GoKazakhstan — Your Guide to Unforgettable Travels in Kazakhstan

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Amazing trips

There is a moment in the life of any aspiring astronomer that it is time to buy first telescope

I was born in Almaty. Started to work as a translator (English-Russian) in mountain treks 23 years ago, after 3 years of 63 days trekking annually in summer season plus botanic and ornithology, horse riding and bike tours at spring and autumn I became a guide and was leading individual and group tours up to 26 people. It was great experience, fun and possibility to travel to the places of my own country which usually are very hard to reach like Inylcheck glacier - foot of Khan-Tengri (7 010 meters high) and Pobeda (7 439) peaks, which is still my favorite place of Kazakhstan.

Later on I started outgoing tourism company for Kazakhstani people who wanted to travel abroad. It gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about right way to organize a trip, listen carefully wishes and expectations of people regarding their holidays and meeting the requirements of their wants to make them happy. I travelled myself for business reasons to participate in the tourism exhibitions like the biggest one in Berlin, London, New Delhi and of course, for personal purposes, to see the world, to swim with sharks in Thailand, to surf in Shri-Lanka & India, for diving course in Cyprus, for the night dive in Arab Emirates, for gourmet tour in Italy ...

Visits to many countries made me more and more proud of my own country because after all I realized how lucky I am to leave in a place where you have more than 8 different climate zones in such short distance. 40 minutes by cable way and you can hike on the closest to the city glacier, take the car and drive to the direction of Charyn national park and you find 4 different canyons like Castle valley – famous one, or another one which is reminding you of Jurassic park, you walk through it and expect pterodactyl flight, camp by the river in a wild place in the relict ash wood tree, 2 more hours drive and you are already in the mountain lakes that look typical Switzerland, you want something hotter, then you are welcome to the real desert with signing dune and multicolorfull steppe mountains with Ili river, you like it hot but with less extreme, then visit hot springs, you wish to see life of nomads, then go to plateau Assy fully covered with white yurts like giant mushrooms on a glade and looks like Mongolia steppe.

Land and nature called me. I so wanted to share this beauty of the nature with the guests of Kazakhstan that I left the office and started to be driver, English speaking guide and cook all in one and enjoy my nomadic life changing places every day, spending most of the day on a fresh air, walking in the forest or desert, sleeping under the stars. One celebrity said “Find a job of your dream and you will not work even one day”.
From year to year more and more visitors were coming to Almaty region, so I could not handle it myself and asked my brother for the help, he was always traveling with his wife all over the world on his motorbike as well as in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, he bought Land Cruiser suv car and was happy to turn his hobby to a job as well as his wife. My son and niece helping with translation, when it’s required, with English (American) and French. So it became small family business.

When tour is over we take our children, parents, friends and we are off to the same places where we work but now for holidays.
We pay attention on safety as it is one of the most important things during long drive. Our guides are having long driving experience not only on the highway, but off-road as well. Cars are regularly checked. We don’t try to fit in one go all possible and impossible, we pay attention on distances to make sure you don’t spend all your day sitting in a car, but stretching your legs walking around, enjoying your morning cup of tea or coffee, taking memorable pictures, testing local food and during the day and in the evening around the fire having nice conversation about everything and anything like life, love, politic, culture, difference of Kazakhstani life at Soviet and our days time …

We have the chance to spent two days with Dima in our trip. He has been a really awesome guide, very kind, helpful and with a lot informations to tell about kazakhstan, the nature and everything around. Always with a smile and great kindness to us. We really enjoyed the real coffee from the coffee`s maker around charyn canyon. It was such a blast. The homestay was like home, warm and sweet with great dishes. We felt very honoured by everyone. The different landscapes we explored were amazing and so beautiful. It has been two awesome days, and probably the best in our trip. We thank a lot Yuliya for her efficient work to organized the trip as we asked. She did a great work finding what would be the best according our wishs and fund. Thank you very much for everythin. We highly recommand them.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Yuliya was the best tourguide I ever had so far. She was very responsive in all my messages, she was very considerate in all my request especially I was going alone and was on a budget trip. She even arranged my 4 days itinerary even if I`ll be with her for 2 days trip only. I just had the best 30th birthday in kazakhstan and it was all beacause of yuliya. I had great food and a very comfortable and warm home. She made me experienced how beautiful and astonishing kazakhstan is

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Fantastic trip with Yuliya to see Kaindy/ Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon. Not a bad word to say. You couldn’t really ask for more in a laidback, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable trip. Communication was excellent from very first contact to on time arrival at hotel meeting point. It felt more like a road trip with a friend than a trip with a tour guide I’d never met before. Very knowledgeable about the area, sights, nature and wildlife. Safe driving and good conversation. Great local shashlik. Homestay in Saty was very comfortable and home cooked food simple (manti) yet delicious and very filling. It was a shame it was over so quickly!

