Almaty to Zharkent by Private Minibus with Driver
To see family, to the market or to the famous wooden mosque: your whole group in one vehicle. A private 13-seat Toyota Hiace with a driver who knows the eastern highway through Shelek and Koktal and the road beyond, to Khorgos.
from 100,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, one way
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.
One way
The price is for the one-way drive. If you need a ride back, waiting time on site or a trip of several days, send us your plan and we’ll price that option.
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.
You can book a minibus with a driver from Almaty to Zharkent for the date you want: a 13-seat Toyota Hiace, from 100,000 ₸ for the whole minibus, one way.
Zharkent is a district center in Zhetysu Region, right by the Chinese border, about 300 km east of Almaty, some four hours on the highway through Shelek and Koktal. The town is known for its late-19th-century wooden mosque, built in the style of a Chinese pagoda without a single nail; today it is a museum and the main sight of the area. Another 35 km down the road lies Khorgos with its international trade center, so Zharkent often becomes either a stop on the way there or a base for the night.
On the way it is easy to stop at Charyn Canyon or the Chundzha hot springs: those turnoffs are on the same highway, so just mention them when you book.
The Almaty to Zharkent road: route and travel time
The route follows the eastern highway through Shelek and Koktal to Zharkent. The distance is about 300 km, and the time on the road is roughly four hours with one stop for coffee and fuel. The road is paved all the way and cleared in winter, but in a snowfall it is better to leave earlier.
The turnoff to Charyn Canyon and the road to Chundzha are on the same highway, and beyond Zharkent lie Khorgos and the border checkpoint. If you are traveling with purchases or for several days, mention it when we calculate the price: as on other long routes, there are options with waiting time, with the driver staying overnight, and with two separate trips.
Why people go to Zharkent
Most often, to see relatives and for family events: getting there as a whole group in one Hiace is simpler than everyone traveling separately. The second reason is trade: Zharkent and neighboring Khorgos have long been where people from Almaty go to buy goods, and the load on the way back fills the luggage compartment.
There is a tourist reason too: the Zharkent Mosque, built in 1887–1895, is the only building of its style in the region, and Charyn, Chundzha and Altyn-Emel lie along the way or just off it. If you want to turn this into a two- or three-day route, we will price the whole trip, overnight stays included.
Zharkent by minibus or by scheduled bus
A scheduled bus means a seat on a timetable, a bus station at both ends and four hours in a shared cabin. Your own Toyota Hiace leaves when it suits you and stops where you ask.
For a family or a group of 8–13 people, the ride is noticeably easier this way: air conditioning, reclining seats and a driver who knows this highway in winter and summer.
Zharkent: how the trip works
Door to door
We pick you up at your door in Almaty and drop you at your address in Zharkent.
On to Khorgos
The border and the international trade center are another 35 km: we can take you there the same day or the next morning after an overnight stay.
Luggage and purchases
Bags, boxes and gifts for relatives ride in a separate luggage compartment; if everyone has large boxes, we take up to 9 people.
Charyn and Chundzha on the way
The turnoffs to Charyn Canyon and the Chundzha hot springs are on the same highway; tell us when you book, and we’ll add the stop to your route.
Zharkent: trip price
from 100,000 ₸ — for the whole Toyota Hiace minibus, one way
The driver and fuel are included. 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.”
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
Almaty to Zharkent: a private minibus instead of a scheduled bus
Your group travels in our minibus with a driver, from your door to the destination. Distance: ~300 km; drive time: ~4 hours.
Your own AlaGo minibus
- from 100,000 ₸ for the whole minibus with a driver.
- Leave when it suits you, even at 5 a.m.
- We pick you up at your door and drive you to the address you need.
- Luggage, strollers and gear ride in a separate compartment.
Why a scheduled bus is less convenient
- It leaves only on a timetable.
- 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.
Tell us the date and how many of you are traveling. We’ll quote the trip and tell you right away whether the minibus is free; WhatsApp or a phone call is quickest.
Zharkent: frequently asked questions
How much is a minibus from Almaty to Zharkent?
From 100,000 ₸ for the whole Toyota Hiace, one way. A day trip with waiting and a return, a separate return trip or continuing to Khorgos are priced separately for your plan; we will give you the amount by phone or WhatsApp.
How long is the drive from Almaty to Zharkent?
About 300 km and roughly four hours on the highway through Shelek and Koktal, with one stop on the way.
Can you take us on to Khorgos?
Yes, Khorgos is about 35 km beyond Zharkent; we can go the same day or the next morning after an overnight stay. How a trip to the International Center for Boundary Cooperation works is described on the Khorgos page.
How many people and how much luggage fit?
Up to 13 passengers traveling light; if everyone has a large bag or boxes of purchases, we take up to 9 people so that everything fits in the luggage compartment.
Can we book a round trip in one day?
Yes: the driver waits for you in Zharkent and drives you back in the evening; this is priced separately from the one-way fare. A stop at Charyn or the Chundzha hot springs is also possible; we will check whether it fits into one day.
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.