Private Minibus with Driver from Almaty to Tamgaly-Tas
Buddhist rock carvings on the cliffs by the Ili River: a relaxed day out of town for friends or family. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the road via Kapchagay and the best turnoffs to the riverbank.
from 70,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus for the day
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 groups from Almaty to Tamgaly-Tas: a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver, from 70,000 ₸ for the whole minibus for the day. There is no scheduled transport to the site, so we pick you up at your door and drive you straight to the rocks on the bank of the Ili.
Tamgaly-Tas is a set of “inscribed rocks” on the bank of the Ili River, about 120 km north of Almaty, not far from the Kapchagay Reservoir. Buddhist rock images have survived on the riverside boulders here: figures of Buddha Shakyamuni and the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and Tibetan inscriptions, and next to them petroglyphs from earlier eras. The images are not fenced off or put behind glass: the boulders stand in the open by a wide steppe river, and there are usually few people around.
The road goes via Kapchagay and the turnoff for Bakanas, and the last few kilometers are a dirt road along the river. We take groups here in a Toyota Hiace minibus with a driver: you leave Almaty when it suits you, stop along the way for coffee and photos, and at the site you walk along the river and look at the carvings at your own pace.
How to get to Tamgaly-Tas from Almaty
The route is straightforward: from Almaty you take the Kapchagay highway and head north through the town of Konaev (formerly Kapchagay). After the bridge and the dam across the Ili River there is a fork for Taldykorgan and Bakanas; here you turn toward Bakanas, and after the exit by the Emergencies Ministry training ground a dirt road along the river leads to the site. It is about 120 km and roughly 2 hours one way in total, a little more with short stops.
The last stretch is a dirt road along the river, so it is better to come in a vehicle with more clearance than an ordinary car and with a driver who knows the road. The Toyota Hiace handles this section with ease, and the driver will show you where it is best to park, walk down to the rocks and set up a picnic right by the water.
What to see: the rock carvings and the Ili River
The main attraction is the Buddhist rock images on large boulders right by the water. The best-known figures are Buddha Shakyamuni and the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara; nearby there are Tibetan inscriptions and older petroglyphs that people carved on these stones over many centuries. Hence the name: Tamgaly-Tas means “stones with signs” in Kazakh.
From the upper rock overhanging the riverbed there is a panorama of the Ili River and the steppe all the way to the horizon, the best spot for photos. Down by the water it is easy to have a picnic, rest in the shade of the boulders and just listen to the river. Many people combine the carvings with a walk in the surrounding hills or time on the riverbank; it makes for a full day out of the city.
When to go to the Ili River
The most pleasant times to go are spring and fall. In April, May, September and October it is already or still warm but not hot, the steppe is green or golden, and there are no summer midges by the river. In summer the days here are exposed and very hot, so it is best to leave Almaty early and get back before the worst of the heat.
In winter both the rocks and the road are accessible in dry weather, but the dirt section can turn to mud after rain or snow. Before every trip we check the forecast and the road conditions; if needed, we change the time or suggest a backup date so the trip goes smoothly and safely.
Tamgaly-Tas: how the trip works
Buddhist carvings on the Ili
Images of the Buddha and a bodhisattva on the riverside rocks, and next to them petroglyphs from far older eras. A rare sight for the region.
A day by the water
The wide Ili River, open space and quiet for a picnic on the bank. Seeing the rocks combines easily with relaxing and taking photos.
The view from the upper rock
From the upper rock above the riverbed you can see the Ili and the steppe all the way to the horizon, the best spot for photos.
Spring and fall are the best seasons
In April–May and September–October it is warm but not hot by the river, and there are no summer midges; in summer we leave early in the morning.
Tamgaly-Tas: trip price
from 70,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus for the day
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
Tamgaly-Tas: frequently asked questions
How much does a Tamgaly-Tas day trip from Almaty cost?
From 70,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus for the day. We’ll give you the exact amount for your route and stops as soon as you contact us.
How do I get to Tamgaly-Tas, and how long is the drive?
About 120 km north of Almaty via Kapchagay and the turnoff for Bakanas, roughly 2 hours one way. The last stretch is a dirt road and no scheduled transport goes there, so it is easiest to go in your own minibus.
Are these the same petroglyphs as the UNESCO site?
No. Tamgaly-Tas on the Ili River is a site of Buddhist rock images by the water. The UNESCO site with a similar name is Tamgaly (Tanbaly) in the Chu-Ili Mountains, a different place about 170 km from Almaty.
What can you see at Tamgaly-Tas?
Buddhist images of the Buddha and a bodhisattva on the riverside rocks, Tibetan inscriptions and older petroglyphs, plus a panorama of the Ili River from the upper rock. The place is good both for sightseeing and for a picnic on the riverbank.
How many seats are there on the minibus to the rocks?
The cabin has 13 seats, and bags and picnic baskets for the Ili riverbank ride in the luggage compartment. A family or a group of friends travels to the petroglyphs together in one Toyota Hiace with air conditioning and a multimedia system. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers.
When is the best time to visit Tamgaly-Tas and the Ili River?
Spring and fall are the most pleasant, when it is warm but not hot and there are no midges. In summer it is best to leave early in the morning. We work 24/7 and will fit in with whatever departure time suits you.
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.