Trip to Ayusay from Almaty by Private Minibus
An eco visitor center in the “bear gorge,” with waterfalls and glamping — about 22 km and 30–40 minutes from central Almaty. Your own 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver brings the whole family or group to the Ayusay entrance and picks you up after your walk, with no changing vehicles and no hunting for parking.
from 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
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. 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.
We take families and groups from Almaty to Ayusay in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver — from 50,000 ₸ for the whole minibus, round trip. We pick you up at one convenient point, drop you right at the visitor center entrance and wait in the parking lot while you walk to the waterfalls.
Ayusay means “bear gorge” in Kazakh: the valley got its name from the Tian Shan brown bears that once lived here. Today it is a popular spot for family days out in Ile-Alatau National Park, about 22 km and a 30–40-minute drive from central Almaty. In 2021 the Ayusay eco visitor center opened here — one of the first fully eco-friendly ones in Kazakhstan. The main hiking goal is the waterfalls on the mountain river: a trail leads to the upper one, about ten meters high, and the walk takes around 40 minutes one way.
The cabin has air conditioning, a multimedia system and comfortable seats, and the luggage compartment holds backpacks, a stroller and picnic gear. You can easily fit a tour or workshop at the visitor center into your day: the driver stays put and takes the group back from the same spot. For a large family or group, one minibus both ways costs less than several taxis — which you would also have to call back up to the gorge.
Almaty to Ayusay: distance and travel time
The road climbs from the city toward the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It is about 22 km from the center, roughly 30–40 minutes on the road, depending on traffic leaving Almaty. The last stretch is a mountain road, so it is easier to approach the gorge in one minibus with a driver who knows the way than in a convoy of cars on the switchbacks.
Ayusay is in Ile-Alatau National Park, and there is an entrance fee for the visitor center grounds — you pay it on site, separately from the minibus price. The driver drops the group right at the entrance and waits in the parking lot while you walk, so nobody has to look for parking or stay behind the wheel instead of relaxing.
What to see and do at Ayusay
The main natural attraction is the waterfalls on the mountain river: there are several, and the upper one is about ten meters high. A marked trail leads to it, and an unhurried walk takes about 40 minutes one way; the route is easy and suits groups with children. Along the way there are spruce forest, small bridges and equipped rest spots, so it is a gentle hike that needs no serious preparation. A route of similar difficulty is the waterfall walk at Butakovka, where we also take groups by minibus with a driver.
Beyond the trails, the visitor center regularly runs activities: guided tours, educational workshops, quest games and talks about the park’s nature. The Tau Tas glamping site and campground on the grounds let you stay the night in a regular tent or a glamping tent. Tell us in advance whether you plan just a walk to the waterfalls or also a tour with an overnight stay — we will fit the pickup and the minibus’s waiting time to your plan.
When to go to Ayusay and what to bring
Ayusay is open year-round, but it is a completely different place from season to season. The waterfalls carry the most water in May and June, when the snow melts in the mountains; in July and August people come here to escape the city heat, and in September and October the gorge turns golden and there are noticeably fewer visitors. In winter the trail ices over on the climbs, and you should only walk it in shoes with a good grip. Some activities are seasonal — check the fee and the schedule the day before your trip. If Ayusay is too crowded on a weekend, nearby Kim-Asar Gorge by Medeu is open all year.
The road to the entrance is paved, but the last few kilometers climb: in rain, and especially in snow, the ascent is slower and takes about an hour instead of half an hour. On weekends and holidays there is also a line at the entrance and too few parking spaces, so it is best to leave early — we often bring groups in by eight or nine in the morning. Bring closed shoes with a good grip (the trail is rocky in places and wet from the spray), a windbreaker or a warm sweater — the gorge is cooler than the city — water and snacks, and spare socks if you have children with you. If Ayusay is only part of your weekend plan, our guide to what to see around Almaty in a day makes it easy to fit in the neighboring gorges.
Minibus, scheduled bus or taxi to Ayusay
There is almost no regular public transport to Ayusay — a bus runs here only on weekends, taxis take a long time to come up the mountain road, and with children and picnic gear that is especially inconvenient. One Hiace solves it all at once: it picks up your family or group at your door, drives you to the visitor center entrance and waits while you enjoy your day.
After your walk there is no need to find a car back from the gorge — the driver is already in the parking lot at the agreed time. For a group or large family of 8–13 people, the whole minibus costs less than several taxis there and back, and it is more relaxed: tired kids and adults ride home together in one cabin, with no changing vehicles and no waiting by the road.
Ayusay: how the trip works
A day out for the whole family
Ayusay is especially popular with families with children: the eco trails, tours and workshops are designed for a relaxed family day in the mountains.
A half-day trip
About 22 km and ~30–40 minutes from the center — enough time to walk to the waterfalls, relax and be back in Almaty by evening.
Drop-off at the entrance
We drop the group right at the visitor center, so getting to the start of the trails doesn’t turn into a hike of its own.
Overnight stays possible
The Tau Tas glamping site and campground operate on the grounds: we can take you there and pick you up as separate trips — just let us know about the overnight stay in advance.
Ayusay: trip price
from 50,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip
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.
This is the price for the minibus, not per seat as on shared group tours: the minibus is only for your group, with no other passengers and no one else’s schedule.
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.”
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
Read before your trip
Ayusay: frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Ayusay from Almaty cost?
From about 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. The exact amount depends on how long the driver waits for you at the visitor center — we will give you a specific figure when you book by phone or on WhatsApp. The visitor center entrance fee and activities are paid separately on site.
How long does it take to get from Almaty to Ayusay?
About 30–40 minutes from the city center; the distance is roughly 22 km. Ayusay (the “bear gorge”) is in Ile-Alatau National Park and works well as a day or half-day trip.
Is Ayusay good for a trip with kids?
Yes, it is one of the most popular family spots near Almaty. The trail to the waterfalls is easy, the visitor center runs tours and workshops, and there are equipped rest areas. The minibus makes it easy to bring a stroller, water and picnic gear.
How many people fit in the minibus?
Up to 13 passengers, with room for backpacks, a stroller and your day gear. The whole family or group gets to Ayusay in one cabin — no splitting into several cars and nobody getting lost on the way. 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.
Can we combine the walk with a night at the glamping site?
Yes, the Tau Tas glamping site and campground operate at Ayusay. If you plan to stay overnight, let us know in advance — we will work out the best way to arrange the trips there and back as separate minibus runs.
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.