Kazakhstan Self-Launched: Canyons, Lakes & the Capital
8 days · Kazakhstan
GidOman charges £1,185
No-markup version: ~£620 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day run through Kazakhstan covering the same ground as GidOman's guided group tour: Almaty's leafy Soviet-and-modern cityscape, the Tian Shan foothills at Shymbulak, the turquoise Kolsai Lakes and drowned forest of Lake Kaindy, the red walls of Charyn Canyon and the lunar Aktau badlands of Altyn-Emel, then a domestic flight north to futuristic Astana and the granite-and-pine scenery of Burabay. You'll do it on marshrutkas, shared taxis and one cheap domestic flight, staying in hostels and family guesthouses, and booking day trips through local operators in Almaty or GetYourGuide rather than a fixed group departure. Costs are approximate 2025 backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Almaty
Almaty
Land at Almaty International Airport and take bus 92 or the trolleybus into the centre (~150 KZT, under £1) or a Yandex Go taxi for around £4-6. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Panfilov Street or in the Golden Square area. Spend the afternoon walking Green Bazaar for dried fruit, horse sausage and cheap eats, then stroll Arbat pedestrian street and Zeleny Bazaar's surrounding cafes. Pick up a local SIM from Beeline or Activ in any mall (£3-5 for data).
🚌Airport bus 92 (~£0.80) or Yandex taxi (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Almaty centre (£10-15)
- →Green Bazaar
- →Arbat pedestrian street
- →Buy local SIM card
Almaty city highlights & Shymbulak
Almaty
Self-walk the classic city circuit: First President Park, Republic Square, the colourful Zenkov Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park, and the Museum of Musical Instruments next door. In the afternoon take city bus 12 or a taxi (~£3) up to Medeu and ride the cable car to Shymbulak ski resort (cable car around £8-10 return, bookable on arrival or via Klook). Hike a short trail in the Tian Shan foothills instead of paying for the full resort package. Grab dinner at a cheap plov or lagman canteen near Abay Avenue (£4-6).
🚌City buses and one taxi to Medeu (~£4 total)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Almaty centre (£10-15)
- →First President Park
- →Republic Square
- →Ascension Cathedral & Panfilov Park
- →Shymbulak cable car
- →Medeu ice rink area
Kolsai Lakes & Lake Kaindy
Saty village
Book a two-day group jeep tour to Kolsai and Kaindy through a local Almaty operator or GetYourGuide (around £60-80 per person including overnight guesthouse, breakfast and dinner) — far cheaper than a private guide. Alternatively take a shared taxi from Sayran bus station to Saty (~£10-12, 4-5 hrs) and hire a local driver for the lake run. Walk the 3 km trail along the first Kolsai lake, then visit Lake Kaindy to see the ghostly submerged spruce trunks. Overnight in a family guesthouse in Saty village with home-cooked beshbarmak.
🚌Shared tour jeep or shared taxi from Almaty (~£12)
🛏Family guesthouse in Saty, shared room with breakfast & dinner (£15-20)
- →Kolsai Lakes walk
- →Lake Kaindy submerged forest
- →Saty village homestay
Charyn Canyon & hot springs
Charyn / hot springs area
Continue with the same local operator or hop a shared taxi back towards Charyn (~£8). Spend 2-3 hours walking the Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon — the 40-minute-each-way path down to the river is gentle and mostly flat. Ask your driver to detour to the Black Canyon and the Moon Canyon viewpoints (small extra fee, roughly £5-8). Finish with a soak at the roadside hot springs near Chunzha (entry about £3-5). Overnight in a simple guesthouse or spa-style lodge near the springs.
🚌Shared taxi and local driver (~£8-10)
🛏Guesthouse or simple spa lodge near Charyn/hot springs (£15-20)
- →Charyn Canyon Valley of Castles walk
- →Black Canyon viewpoint
- →Moon Canyon viewpoint
- →Hot springs soak
Altyn-Emel: Aktau Mountains & Singing Dune
Almaty (via Altyn-Emel National Park)
Do Altyn-Emel as a shared 4x4 day trip (local operators charge around £55-75 per person for a small group, including park permits and a driver-guide) rather than a private vehicle. You'll see the striated pastel Aktau badlands and, weather and road conditions permitting, climb the Singing Dune at 150 m high. Bring a packed lunch — food inside the park is limited. Return to Almaty in the evening and settle back into your city hostel; grab a cheap dinner at a Georgian or Uyghur restaurant (£6-8).
🚌Shared 4x4 day trip with local operator (~£15 transport share)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Almaty centre (£10-15)
- →Aktau Mountains
- →Singing Dune
- →Altyn-Emel National Park
Fly north to Astana & city tour
Astana
Take a morning domestic flight Almaty to Astana (FlyArystan or SCAT, 2 hrs, book direct online — around £30-45 one way if booked ahead). Aeroexpress bus or Yandex taxi from the airport into the new city (~£1-4). Self-walk the futuristic Left Bank: Bayterek Tower (observation deck about £4, book on Klook or at the desk), the giant Khan Shatyr tent mall, Hazret Sultan Mosque (free, modest dress), the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation exterior, and the riverside promenade at sunset. Cheap dinner at a food court in Mega Silk Way or Keruen mall (£5-7).
🚌Domestic flight Almaty-Astana (~£35) plus airport transfer (~£2)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel, Astana Left Bank (£15-25)
- →Bayterek Tower
- →Khan Shatyr
- →Hazret Sultan Mosque
- →Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
- →Ishim river promenade
Burabay National Park
Burabay / Borovoe
Take a marshrutka or shared taxi from Astana's Saparzhai bus station to Shchuchinsk/Borovoe (~2 hrs, £4-6). From the town, hire a local driver or walk to the lakeshore. Walk to Okzhetpes Rock and Zhumbaktas Rock viewpoints, and hike the forest trails around Lake Borovoe — granite outcrops, pines and quiet water. A rowing boat on the lake costs around £5-8. Overnight in a simple sanatorium-style guesthouse or the Baitas-area guesthouses, which are well below the tour's 4* rate when booked direct.
🚌Marshrutka/shared taxi from Astana (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse or sanatorium in Borovoe (£15-25)
- →Okzhetpes Rock
- →Zhumbaktas Rock
- →Burabay National Park trails
- →Lake Borovoe boat ride
Return to Astana & depart
Astana
Morning walk along the lake, then the same marshrutka or shared taxi back to Astana (2 hrs, ~£5). Use your remaining time for a wander through the Nurzhol Boulevard and a cheap lunch before heading to the airport for your onward flight. If you need a late departure, the Aeroexpress is a reliable cheap option — or book a day room in a budget hotel in the city for around £20 rather than the operator's USD 90 extra-night rate.
🚌Marshrutka back to Astana (~£5) plus airport transport (~£2)
🛏None (departure day) or day room (~£20)
- →Nurzhol Boulevard walk
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Keruen
Self-launched vs. GidOman
| This itinerary (self-launched) | GidOman | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£620 | £1,185 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £565 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more GidOman-style trips? Check them out here.~£620
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Kazakhstan Self-Launched: Canyons, Lakes & the Capital cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £620 per person for 8 days in Kazakhstan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with GidOman?+
Yes — GidOman charges around £1,185 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £620 — a saving of roughly £565 (48%) per person.
How long is the Kazakhstan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Kazakhstan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Kazakhstan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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