Rated 5 stars out of 5
This trip was one of the best experiences of my travelling life! Our guide Dmitry was fantastic he took me and my friend to so many beautiful places and was so knowledgeable about Kazakhstan and all of the nature we saw. Kolsai lake and Kandie lake were incredible as was Chrayn Canyon. The homestays/bnbs were so comfortable and welcoming and the food was authentic local cuisine and delicious. I would highly recommend anyone who loves hiking and visiting beautiful places with an exceptionally experienced guide to use this service of Yuliya. I am so grateful for the wonderful vacation.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
I spent one week in Kazakhstan with the help of Julia and her brother Dima. The two were extremely helpful in organising the trip before I land on Kazakhstan land. So, basically it was a 5 days program with the following way: Day 1 Almaty – Charyn, Temirlik and Yellow canyons – overnight stay in Saty Day 2 1st and 2nd Kulsai lakes, full day hiking Day 3 Kaindy lake – Turgen waterfall, then overnight at Turgen gorge Day 4 Kairak waterfall and return to Almaty. Day 5 Cable way to Talgar Pass 3163 meters asl, on your way you will see Medeo skating rink and Shymbulak ski resort. Then drive to neighbour valley and hike to Butakovka waterfall. Everything was perfectly managed and the country is simply wonderful. I recommend the two for the best time in Kazakhstan.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Heartfelt Gratitude for an Amazing Trip with Julia.... I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding trip we had in Kazakhstan, all thanks to our fantastic guide, Julie. Her proficiency in English made communication seamless, and her punctuality throughout the trip ensured smooth transitions between destinations. Julie's enthusiasm, sense of humor, and caring nature truly added a special touch to our experience. From waiting at the airport to ensuring each day was filled with memorable moments, she went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. Julie, we are truly grateful for your dedication and the personalized touch you brought to our journey. Thank you for making our trip to Kazakhstan not just a vacation but a cherished memory.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Last December, I visited Kazakhstan along with my family and friends from Dubai for about a week. I must admit, it was one of the most unforgettable trip , where we all experienced snowfall, extreme cold weather, frost bites, delicious food, adventurous and funny skiing experiences and much more. We had an awesome tour manager/guide Julie who was not only local guide but also highly professional and friendly human. She planned each day Itinerary well in advance and it was well informed prior to our trip. From the moment we landed in airport,she managed the whole itinerary along with transportation to utmost satisfaction and convenience, in spite of unpredictable weather conditions .I should mention about our adventurous skiing experience wherein she was absolutely helping and training all of us one by one . Big hats off Julie !Our kids would definitely remember your company and cherish their first skiing experience with you for a lifetime. I would highly recommend Julie who take small and large groups for sightseeing, food and culture experience in and around Kazakhstan. Please contact her.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
looking through numerous options until we finally settled on Kazakhstan. It was a recommendation from a friend that led us to Julia, and oh, what a recommendation it was! Julia truly lives up to her reputation as the best of the best. From the moment we touched down in KZ, it’s just been a breeze for us, everything was so meticulously planned by Julia making sure that everything ran smoothly and efficiently, whether it was our exhilarating road trip through the mountains , sightseeing, or visiting places and enjoying the local food . She gave us the space to do random crazy stuff! Can you imagine spontaneous moments of dancing (with a Sari !!!!!!!) amidst the flowers and mountains in the middle of nowhere… and still sticking on to the plan and going along with the itinerary. One of the most memorable highlights was our picturesque picnic by the tranquil stream, where even the smallest details were thoughtfully taken care of by Julia. She just went above and beyond to ensure that we had the most memorable experience. Her dedication to crafting an unforgettable experience knew no bounds, and her boundless knowledge of Kazakhstan's rich history and cuisine added an extra layer of depth to our travels. But perhaps what truly set Julia apart was her warm and inclusive demeanor, effortlessly blending in as one of us and transforming our DUO into a TRIO of lifelong friends. Julia, thank you for our journey with laughter, insights, and memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. If you're looking for an unforgettable journey filled with laughter, discovery, and memories to last a lifetime, look no further than a tour guided by the beautiful Julia. You won’t find a better one for your Kazakhstan escapades.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
It’s been 24 hours since I returned from my memorable Kazakhstan tour! A tour that was meant to be a quick women’s getaway for 5 days became the most memorable experience of our lifetime! Thanks to Julia who took care of every single thing ‘to the T’. Julia’s dedication, preparation and spontaneity made the trip memorable. She drove like a sharp navigator, danced like mercury and rode the horse like an empress! Julia’s knowledge about geo-politics, current affairs and historical facts made the trip more informative and fruitful. While the natural beauty of Kazakhstan is alluring, the charismatic persona of Julia was the cherry on top of the cake! Thanks Julia! We will always remember you and I am so pleased that this trip gave us a new friend from Kazakhstan.

