Almaty: Butakov Waterfall, Auyl Restaurant & Shymbulak Ski Resort

4.9(9)6 hours - 8 hoursRussian, EnglishAlmaty, Kazakhstan

From

$79

Discover Almaty’s top mountain highlights on a full-day tour combining nature, culture, and stunning mountain views.

Meet your guide at 9:00 AM in front of the Abay Opera House and travel to Ile-Alatau National Park. Visit the Butakovka Visit Center before hiking through scenic pine forests to Butakovka Waterfall (about 1 hour each way). Guests who prefer not to hike can relax at the Visit Center and enjoy the mountain scenery.

After the hike, enjoy free time for lunch at Auyl Restaurant (lunch is not included), a unique mountain restaurant offering panoramic views of the Small Almaty Gorge.

Continue to Shymbulak Mountain Resort and take the cable car up to the resort. Enjoy free time to explore, take photos, and admire the spectacular mountain scenery. During the cable car ride, you can also enjoy views of Medeu and the surrounding mountains.

After visiting Shymbulak, return to Almaty city center.

Included

National Park Entry Fee
English speaking guide
Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

around 10 000 tenge
Cable car to Symbulak (12 000 tenge)

What you'll do

Butakovskiy Waterfall
Butakovskoye Canyon, Kazakhstan
Butakovka Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls near Almaty. Located at an altitude of around 2,100 meters above sea level, the waterfall drops from rocky cliffs with a height estimated between 15 and 30 meters. During the warmer months, visitors can enjoy the refreshing mountain air and cool mist from the cascading water, while in winter the waterfall transforms into a spectacular wall of blue ice.
2 hours
Lunch at Auyl Restaurant, a unique mountain restaurant inspired by a traditional Kazakh village
Enjoy panoramic views of the Small Almaty Gorge, take photos, explore the grounds, and relax over lunch (at your own expense).
1h 30mAdmission not included
Shymbulak is renowned for its stunning mountain vistas
Travelers will be immersed in the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Tien Shan Mountains. Whether it's the snow-covered peaks in winter or lush meadows in summer, the scenery is breathtaking year-round. We will ascend to the highest point of Shymbulak via the cable car. Shymbulak ski resort consists of three levels: the Base Station, the Middle Station, and the Upper Station, where you can take numerous photos against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Additionally, you can enjoy lunch at one of the cafes or restaurants of your choice at the base stations. Lunch is not included in the tour price.
2 hoursAdmission not included