in one trip: Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai Lakes and Kaindy with its sunken forest. An hour-by-hour plan for two days, a night in Saty, distances and what the price depends on.
Guide 9 min read
Where to Take Kids from Almaty: 10 Places for a Day Trip
Ten places around Almaty you can realistically visit with kids and be back the same day: from the Botanical Garden, ten kilometers away, to the Turgen waterfalls, ninety kilometers out. For each: distance, travel time, suitable age and the price of the trip.
Guide 10 min read
Where to Go in Winter from Almaty: 8 Places and What They Cost
Eight winter destinations from Almaty with distance, travel time and trip price: ski resorts, hot springs and snowy views close to the city. Plus the practical side: what changes on mountain roads in icy conditions and where not to go in winter.
Tips 7 min read
Self-Drive Minibus Rental in Almaty: Licenses, Terms and Costs
Which license a 13-seat minibus requires, what to check in a rental agreement and how to compare costs with a driver service, from 10,000 ₸ per hour with a 3-hour minimum.
Tips 9 min read
Hiace, Sprinter or Starex: Which Minibus to Book for 13 People
The three classes of vehicle actually on offer in Almaty: the 13-seat Toyota Hiace, the 16–19 seat Mercedes Sprinter and the 7–11 seat Hyundai Starex. We compare them by number of passengers, luggage, cabin height and mountain roads, and say where our limit is.
Tips 10 min read
Bus or Minibus: How Many Seats Does Your Group Need?
People write “we need a bus” and mean anything from 8 to 50 seats. We count it by number of passengers and by scenario: a wedding, a corporate outing, a school trip, a shift shuttle, meeting a delegation. Hourly rental is from 10,000 ₸ per hour for the whole minibus.
Guide 9 min read
Almaty in 3 Days: What to See and Where to Go
What to see in Almaty in 2–3 days: a ready-made plan for each day. Day one is the city and the mountains above it, day two the nearby gorges, day three Charyn Canyon or the Kolsai Lakes. With distances and travel times to every stop.
Tips 7 min read
How to Get to Charyn Canyon from Almaty: All Options and Prices
Every way to get to Charyn Canyon from Almaty: on your own, by scheduled bus, on a tour or by minibus with a driver. We compare time, convenience and price, and cover the road via Shelek and Kokpek and the national park entry.
Prices 7 min read
Taxi or Minibus from Almaty Airport: Which Is Better Value for a Group
How much an Almaty airport transfer costs and what the price depends on: economy and comfort taxis versus a minibus for the whole group. Why a Toyota Hiace works out better value for a group of 5–13 than several taxis.
Guide 7 min read
Where to Go from Almaty: 17 Destinations for Every Season
A big guide to trips from Almaty: 17 destinations for every season, from Medeu and Charyn to Kolsai, Chundzha and Issyk-Kul. Distances, what makes each place worth the trip and when to go.
Guide 9 min read
What to See Around Almaty in One Day: 10 Day Trip Ideas
Ten ideas for a day trip from Almaty, from Medeu and Big Almaty Lake to Charyn Canyon. For each one: how long it takes to get there, what makes it interesting and who it suits.
Guide 8 min read
Overnight Trips from Almaty: Where to Go for a Weekend
Trips of one or two nights from Almaty: the Kolsai and Kaindy mountain lakes, Charyn at sunset, the Chundzha hot springs, Lake Alakol, and Issyk-Kul. What you can fit into a weekend and where to stay the night.
Destinations 8 min read
Mountain Lakes of Almaty Region: Kolsai, Kaindy, Big Almaty Lake and More
From the turquoise mountain lakes of Kolsai and Kaindy to Big Almaty Lake and the steppe lakes Alakol and Balkhash. A guide to the most beautiful lakes near Almaty: altitude, best season and how to get there.
Prices 7 min read
Minibus Hire in Almaty: What Goes into the Price
What the price of hiring a Toyota Hiace minibus with driver in Almaty depends on: distance, hours, season and route. With starting prices and how to get a quote for your trip.
Tips 8 min read
How to Plan Guest Transport for a Wedding, Toi or Corporate Event
Guest transfers for a wedding or toi (a Kazakh celebration) and for corporate events in Almaty: how to count vehicles and seats, plan pickup timing and the route around the city, and handle payment by bank transfer for companies.
Toyota Hiace: cabin and luggage
All photos- 13 passenger seats
- Air conditioning and heating
- High roof
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, the seats and the luggage compartment.
- 13-seat cabin
- Luggage compartment
Tell us where and when
We’ll bring a Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver to any address in Almaty at the time you need. Available 24/7.
Our drivers don’t speak English. Phone calls are in Russian or Kazakh, so WhatsApp works best: write in English and we’ll reply using a translator. Need an interpreter? We can arrange one for an extra fee, agreed in advance.