We travelled to Kazakhstan with an 11 month old baby and were unsure would it be possible to visit the Kolsay /Kaindy lake and Charyn Canyon region given its distance and time taken to get from Almaty. Thankfully when we met Yuliya and she put our minds at ease.She was kind,easygoing, patient and always trying to make us feel comfortable on our trip. Travelling with a baby can be difficult but we never felt under stress and she was brilliant with the baby.Her effort to make sure there was the correct food available,the baby car seat was correct and accomodation and travel smooth meant we could enjoy the beauty of Kazakhstan . The family homestay was our highlight,watching our little baby play with the familys children and seeing the farm animals.Yuliya has amazing English and it was fantastic to learn about the history of the region and her as well.It gave us a great insight into life in Kazahkstan.Shes great fun as well. Thanks Yuliya for some great memories.

When we engage a tour operator to travel abroad, what we expect is fair costing, a schedule that balances travel with comfort, and thorough knowledge of the places of visit. With Julie, one gets all the above, plus much more! When I first interacted with Julie for engaging her services for a road trip of Kazaksthan, she asked me to book the tickets first and that there after she would draw up travel schedule accordingly. Within 3 days of sharing my ticket details, Julie prepared and shared a detailed 9 days travel schedule, with pictures, covering a variety of stunning landscapes like mountains, canyons, dunes, lakes, grasslands, waterfalls, etc. Once I confirmed the schedule, Julie shared the cost, which was reasonable and required no bargaining, leading me to accept it immediately. When the three of us, along with Julie, commenced the tour from Almaty, on her Land Cruiser, little did we know that Julie would end up being the proverbial ‘Friend, Philosopher, Guide’. Ours being a road trip, there was travel every day. However, Julie had planned the schedule well to give us sufficient rest. There was quite a lot of off-road travel on mere tracks of four wheelers through vast expanse of grasslands. Julie’s experience in knowing the tracks was evident with the way she drove through. At every place of halt Julie would ensure that we are comfortable and all our needs are met. We could sense that during the travel, Julie’s focus was on ensuring our safety, comfort and enjoyment. The travel was so flexible that we had the complete discretion to decide when to stop, where to stop and what time to start back. Julie is a time-star and we completed the entire trip almost on schedule. Good bonding took place during the travel, thanks to regular conversations ranging from relevant history, local information, personal experiences and about life in general. Julie’s Land Cruiser is so well equipped that I believe it has resources for 3 days’ survival. One of the most memorable events was the river side lunch set-up that Julie organized and served tasty, warm food. Not often that one comes across a tour operator who puts customer care and comfort above commercial gains. Truly, the service of Julie is ‘Gold Standard’.

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Thank you so much for such a wonderful trip in the 2 Days Altyn Emel Trip. Julie have been such a wonderful guide, not only she is knowledgeable of the places that we go to, in terms of geographic, nature, wild life of Kazakhstan, but we also learn so much about Kazakhstan history, politics. 2 Days is not enough! We regret that we only spent 2 days on the trip. Julie also took care of us and was very patient in waiting for us taking photos (as we love taking pictures). Would highly recommend taking the tour with Julie anytime you come to Kazakhstan! And will definitely come back!

