Turgen Waterfalls Day Trip from Almaty by Private Minibus
A day out in nature in the Turgen Gorge: waterfalls, conifer forest and trout an hour and a half from Almaty. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the way to the waterfalls, the trout farm and good spots to relax.
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 to the Turgen waterfalls in a 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver, from 70,000 ₸ for the whole minibus for a full day. We pick you up early in the morning at one convenient point in Almaty, wait at the trailhead while you walk, and in the evening bring everyone back to the same point.
The Turgen waterfalls are a popular choice for a day trip from Almaty. The Turgen Gorge is the longest in the Trans-Ili Alatau and part of Ile-Alatau National Park, and seven waterfalls are tucked away along the Turgen River. Most people go to the Bear (Medvezhy) and Kairak waterfalls: together with a walk through the conifer forest, a trout farm and lunch outdoors, that makes a full day off. It is about 90 km and roughly an hour and a half to the trailheads.
Leave early in the morning so there is time for both the waterfalls and the trout. The cabin has air conditioning, a media system and reclining seats.
How to get from Almaty to the Turgen Gorge
The route heads east from Almaty through Talgar and Esik to the village of Turgen, and from there turns into the gorge itself. The distance is about 90 km, roughly an hour and a half on the road. Up to the national park entrance the road is paved and easy to drive; beyond it come dirt roads and footpaths to the waterfalls, which is where it pays off that your group was brought right to the start of the route.
At the entrance to Ile-Alatau National Park a small eco-fee is charged. A day trip usually takes about ten hours including the drive, walks and lunch, so it is best to start in the morning; the driver will suggest a departure time for your program and help with stops along the way. If the day feels too packed, you can stay overnight in the same gorge; see our transfer to Turgen Dacha with a driver.
What to see: the Bear and Kairak waterfalls
The Bear Waterfall (Medvezhy) is the best-known and most accessible in the Turgen Gorge. It is about 30 meters high, and the path to it is short enough even for an easy walk with children. It is the main stop on most trips: a scenic spot among rocks and spruces that you can reach and return from without any special preparation.
The Kairak Waterfall is the tallest in the gorge, about 55 meters. It lies farther than the others, and the way there is longer and more demanding, so it is for those ready for a proper trek. You decide which waterfalls to see; we will suggest options based on your group’s fitness and time.
Trout farm, national park and the best time to go
Besides the waterfalls, there is more to see in the Turgen valley and on the way: a trout farm where you can catch fish and have it grilled, an ostrich farm, thermal springs and an open-air history and ethnography museum with a statue of the Golden Man next to the Issyk burial mounds. Higher up the gorge begins the dirt-road climb to the Assy Plateau: only off-road vehicles get through, and the minibus does not drive that section. Everything below it is easy to combine into one route.
The best time to go is roughly April to November: in summer the gorge is green and cooler than the city, and in early autumn the forest turns yellow. For a group of 8–13 people, chartering the whole Hiace costs less than several taxis.
Turgen: how the trip works
Straight to the trailheads
Pickup at your door in Almaty and drop-off at the start of the trails in the Turgen Gorge.
An early start for a full day
We leave in the morning so there is time for the Bear Waterfall, the trout farm and an unhurried lunch outdoors.
The driver waits on site
While you walk to the waterfalls, the minibus waits at the trailhead with your things; come back and carry on along your route.
Trout and a museum on the way
The trout farm, the ostrich farm and the museum by the Issyk burial mounds are easy to add to the same route; just tell us when you book.
Turgen: 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
Turgen: frequently asked questions
How much is a day trip from Almaty to the Turgen waterfalls?
From 70,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus for the day. Tell us your plan and stops. We’ll give you the exact price as soon as you message or call us. The national park eco-fee is paid separately at the entrance.
How do you get to the Turgen waterfalls, and how long is the drive?
From Almaty you head east through Talgar and Esik to the village of Turgen, then into the gorge: about 90 km in total and roughly an hour and a half on the road. In your own minibus you get right to the trailheads without changing vehicles.
Which waterfalls can you see in the Turgen Gorge?
There are seven waterfalls in the gorge. Most people visit the Bear Waterfall (about 30 meters, with a short, easy trail) and the Kairak Waterfall, the tallest at about 55 meters, but farther away and harder to reach.
What else is there to see around Turgen besides the waterfalls?
The valley has a trout farm with fishing and a grill, an ostrich farm and thermal springs, and on the way, near Esik, there is an open-air museum with a statue of the Golden Man next to the Issyk burial mounds. We put the route together for your group.
What is the best time of year to visit the Turgen waterfalls?
The season runs roughly from April to November. In summer the gorge is cool and green, and in early autumn the forest’s golden colors are especially beautiful. In winter the way to the more distant waterfalls is much harder.
How many people does the minibus take for a waterfall trip?
The cabin has 13 seats, and backpacks and hiking gear ride in the luggage compartment. All 13 can travel light; if everyone has a large suitcase or bulky gear, we take up to 9 passengers.
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.