Almaty Itinerary for Indians: 5 Days with Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lakes and Shymbulak

By the Dook International team  | Updated 12 October 2026  |  9 min read

Theshort answer
The plan: 4 nights and 5 days inAlmaty on a direct Air Astana flight from Delhi. You see the city, ride thecable cars at Kok-Tobe and Shymbulak, and spend one full day at Kolsai Lakesand Charyn Canyon.
The price: package starting from₹91,990 per person (twin sharing), plus 5% GST and 2% TCS.
The visa: Indian passport holders can stay up to 14 dayswithout a visa, according to current guides. Confirm before you fly.

Almaty sits at the foot of the Trans-IliAlatau mountains, so a few hours from the city centre you can be on an aski-resort cable car, beside an alpine lake or inside a red sandstone canyon. That is why five days works well here.

Day-by-day Almaty itinerary

Day 1: Delhi to Almaty and Kok-Tobe

You fly with Air Astana from Delhi and land in Almaty in the afternoon. Your tour manager meets you in the arrivals area, and an air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the hotel. Rest first.

In the evening, head up Kok-Tobe by cable car. It is the city's best-known viewpoint, at about 1,100 metres above sea level, and has restaurants and small attractions on top. A 372-metre TV tower stands at the foot of the hill and is visible from much of the city. Dinner is at an Indian restaurant at 19:00, and the rest of the night is free.

Day 2: Almaty city tour and Zilyoni Bazaar

After breakfast, the city tour starts at10:30 with your English-speaking guide. You pass the Palace of the President, Republic Square with the Monument of Independence, Astana Square, Panfilov Park,Abai Square, the Palace of the Republic, and Presidential Park. It gives you the history of Kazakhstan's former capital in one morning.

After lunch at an Indian restaurant (lunch isnot included in the package), the tour continues at 14:30. You stop at the Rakhatchocolate shop and then at Zilyoni Bazaar, a good place for dry fruits andsouvenirs. For more on the market, read our Green Bazaar guide. Dinner is at 19:00.

Day 3: Medeu, Shymbulak and the gala dinner

The excursion leaves at 10:30. The first stopis the Meadow (Medeu) Gorge in the Trans-Ili Alatau, home to a high-mountainskating rink billed as the largest in the world, and a large dam that protectsthe city from mudflows.

Next is Shymbulak ski resort, at 2,230 metresabove sea level. Cable car tickets are included. The resort is known for sunnydays and winter snow, so bring warm layers and gloves in November and December.Lunch is at an Indian restaurant, then you get free time.

The evening is the gala dinner at 19:00 at anIndian restaurant. It comes with snacks, local vodka and beer, soft drinks, abelly dance performance and music.

Day 4: Kolsai Lakes and Charyn Canyon

This is the big day. Breakfast is early, andyou leave at 08:00 for Kolsai Lakes, a group of three alpine lakes inKolsai-Kolderi National Park near the border with Kyrgyzstan. The park coversabout 16,800 hectares of conifer forest, meadows, and snow-capped peaks. Our itinerary covers about 330 km and 3 to 4 hours by road each way, so expect along day.

Lunch is at Charyn Canyon (local or Indian food, paid by guests). After lunch, you visit the canyon itself. Charyn Canyon follows the Charyn River, atributary of the Ile, for roughly 80 km, with red sandstone shaped by wind and water. In places it is 150 to 300 metres deep. You return to Almaty for anIndian dinner.

Good to know about Day 4

The excursion is subject to weather conditions. In November and December, mountain roads can change the plan.

Carry water, snacks, and warm clothes, because most of the day is spent on the road.

Kolsai National Park has rules: do not litter, camp only where allowed, and respect wildlife.

For a deeper look at the lakes, read our Kolsai Lake guide and 5 natural attractions in Almaty.

Day 5: Shopping and departure

After breakfast, check out of the hotel by12:00. Lunch is at an Indian restaurant at 13:30 (not included), and then you head to Mega Mall for last-minute shopping. The airport drop follows, in time for the evening flight to India. The flight reaches Delhi after midnight.

Almaty 5-day tour dates and price

Dook runs this 4-night, 5-day Almaty tour onAir Astana flights from Delhi, with departures through November and December2026. Choose from Standard and Deluxe hotel options.

Exact dates, child rates, and room options depend on availability, so ask for a current quote before you pay. See the live listing for the Almaty 4 nights group tour or the Almaty package.

What is included and what is not

Insurance matters on a trip with mountain cable cars and a long road day. Our guide to travel insurance for international trips explains what to look for.

Visa and entry rules for Indians

Current guides say Indian passport holders can stay in Kazakhstan for up to 14 days per entry without a visa. A May 2026guide also lists conditions such as a passport valid for at least six months, two blank pages, a confirmed return ticket, proof of stay, and enough funds. Longer stays need a visa. The e-visa route is on the official portal at vmp.gov.kz.Rules can change, so confirm them before you book. Our Kazakhstan visa page has more detail.

A 4-night trip falls well inside the 14-daylimit.

Who this Almaty itinerary suits (and who it does not)

•      Suits: first-time Central Asia travellers, families, couples and groups who want a fixed plan, Indian dinners and a guide.

•      Suits: travellers who want snow and mountain views in November and December.

•      Think twice if: you dislike long road days. Day4 is the longest, and weather can change it.

•      Think twice if: you want a fully private, flexible itinerary. This plan runs on a seat-in-coach basis.

Travelling with children? Read our Almaty family tour 2026 guide. Watching costs? See Almaty on a budget.

What to pack for Almaty in November and December

•      Warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, a cap, and thermal innerwear. Shymbulak is at 2,230 metres and feels colder than the city.

•      Shoes with a good grip. Snow and ice are likely on mountain days.

•      A power bank, because cold weather drains phone batteries faster.

•      A small cash reserve for tips, the hotel deposit, and bazaar shopping.

•      Keep your bag within 23 kg per person.

Planning for another season? Read our guides to winter in Kazakhstan and summer in Almaty.

More Almaty and Kazakhstan reading

•      Top things to do in Almaty for places that fit around this plan

•      Kazakhstan tourist attractions for the wider country

•      Central Asia tours if you want to add another country

Official tourism information: kazakhstan.travel and Air Astana for flight details.

Ready to book your Almaty trip?

Tell us your travel date, group size, and hotel preference, and our teamwill confirm availability and send a quote. Browse the Almaty tours or the Kazakhstan tour packages to start.