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Professional, knowledgeable, reliable, trustworthy, warm and friendly and a RUSSIAN!! That's how I would describe JULIA, our tour guide who made sure we had a wonderful, stress-free 9 nights and 10 days stay in Kazakhstan!!! I had always heard that Russians as a race are cold and rude, but Julie proved us wrong! She is anything but that! She may be Russian, but was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan! Apparently the negative description could also apply to some Russians from Russia, especially Moscow 😀…. That's what I understand now!! However, when we came back on our trip to Kazakhstan, we had an unforgettable road trip! Julia met us at the airport and helped us check in to our hotel. The next day our road trip began….she accompanied and drove us in her Toyota Landcruiser which I must say was a very reliable vehicle in itself, especially for the varied terrain we tackled during our next 7 day road trip through Almaty Province! During our road trip we did two hikes in the DESERT and 4-5 CANYONS, all quite different in their physical shape/formation. We hiked down two of these canyons, drove down one and explored two others from above!!! A lunch picnic planned by Julia in the Temerlik River Canyon on the river bank with table and chairs, hot rice and curry, not to mention tea, cookies and chocolate was an unforgettable experience overall! We also had the chance to enjoy the hot springs, a hike up and down to two of the most beautiful lakes in the world I have ever been to and as a bonus we also did a horseback ride along the way!!! A short hike up another mountain to a scenic waterfall and a Turkish sauna experience in a beautiful mountain valley resort! And finally, as the cherry on top, we had a walking city tour in Almaty, not forgetting the cable car ride to Koktobe and back. Last but not least, on the last day we also managed to ride the Almaty Metro, just for the experience!!! And all this in just 9 nights and 10 days!!! Throughout the trip, Julia drove us very confidently in her Landcruiser, especially through the difficult desert terrain and mountainous off-road roads!!! I must say, she is very brave and careful at the same time!!! She took all the necessary precautions and steps before we entered the entrance to the national park, as we had no mobile connection after that…. The drive to Aktau Mountain and Singing Dunes in Altyn-Emel National Park is very tiring and some of the dried branches of desert plants can damage the vehicle's tires, I'm told, but she survived it all and so did her Landcruiser without even the slightest damage!!! An overnight stay in Zharkent en route to Chungza hot springs was made extra special and unforgettable by an unexpected surprise at the breakfast table on my birthday morning!!! 🎂🎈 Colorful balloons 🎈 in a corner of the dining room greeted me and my jaw dropped when I saw a delicious looking cake 🎂 with exotic candles and a pretty fruit plate 🍑🍒🍌 all on the table !!!!! I felt so blessed and happy that I sent a silent prayer to the Almighty 🙏🏻!!! My family made me feel very special by planning this heartwarming surprise and a huge thank you to Julia for organizing and making it happen!!! After breakfast and cake cutting, we soon headed to our next destination, Hotsprings @Chungza, where we spent a relaxing day enjoying the bath in the resort's thermal pool, culminating in a beautiful birthday dinner by the pool!!! The drive through Charyn National Park to hike down Temerlik River Canyon, a warm picnic lunch on the river bank with table and chairs around was very memorable! After lunch, the drive to another canyon was a unique experience. Later, we visited two more canyons, one of them was called Black Canyon and as the name suggests, was probably formed around the volcanic mountains. The drive to Kusai Lake Resort, an overnight stay amidst the scenic mountains overlooking the mesmerizing lake was the highlight of the trip!! The ride up to Horse Point the next morning to reach the tranquil Kaindy Lake on a horse was another highlight of the trip! The hike down to the Sharyn River through the Charyn Canyon with its unique castle-like formations left a lasting impression! I personally had one wish on my bucket list to revisit and hike the Grand Canyon in the USA. Honestly, it's off my list now, especially after this tour of Kazakhstan. Pretty impressed and happy with everything we saw in this country, it really exceeded our expectations! A big thank you to Julia for really making this possible! Kazakhstan, an unexplored country with picturesque landscapes and natural wonders that is a must visit! I would say - TRAVEL TO KAZAKHSTAN WITH JULIA!!

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Thanks to Yula, our weekend exploring the countryside near Almaty was amazing. She made everything super comfortable and easy, but still full of adventure. Her in-depth knowledge and fun stories really brought the trip to life. The places we visited were amazing in and of themselves, but with Yula as our guide, they became unforgettable. My boyfriend and I enjoyed every minute and can't wait to do more tours with her. We will definitely recommend her to all our friends and family.

We were picked up perfectly on time by our guide Dima at our hotel in Almaty and then set off. The whole trip went smoothly and Dima was able to tell us something about the history and significance of each place, which was very interesting. The owners of the homestays were all very warm and made us feel welcome. Some of the food was a bit sparse, but then Dima went straight away and made sure we got another portion. We were also able to stop and take photos at any time. The landscape in this region is simply incredible. We had a great trip and can highly recommend it.

main questions

general tips

Amazing trips

There is a moment in the life of any aspiring astronomer that it is time to buy first telescope

go kazakhstan

HEllo there!
my name is juliya

And here is my long story short

So please come to the tour as a guest and leave it as a friend!

our bestsellers

discover kazakhstan

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need a personal tour?

faq

can't find answer?

Amazing trips

There is a moment in the life of any aspiring astronomer that it is time to buy first telescope

go kazakhstan

HEllo there!my name is juliya

And here is my long story short

So please come to the tour as a guest and leave it as a friend!

our bestsellers

discover kazakhstan

Расчет

Reviews

need a personal tour?

faq

can't find answer?

HEllo there!
my name is juliya