Assy Plateau and Bartogay
Private Tour
- 1 day
- Hotel pick-up in AlmatyHotel pick-up
- from $100 per person
Itinerary
This private day tour from Almaty drives off-road over the Kyzylauz and Karaarsha passes to the Assy Plateau at 2,800 m, with the Bartogay Reservoir and the Assy-Turgen Observatory on the way.
Pick-up from your hotel; drive east toward Bartogay
Bartogay Reservoir: the view over the 60 m rock dam and the valley
A relaxed break by the river
Picnic lunch by the water
Off-road over the Kyzylauz and Karaarsha passes, with photo stops over the Zhenishke Valley and the Sarytau ridge
Up onto the Assy Plateau (2,800 m): meadows and long horizons
The Assy-Turgen Astronomical Observatory and its views
A short walk to red-rock petroglyphs along the Assy River
Down through the Turgen Gorge
Drive on to Almaty
Drop-off at your hotel
June to early October
The plateau is open from June to early October, when the high passes are clear of snow. In June and July it is green and full of flowers. In winter, try our Charyn Canyon tour, which runs all year.
Easy
Most of the day is off-road driving with photo stops. The only walk is a short stroll to the petroglyphs by the Assy River.
Where the road takes you
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By roadRoutes are shown approximately.
Moments from this route
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What our travelers say
Incredible time touring Big Almaty Lake, Assy plateau, Turgen gorge and Issyk lake
We had an incredible time touring Big Almaty Lake, Turgen Gorge, Issyk Lake, and Assy Plateau with Nomad Outfitters. Our tour lead and guides Damir and Dayana were one of the best tour guides we have experienced. They were knowledgeable - Damir shared amazing insights into Kazakhstan's culture, history, nature, and traditions. They were very friendly and a great company on one-day long tours. The areas we visited were beautiful and definitely worth visiting. Assy plateau is unique in its landscape and natural beauty. Both Damir and Dayana are excellent drivers, especially Dayana and made the visits comfortable. We would definitely be back touring with them when we are return to Kazakhstan.
Highly recommended tour of Big Almaty lake & Assy Plateau
We spent 2 days travelling across, and in and around Almaty with the Damir and Diana from the Outfitters KZ team. Our first expedition was to the big Almaty lake. The Outfitters KZ team assigned Damir who organised for our pickup from the hotel, our hike to the big Almaty lake, as well as gave us an incredible cultural and historical glimpse of the Kazakh people. Or second expedition was to Assy Plateau via Turgen Valley and Issyk Lake. The road to the plateau isn't the greatest (requires 4WD) but Damir's Lexus and Diana driving alongside the easy conversions (in their impeccable english) made the long journey incredibly comfortable. We enjoyed learning about all things Kazakstan in our two days spent with Damir and Diana.
Assy platou trip
We had a wonderful trip with Outfitters company. Very well organized. Respectful and responsible drivers. Highly recommend this company for this and other tours.
Questions about this tour
When is the best time for this tour?
June to early October, when the high passes are clear of snow. In June and July the plateau is green and full of flowers.
How hard is the walking?
Easy. Most of the day is off-road driving with photo stops. The only walk is a short stroll to the petroglyphs by the Assy River.
Is it suitable for children or older travelers?
Yes for children who are fine with bumpy roads. Parts of the route are rough off-road tracks, so we don't recommend it for travelers with back problems. The plateau is at 2,800 m, so take it slow if you are not used to altitude.
What should I wear and bring?
We recommend you bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen
- A warm layer, as mountain and steppe weather changes fast
- Cash for personal expenses
We provide drinking water on every tour.
Is this a private or shared tour?
Private: only your group travels in the car, with your own guide. The price per person drops as your group grows, from $100 per person. Group tours with set dates start in March 2027.
What if the weather is bad, or I need to cancel?
Cancellation is free, whenever you cancel. You pay in cash at the start of the tour, so there is nothing to lose. If snow, heavy rain or a road closure makes the route unsafe, we move you to another day or cancel at no cost.
Anything else? Message us on WhatsApp
