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
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.
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 waits for the group as long as you said when booking.
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.
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 picks up your family or group at your door and drives you right to the visitor center entrance.
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 a large family, it is more relaxed than several taxis: tired kids and adults ride home together in one cabin.
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 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
Read before your trip
Ayusay: frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Ayusay from Almaty cost?
From 50,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. Tell us how long you’ll spend in the park. We’ll give you the exact amount right away, 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?
The minibus has 13 passenger seats, and backpacks, a stroller and your day gear go in the luggage compartment. The whole family or group travels together, with no splitting into several cars. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers.
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’ll drop you off and come back for you on a separate minibus run.
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.