Aksay Gorge Trip from Almaty by Private Minibus
A gorge on the western edge of Almaty with a trail to the Aksay Skete and the Akzhar rockslide. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver drops your group at the start of the trail and picks you up after the walk.
from 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
Pickup at your address · passenger insurance · 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.
How the trip works
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. When you book, we name the vehicle and give you the driver’s phone number; the driver arrives early and helps with the luggage.
The minibus is yours
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace travels with your group only. The price is for the vehicle, so the bigger the group, the less each person pays. If there are more than 13 of you, you can book a second minibus, or we do two runs in a row on a short route.
Driver, fuel and road included
The driver’s service, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price. Paid separately, if your route needs them: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city.
Round trip
The round trip is one price. The driver waits for your group on site for as long as you said when booking; if you stay longer, you pay only for the extra hours.
Luggage: 13 traveling light, up to 9 with suitcases
Bags and gear go in a separate compartment. If everyone has a large suitcase or a stroller, we take up to 9 people; with skis and snowboards, 9–10. Tell us what you’re bringing when you book.
Payment: cash, Kaspi or invoice
Trips in the city and nearby are paid after the trip. Long intercity trips and trips of several days need a partial prepayment to hold the date, the rest before departure. Companies get an invoice, a contract and closing documents.
A trip to Aksay Gorge from Almaty costs from 30,000 ₸ for the whole 13-seat Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver, round trip. We pick you up at your door, drop you at the entrance to the gorge and wait in the parking area while your group walks to the skete.
Aksay Gorge begins just past Tausamaly (formerly Kamenka), about 25 km from the city center; the drive takes around 50 minutes. It is the wooded valley of the Aksay River, with a well-trodden trail, benches and signposts. The walk has two main goals. One is the Holy Seraphim-Feognost Aksay Monastery for men, which everyone calls the Aksay Skete, on the slope of Kyzyl-Zhar mountain. The other is the Akzhar rockslide, a huge landslide of rock that comes into view along the way. From the entrance it is a few kilometers one way to the skete, and the elevation gain is moderate.
AlaGo takes groups to Aksay Gorge in a Toyota Hiace with a private driver. The asphalt runs to the gorge entrance and the recreation area, and from there you continue on foot. For a half-day outing, hourly minibus hire works too: tell us roughly how long your walk will take, and we’ll build the waiting time into your plan.
How to get to Aksay Gorge from Almaty
The route heads west along Zhandosov Street, through Tausamaly and on into the mountains: about 25 km from the center, roughly 50 minutes including city traffic. The paved road ends at the gorge entrance and the recreation area; the trail starts here.
The minibus drops the group at the starting point and either stays in the parking area or comes back for you at the time you set. If some of your group won’t hike up to the skete, they can stroll along the river and return to the minibus earlier; the driver is reachable by phone throughout the trip.
The skete, the rockslide and the trails of Aksay Gorge
A well-trodden trail with benches and signposts leads to the Aksay Skete; at an easy pace the walk takes half a day, and most people can manage it. The monastery stands on the slope of Kyzyl-Zhar, and both pilgrims and ordinary hikers make the climb. It is a working monastery, so dress as you would for church.
The second landmark is the Akzhar rockslide, a giant landslide of rock visible from the trail. The best time for the gorge is April to October, when the trail is dry; in winter it can be icy. Nearby routes you can add to the same outing: Kaskelen Gorge with its trout farms and Alma-Arasan Gorge in the south of the city.
Getting to Aksay Gorge: minibus, taxi or your own car
Public transport ends a kilometer short of the gorge entrance, catching a taxi back from the foot of the mountains takes a long time, and with your own car, one of you still has to drive and find parking. One Hiace picks everyone up from a single address in Almaty, drives you to the trail and waits.
For a group of 8–13 people, the price of the minibus is comparable to several taxis both ways, and the ride is far more relaxed: backpacks, trekking poles and thermoses go in the luggage compartment, and everyone, tired after the climb, rides home together in one warm cabin.
Aksay Gorge: how the trip works
Half an hour to an hour from the center
About 25 km along Zhandosov Street, past Tausamaly, one of the closest gorges to the city with a real mountain trail.
Right to the trailhead
We drive you to the gorge entrance, where the path to the skete begins.
We wait in the parking area
After the climb to the skete, there’s no need to call a car up into the mountains: the driver is already there at the time you set.
The skete and the rockslide in half a day
The trail to the skete, with benches and signposts, is manageable for most people, and on the way you get a view of the Akzhar rockslide. The walk suits pilgrims, groups of friends and families with children.
Aksay Gorge: trip price
from 30,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
The driver and fuel are included. We quote the total before departure; it only goes up if you decide to extend the waiting time.
Only your group is on board, and you decide how long to stay at each stop.
All day trips from Almaty →Customer reviews on 2GIS
“Efficient and fast — a clean bus with a driver arrived on time.”
“Excellent — they provided a minibus with a driver very quickly.”
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
Aksay Gorge: frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Aksay Gorge from Almaty cost?
From 30,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us how long the walk to the skete will take, and we’ll quote the exact price right away by phone or on WhatsApp.
How long is the drive to Aksay Gorge?
About 25 km from central Almaty, roughly 50 minutes via Zhandosov Street and Tausamaly. It’s one of the closest gorges to the city.
Can you drive us all the way to the skete?
No, only a footpath leads to the monastery; the minibus brings the group to the gorge entrance, where the route begins, and waits in the parking area. The walk to the skete is a few kilometers one way.
How many people fit?
Up to 13 passengers, plus room for backpacks and gear. A pilgrim group or a group of friends travels together in one vehicle.
When is the best time to go?
From April to October the trail is dry and the walking is easiest. Winter trips work too: on icy stretches you’ll want shoes with a good tread, or better, ice cleats.
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.