Bodies of Water • Points of Interest & Landmarks
THE 10 BEST Almaty Parks & Nature Attractions
Nature & Parks in Almaty
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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What travellers are saying
- Дарья12 contributionsI wrote a negative review about Kok Tobe, so I will tell you about where it is really beautiful. But you need to be physically prepared, or find a special taxi, finding this taxi is difficult and expensive, it is better to walk. You can go up the pipe, or you can go by road. It is longer by road, but safer. You need to start no later than 9:00 am. depending on the time of year.Written 28 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Alokmili77New Delhi, India719 contributionsBeautiful hill which can be reached by cable car or own vehicle,very much lively at evenings,lot of activities,restaurants & funWritten 14 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BrakiWorldTravelerBelgrade, Serbia20,006 contributionsThis pretty big park is located in the very center of Almaty, and it holds imo the best things the city has to offer.
There are 3 attractions worth visiting here: the majestic Ascension Cathedral (see that review), the Panfilov monument and Music instruments Musuem.
The Park is named after Ivan Panfilov who joined the Bolsheviks as early as the 1917 October Revolution. Over the decades he was promoted gradually and ended up as a General defending Moscow from invading Nazis in 1941 when he died.
In his honor a huge monument was built in this park, with General Panfilov central figure along with his servicemen defending the Kremlin walls. It's a classic larger than life Soviet era monument with dramatic scenery and faces. In front of it is eternal flame, as well other Russian cities which participated.Written 27 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - EdwardSanta Rosa, CA3,237 contributionsWe took a day trip to Shymbulak from Almaty on one of the days we were staying in Almaty. Although we did get a rental car in Almaty, we only got at that at the end of our first few days there and for driving out to other areas of southern Kazakhstan. We wanted to limit any driving in Almaty itself, so we opted for a guide and driver to take us on a day when we did not have the car. It was excellent and a good choice, although this mountain resort area is close enough that it's right on the edge of the city and easily reachable by car form the heart of the city in a very short drive.
We went to Medeu, looked at the ice arena (closed for summer), and took the gondola/cable car all the way up to the top. The cable car goes up in several stages, with restaurants and other facilities at the stops between stages.
It was high enough that we were above the tree line and it was quite chilly and foggy up there, with snow visible, even though it was late June and down in the city it was about 85 F. We did a little hiking but there are significant hiking trails and areas when it's not covered in snow, the winter offering skiing and other snow activities. The striking mountain scenery and views area immediately reached by the gondola and there are views of the city area, which we were able to see before the fog started gathering. This is in the Tien Shan Mountains, towards the border with Kyrgyzstan, and one can see some of the major peaks of the Tien Shans in Kazakhstan at the highest gondola stop. At the lower levels, there are toilets, places to eat and shop, and there are also places to stay.Written 27 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BrakiWorldTravelerBelgrade, Serbia20,006 contributionsThis is a really big and beautiful park, but pretty hard to reach. Have in mind Almaty is a vast city and distances are great - you need around half an hour taxi drive to reach it from downtown.
The main entrance is through a huge massive curved colonnade, after which is a monumental fountain (not working in Oct). To the right on an elevated spot is larger than life Nur Sultan sitting statue with a monument behind him depicting Kazakhstan development under his reign as a First President of independent Kazakhstan.
From there several paths lead you to different parts of a really nicely manicured park, all the way to the opposite elevated spot with great mountain views.
The only downside we found only one tiny coffee shop and restrooms by it.Written 27 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Prashant28 contributionsNice place with a lot of exquisite animals ...big place ....kids would definitely enjoy the place...also we have nice food and ice cream stalls for kids ....adults can give a miss if not much interested in animals...Written 18 May 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Q5375ESrobertsSan Diego, CA52 contributionsThe Botanical Garden is a combination garden and arboretum. The garden areas are beautiful. The water fountains near the front entrance is such fun for little children. The arboretum paths are really special. There are formal paths and small wooded trails, both are serene and scented with hundreds of varieties of trees. It's important to know that photos taken, using camera phones are allowed but if you want to take photos with a traditional camera (e.g., Canon) you must pay a fee at the entrance.Written 2 July 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jethrotullburgers4 contributionsCycle this path every day, commuting, love it, best place in Almaty. Although be careful of cyclists coming down hill, a handful of them seem to have an absence of brakes/brains* * delete as applicableWritten 12 June 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ritesh JSalmiya, Kuwait73 contributionsOne of the best places near Almaty (just 1 hour drive and ~ 30 minutes hike from the parking). The day we went there presented us with the great weather - it rained a little and then it was sunny. The small hike to the hot springs is besides the flowing river, one has to cross the river bridges, and walk through a very little water over stones - it's a very scenic hike overall. Once you reach the hot springs, it's an amazing experience. My 3 year old, enjoyed every bit of it - the rains, the hike and the hot spring. There are spots where you can just sit by the river and enjoy the scenery - if you carry some snacks, like I did, it will make it just wonderful!!
