Konaev Trip from Almaty by Private Minibus
Konaev is the former Kapchagay: the same town on the Ili River, now the capital of Almaty Region and a new name on the map. We get you there from Almaty in an hour and a half in a private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver — for business, a family visit or an event, with the whole group on one direct ride.
from 60,000 ₸ 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. 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.
A minibus from Almaty to Konaev costs from 60,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace, round trip: 13 seats and a driver. We pick your group up at one convenient point and drive you right to the house, registry office or banquet hall you need, then wait on site or come back at the agreed time.
Konaev is the administrative center of Almaty Region, a little over an hour’s drive from the big city. If you are going there not for the beach but for a specific reason — to see relatives, for a wedding or a milestone birthday, on business, to local offices, or just to stroll along the renovated waterfront — the easiest way is your own minibus. Gather the group in Almaty, get into one vehicle and ride straight to your address in Konaev.
The drive is short — about 70 km along the Kapchagay highway — so people often go to Konaev for half a day: there in the morning for business or a celebration, back to Almaty in the evening. AlaGo drives here in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows both the highway and the town well. The price is for the whole minibus, not per passenger, so for a group or a big family it works out cheaper than booking several taxis.
Konaev and Kapchagay are the same town
Yes, there is no need for confusion: Konaev is the new official name of Kapchagay. The town was renamed in May 2022 after Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the statesman who led the Communist Party of Kazakhstan for more than two decades. At the same time, Konaev replaced Taldykorgan as the administrative center of Almaty Region, which noticeably raised its status.
In everyday speech many people still say “Kapchagay” out of habit, and in search engines both names lead to the same place. When you book, call the town whichever you like — we will understand. If what you want is the beaches, holiday resorts, water park and fishing on Kapchagay Reservoir, see the separate destination trip to Kapchagay: it covers time by the water in detail. This page is about trips to the town of Konaev itself.
Konaev: how long it takes and what is on the way
The route runs north along the Kapchagay highway — the same way the minibus to Taldykorgan goes. It is about 70 km, usually 1–1.5 hours on the road: the time depends mostly on traffic jams leaving Almaty and on which part of town we are going to. The highway is good and familiar to the driver, so the drive is relaxed.
The town stands by the dam of the Kapchagay hydropower plant, which blocked the Ili River — that is where both the reservoir and Konaev itself come from. Getting into town is easy, and the driver finds addresses without wandering around: tell us your destination in advance and we will take you right to it. There are gas stations and shops on the way, and we can make a short stop if needed. If a pet is moving to Konaev too, that is also something we do — pet transport: a dog or cat rides in the cabin next to its owners, not in the luggage hold of a scheduled bus.
When to go and what to know about the highway
The road to Konaev is open all year, but how busy it is depends a lot on the season. From May to September, on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, traffic to and from the reservoir is heavy: an hour and a half on the road can easily become two and a half, so if you need to be there at a set time, leave with time to spare. Winter is different — the highway crosses open steppe, and in a snowstorm or on black ice visibility and speed drop. On such days we set off earlier and drive more calmly, without trying to make up time.
The road is paved all the way, with no dirt sections, and there is a toll stretch on the route — the driver pays the toll, and it is already included in the trip price. No passes or permits are needed for a trip to Konaev; an ID is enough. In summer, bring water and something for sun protection: the steppe stretch is exposed, and the cabin heats up quickly after parking. In winter you will want a warm coat even for the short walk from the vehicle to the door — by the water the wind is noticeably fiercer than in the city.
What to see in Konaev itself
Konaev is a young, compact town that grew up around the reservoir, so there are few major historical monuments, but there are pleasant places for an unhurried walk. Stroll along the waterfront and through the central park, and climb Lev-Gora (Lion Hill) in the old dacha area — from there you can see the railway bridge and the reservoir. If you like the unusual, the local vintage car showroom is worth a look.
In recent years the town has changed noticeably since the regional administration moved here: new buildings and landscaped public spaces have appeared. With your own minibus it is easy to visit several places in one trip — business first, then a walk by the water or to the dam — without calling a taxi for every hop around town.
Konaev: how the trip works
Straight to the address
Not just “to town” but to the specific house, registry office, banquet hall or office in Konaev — the driver takes you right to the door.
The whole group in one vehicle
Up to 13 people: relatives heading to a family event, coworkers on an outing or guests going to a celebration travel together, not separately.
Just over an hour on the road
About 70 km on a smooth highway — leave Almaty and be there in ~1.5 hours, no long drive.
We wait or pick you up later
The driver can wait for you in Konaev and take you back, or come at the agreed time — whatever fits your plan.
Konaev: trip price
from 60,000 ₸ — 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.
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 Konaev: 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: ~70 km; drive time: ~1.5 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 60,000 ₸ 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.
Konaev: frequently asked questions
Are Konaev and Kapchagay the same place?
Yes, it is the same town. In May 2022 Kapchagay was officially renamed Konaev, after Dinmukhamed Kunaev. The old name “Kapchagay” is still widely used in speech and in navigation apps, but the town is now Konaev, and it has also become the administrative center of Almaty Region.
How much is a trip from Almaty to Konaev?
From about 60,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, round trip. The exact price depends on the address in town, the waiting time and the route — we will confirm the final amount when you book by phone or WhatsApp. You pay for the whole minibus, not per passenger.
How long is the drive to Konaev?
About 1–1.5 hours each way (roughly 70 km) along the Kapchagay highway. The exact time depends on traffic leaving Almaty and on which part of town you need to get to.
How is a trip to the town of Konaev different from a trip to Kapchagay?
This destination is about the town of Konaev itself: visiting relatives, a celebration, business, the waterfront and local sights. If you want beaches, holiday resorts, a water park or fishing on the reservoir, see our separate destination “Kapchagay Reservoir” — it is all about time by the water.
Will the driver wait in Konaev, or do we book the return trip separately?
Whichever suits you. The driver can wait for you in town and take you back to Almaty, or come for your group at the agreed time. We work 24/7, so we fit the departure and return times to your plan.
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.