Private Minibus from Almaty to Astana with Driver
Take your group, delegation or family to the capital in one trip, without splitting everyone up across train compartments and flights. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace and an experienced driver who has driven the long highway through Balkhash and Karaganda many times.
from 200,000 ₸ for the whole minibus · round trip, including the drive back to Almaty
Not a scheduled bus or a taxi: the whole minibus for up to 13 people — just your group · a driver with 20+ years of experience
The same terms for every destination — price per vehicle, not per seat
Pickup at your door in Almaty
You choose the address and time: home, office, hotel or airport. No bus station and no meeting the group “at the bus stop”.
The whole minibus — just your group
The 13-seat Toyota Hiace takes no other passengers. One person or 13 — the price is the same; we don’t sell individual seats or tickets. More than 13 people — we’ll find a partner minibus for your date; on short routes two runs in a row also work.
Driver, fuel and road included
Our regular driver with 20+ years of experience, fuel, toll sections and pickup in Almaty are all in the quoted price; you don’t pay extra per passenger. National park entrance fees, ski passes and a local off-road vehicle, if your route needs them, are not included.
Round trip
The round trip is one price. Waiting time on site and the driver’s overnight stay, if you travel for several days, are agreed when booking.
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.
We drive groups from Almaty to Astana in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver — from 200,000 ₸ for the whole minibus, round trip, including the drive back to Almaty. We pick everyone up at one convenient meeting point, bring you to your hotel or venue, and can stay with you for the days of your trip — we discuss this when you book.
The road from Almaty to Astana is about 1,200 km and some 15–16 hours behind the wheel — one of the longest intercity trips in Kazakhstan. Covering it together in one minibus is easier than splitting the group up: train seats end up scattered across different cars, and a flight still means getting to the airport, check-in and separate logistics in the capital. Your own Hiace picks people up at their door in Almaty and takes them exactly where they need to be in Astana — no changing vehicles and no “see you there.”
On this route the same driver is always at the wheel — more than 20 years of experience, and he has driven the road to the capital many times. The cabin has air conditioning, a multimedia system and reclining seats, so the long drive is easier on everyone, and luggage, equipment and props travel in the shared luggage compartment, not on your laps. For a group or delegation, a price named before departure is also easier to budget than a pile of individual tickets.
Almaty to Astana: distance and travel time
The main route runs north through Balkhash and Karaganda on the M-36 highway — about 1,200 km and roughly 15–16 hours on the road, with stops for rest, food and fuel. The stretch is long and runs mostly through the steppe, so the driver plans the breaks in advance at tried-and-tested places where you can eat properly and stretch your legs. Over this distance the driver may need an overnight stop on the way — we discuss all of this before departure so the trip stays safe.
Because the drive is so long, groups usually leave the evening before or very early in the morning, so they reach Astana fresh for the start of a meeting, forum or family event. The train to the capital takes about as long but keeps you in a shared car on a fixed timetable; the plane is faster, but a group with luggage has to add the ride to the airport, check-in, waiting and a transfer in Astana — and everyone needs a ticket. Your own minibus follows your plan exactly and stays with you on site for the whole trip.
When to leave, what the weather is like on the road and what to bring
Fifteen hours one way is not a case of “get in and you’re there,” so we plan the whole journey: the departure time, two or three proper stops, the driver’s rest. Spring and fall are the easiest seasons for this drive: it isn’t hot, the road is dry, and there is daylight for almost the whole way. In summer the steppe between Balkhash and Karaganda heats up to nearly 40 °C, and more and more groups ask for an evening departure to cover most of the distance while it is cool. In winter we check the highway report the day before: in a blizzard, sections in the north are closed to traffic, and on such days it is more honest to move the departure than to try to slip through.
Astana’s weather is harsher than Almaty’s: the city stands in the open steppe, in winter the frost comes with wind, and summers can be dry and dusty — keep warm clothes in the cabin, not in the luggage compartment under all the suitcases. For the drive itself, bring a neck pillow and something to cover yourself with: part of the trip usually falls at night, and sleeping in your seat is quite realistic. Headphones, a charger and a supply of water are worth having too — over fifteen hours on the road you will use them. And if you need to be there by a specific time — a forum, a wedding, a competition — tell us right away: we plan the departure backward from the start time, with a margin for surprises on the road.
When a minibus to Astana beats the train and the plane
Most often this trip is booked for a specific event: a department on a business trip, a sports team heading to a tournament, a performing group going to a festival, a delegation attending a forum or an exhibition at the EXPO grounds, a large family traveling to a relative’s wedding or anniversary. In all these cases it matters that everyone arrives together and at the same time, rather than gathering in the capital one by one from different flights and trains. One minibus solves this: everyone leaves together and arrives together.