You shouldn't miss this if visiting Almaty!Written 24 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Haytham Abu FirasQatar21,204 contributionsWe visited Falcon Farm at 2:00 pm and Falcon show is at 5:00pm, an early visit, so unable to attend the show.
Had a nice and short visit. Watched many falcons and eagles. Few owls as well. Pleasant visit.Written 25 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - y_amd2911Almaty, Kazakhstan2 contributionsWhy I like this place is because I can swim any time of the day and any time of a season. The water temperature is always above 36*C😍🔝☀️❄️💦Written 1 April 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dr. Ron FJerusalem, Israel89 contributionsIn August snow starts at about 3.500 m ASL. One can reach as far high as 3,200 m with several cable cars. From the top station it is possible to take a beautiful track to a nearby glacier. It's not an easy walk if you are not fit, due to the high altitude and low oxygen, but it's worth the effort (about 1 hour walk up-hill). At this time there are plenty of flowers and butterflies, that are found only in high altitude (like Edelweiss...).
There is a car park near the lower cable car, and several restaurants in the cable-car intermediate stations at chimbulak and at the station above it.Written 15 September 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Alex Hunter kzAlmaty, Kazakhstan22 contributionsIf you’d look at the mountains from Almaty, then the highest point you’d see would be the Nursultan peak. It looks so appealing that you can’t help winning it :-)
Throughout history, this summit has changed its name for three times: Maloalmatinskiy, Komsomol, and finally, Nursultan. I personally prefer the second name as I was born during Soviet times. Since 30s, when the first Almaty alpinists mounted the Nursultan peak, the alpinism era has started in Alma-Ata, and in all Kazakhstan.
The day is going to be pretty hot (over 30 degrees), but not for us.
As always, we start on a very early morning from Almaty. An hour later we are at Shymbulak ski resort.
Hopping on ski lift, we enjoy green slopes and alpine meadows, but with our ascension green plants disappear and we get into the harsh and beautiful world of rocks and snowcapped mountains.
Turning to right from the Talgar pass (3,200 m), we pass an old moraine, and in some 2.5 hours after we step onto Bogdanovich glacier. Global warming left just a narrow strip of ice from it. It is hard to believe that such change could occur in just 10-15 years…
We have a short break at the foot of Zimin mount. Drinking tea, having nice conversations …
What we see ahead of us is the dazzling white sheets of Komsomol glacier. First, we climb on slide rocks, then traverse the glacier, then again on rock slides. 3.5 hours more and we are on Komsomol pass (4000 m).
To our right is Karlytau peak with its enormous ice-glass cap;
to our left is granite heaps at the foot of the Nursultan peak. From the pass one can catch a glimpse of huge Left Talgar gorge gaping below. And far away – with its grand five thousand meters, Talgar peak. Right below us is the small but amazingly exquisite Aristov peak.
We begin mounting on rocks right to the summit with 2B complexity category.
Last meters are the hardest, - well, it’s way above 4000 m above the sea level!
Hurrah!!! We hit our goal.
For quite a while I am just lying on a flat rock and look at the clouds rushing violently through unbelievably blue skies. From Nursultan peak you can grasp phenomenal panoramic view of the central Zailiysky Alatau mountain range with peaks of:
- Amangheldy (4000 m),
- Pioneer (4031 m),
- Teacher (4045 m),
- Heroes of Panfilov’s Division (4120 m),
- Manshuk Mametova (4194 m),
- Antikainen (4000 m),
- Great Patriotic War (4050 m),
- Mayakovski (4208 m),
- Ordzhonikidze (4410 m),
- Partisan (4390 m),
- Tuyuksu Needles (4213 m),
- Tuyuksu (4218 m),
- Pogrebetsky (4231 m),
- Locomotive (4182 m),
- Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya (4108 m),
- Molodyozhny (4147 m).
The sun is setting and we have little time for descent. Darkness catches us up nearby the Zimin mount, but further we can keep going without much concern since we have safely left the zone of splits and bergshrunds.
At 9pm we hop on our car and at 10pm, we are at home :-)Written 26 June 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - DzerbeneDunbar, United Kingdom111 contributionsThe area is a typical tatty ski resort in summer - weeds growing in the concrete. However, good views if you take the cable car to the top. Will come into its own once the snow is on the ground.Written 13 September 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
