ALMATYHIKINGKZ@GMAIL.COM

Big Almaty Peak

Includes Big Almaty Lake.

Car trip and hiking to the Big Almaty peak – the perfect triangle-shaped mountain visible from each corner of the city. It dominates the skyline with the height of 3682 meters and serves as solid vantage point covering whole the area north to Zailisky Alatau.

At the same time, the peak is still easily accessible due to possible transportation up to the Big Almaty Lake and then to the Космостанция (Tyan-Shan astronomic observatory) on the Zhusaly-Kezen’ Pass (3336m). So we just gotta climb these 350 (elevation gain) meters left to get to the summit.

WARNING: implies fast car ascent by more than 2300 meters and may cause mountain sickness. Not recommended for preconditioned people and recently arrived (not yet acclimatized in the area). Though no one ever in our practice got affected a this altitude. Another option is gradual ascent combining both hiking and car with short stop at the lake).

IMPORTANT!!! The area is interstate borderline so bring your valid IDs (subject to examination by border patrols).

Fee (incl. Big Almaty lake): $160 (group of 1-3 people).
Extended hike from the lake is available (+8km / 850m gain) +$100.

Possible to bundle together with Tourist peak (Cosmo-station bundle).

Profile of the route (image attached).

Transport to the drop point and back to city: 3 hours. Duration (apprx): 4-5 hours (roundtrip) excl. time on the peak (1h) and on the lake (1h)
Elevation gain: 350 m
Difficulty: medium