Relocations are a story of their own. If you need to move a family with all their belongings or accompany a small team relocating to Astana, the Hiace takes both the people and bulky luggage in one go. A cat or dog rides in the cabin with its owners — pet transport over long intercity distances is routine for us. Along the way you can stop for photos, pull over for a bite or take a short detour to a sight — the route and the breaks adapt to you, not to someone else’s timetable.
Multi-day trips and the journey back
A trip to Astana is rarely planned as a single day: the long drive, the event itself and the way back add up to several days. You can book the minibus with driver for the whole period — it stays at your disposal in the capital, takes you between the hotel, venues and meetings, and then brings the same group back to Almaty. That is easier than hunting for local transport to fit your schedule each time.
We build the plan around what you need: just a round-trip transfer for the event dates, full support on all days with rides around Astana, or an extension of the trip — for example, by minibus to Burabay (Borovoe), about 250 km from the capital on the expressway. The price is still for the whole minibus and depends on the number of days, the driver’s overnight stays and the final point of the route — we will name it as soon as we have the details of your trip, and it does not change on the road.
Astana: how the trip works
The whole group in one trip
A delegation, team or family travels together instead of being scattered across train cars and flights — one vehicle from Almaty to Astana.
From the meeting point to your door
We pick you up at one convenient point in Almaty and bring you straight to your hotel, office or venue in the capital — no taxis to and from the station.
Luggage, equipment, props
Suitcases, exhibition equipment or sports gear go into the shared luggage compartment — on the long road, nobody has to hold anything in their hands.
Departure on your schedule
We leave when it suits you — often the evening before or early in the morning, so you are in Astana in time for the start of your event.
Astana: trip price
from 200,000 ₸ — for the whole minibus · round trip, including the drive back to Almaty
The driver, fuel, toll roads and pickup in Almaty are included. Not included: national park entrance fees, ski passes, a local off-road vehicle, paid parking and pickup outside the city. We quote the total before departure; it only goes up if you decide to extend the waiting time.
All intercity 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.”
Real photos — not a manufacturer’s catalog
All photos
- Driver with 20+ years of experience
- Air conditioning and heating
- DVD · TV · MP3
- Soft reclining seats
- Electric door
- Luggage compartment
These photos show our own 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a high roof and a wide aisle between the seats. We took them ourselves: the cabin, seats and luggage compartment of this very vehicle. We have one minibus: this is the one that will come for you, with its own driver at the wheel.
13-seat cabin
Luggage compartment
Almaty to Astana: a private minibus instead of a scheduled bus
Your group travels in our minibus with a driver — from your door to the destination, with no timetables and no transfers. Distance: ~1200 km; drive time: ~15–16 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 200,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace — one price for the vehicle, however many people travel.
- Leave whenever you like — even at 5 a.m.; no waiting for a scheduled departure.
- We pick you up at your door and drive you right to the place, with no changes.
- Luggage, strollers and gear go in a separate compartment, not on your lap.
Why a scheduled bus is less convenient
- It leaves on a timetable, not when it suits you.
- You have to get to the departure point and from the arrival point on your own, with your bags.
- Luggage goes in a shared hold, and oversized bags and gear usually cost extra.
- You get off at a bus station or the last stop, not at your address.
We don’t sell individual seats — the minibus goes out for your group only. Luggage travels in a separate compartment, and you choose the departure time and the stops on the way. We’ll give you the exact price for your dates — by phone or on WhatsApp.
Read before your trip
Where else we drive from Almaty
Astana: frequently asked questions
How much does a minibus from Almaty to Astana cost?
From about 200,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip, including the drive back to Almaty. That is the price per vehicle, not per person. It depends on the number of days, the driver’s overnight stops on the way and your final destination in Astana. Describe what you need by phone or on WhatsApp, and we will price the trip for your group right away.
How long is the drive from Almaty to Astana?
About 1,200 km and roughly 15–16 hours each way, including stops. The route goes through Balkhash and Karaganda, so on a drive this long the driver may need an overnight stop on the way — we discuss this in advance.
How many people fit in the minibus?
Up to 13 passengers plus luggage. That is enough for a department, a sports team, a performing group or a large family — everyone rides in one vehicle from Almaty to the capital, without splitting into several cars. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers — tell us what you are bringing when you book.
When is the best time to set off on such a long trip?
Most groups leave the evening before or early in the morning so they arrive in Astana rested and in time for the event. We set the exact departure time around your schedule — we work 24/7.
Can I book the minibus for several days, with rides around Astana?
Yes. You can book the vehicle with driver for the whole trip: the drive there, rides around the capital between venues and meetings, and the way back to Almaty. We agree on the plan and the price for all the days before departure.
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.