3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay

Kolsay is at its best when you leave the easy viewpoints behind. This private horseback riding and hiking tour takes you from Almaty into the Kungey Alatau, using horses, mountain paths, a hut, and a tent to reach all three Kolsay Lakes.

I like the mix of riding and walking, and I like the stop in Baiseit for tandyr bread, samsa, lagman, and fresh produce. Guides Darya, Alex, and Gulnaz bring a personal touch, but the $1,900 price is steep, and you need moderate fitness, outdoor clothing, and your own sleeping bag.

Key points to know before you book

• Three Kolsay Lakes in three days: Ride toward Middle and Upper Kolsay, then hike back toward Lower Kolsay.
• A real mountain trip: Expect long days, with up to 12 hours on the first day and 9 hours on horseback or foot on the second.
• Private guiding: Only your own group takes part, with guide support and horse breeders included.
• Local food stop: Baiseit offers fresh bread, fruit, vegetables, samsa, chebureki, lagman, and shashlyk.
• Simple overnight stays: One night is in a mountain hut and another includes a tent, sleeping pad, and camping meals.
• Pack carefully: A sleeping bag, outdoor clothing, snacks, insurance, and personal expenses are not included.

Why this Kolsay trip feels different

Many mountain outings give you a quick lake view, a few photos, and a ride back to town. This one asks you to slow down. You spend three days moving through the mountains by horse and on foot, with time for changing views, simple meals, and the practical rhythm of camp life.

That matters in Kolsay. The appeal is not only the lakes themselves. It is the journey between them, the small passes, the remote trails, the sound of horses, and the change from city travel to a basic outdoor routine.

The trip is private, so your group does not have to match the pace of strangers. That can help if one person wants more time for photos or if the group needs to adjust its walking speed. It also means the price is not spread across a large coach party. At $1,900 per person, this is a premium outing, but the cost includes private transport, horses, guides, accommodation, most meals, and mountain equipment such as trekking poles and sleeping pads.

You should still think of this as a serious mountain trip, not a soft sightseeing excursion. The first day begins at 6:00 a.m. and includes a long drive from Almaty. The second day lasts about nine hours, and the third takes about eight. The horses make the route more manageable, but you still need to walk, climb, pack, and cope with basic sleeping conditions.

Baiseit: the right first stop on a long road

The journey starts at the Magnum Hypermarket on Demyan Bednogo Street in Almaty. From there, you travel about 285 kilometers toward Kurmenty village by SUV or minibus.

That is a long first day, but the stop in Baiseit breaks it up in a useful way. This Uigur village is known for its food market and hospitable local character. You can buy fresh fruit and vegetables for the mountain portion of the trip, along with bread and other supplies.

Look for tandyr bread, onion bread, samsa, chebureki, lagman, and shashlyk. These are not decorative travel snacks. They give you a taste of the food culture around Almaty and help stock the group before it reaches the mountains.

I like this stop because it connects the outdoor trip to ordinary local life. You are not simply being driven from a city to a trailhead. You are stopping in a village market, choosing food, and preparing for several days away from normal shops.

The drawback is time. The first day is listed at about 12 hours, and much of that will be spent on the road. If you want three full days of riding and hiking, this schedule may feel compressed. The payoff comes later, but you should be ready for an early start and a long transfer.

Reaching Kurmenty and settling into mountain life

Kurmenty is the gateway for the mountain portion of the trip. The exact accommodation arrangement is simple: the package includes a mountain hut, a tent place, a sleeping pad, breakfast on two mornings, and dinner and lunch across the three days.

Do not expect hotel comfort. The experience is built around a basic outdoor setup. A hut gives you shelter, while the tent portion brings you closer to the practical side of the journey. The sleeping pad is included, but a sleeping bag is not, so you must bring one.

The provider also supplies trekking poles. These are useful on uneven mountain paths, especially on the hiking sections between the lakes. You should bring proper outdoor clothing, even if the forecast looks pleasant in Almaty. The tour takes place in a mountain setting, and conditions can change.

Snacks are not included. That is easy to overlook on a meal-supported trip, so pack food you can carry and eat between stops. Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are also your responsibility.

Riding toward Middle and Upper Kolsay

After breakfast and preparation, the second day takes you on horseback toward Middle Kolsay Lake. The route from the hut crosses two small passes, which gives the day more variety than a simple ride along a valley floor.

In clear weather, you can see broad mountain views along the way. The exact quality of the views depends on weather, but the route is designed to take you away from crowded and heavily used places. That is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a short lake transfer.

Horse riding also changes how you experience distance. You cover ground without walking every step, yet you remain exposed to the terrain. You still feel the slope, the weather, and the pace of the animal beneath you.

A practical note: the horses may not always move quickly. One account describes them as somewhat lazy, with encouragement needed to keep them moving. That is not necessarily a flaw. A calm horse can feel reassuring for a less experienced rider, but anyone expecting a fast, dramatic ride may find the pace slow.

The horse breeder service is included, which gives the trip added support in the field. You are not simply handed an animal and sent into the hills. The guide team and horse handlers are part of the operating structure.

The second day lasts about nine hours, so take the timing seriously. Riding for that long can tire your legs and seat, while the passes add physical work. You should be comfortable spending most of a day outdoors and following mountain instructions.

Middle Kolsay and the value of slowing down

Middle Kolsay is one of the central points of the route. It is not treated as a quick photo stop. The schedule allows the lake to be part of a longer route, with the mountain passes and the ride providing the approach.

This is where the tour’s mixed format makes sense. A pure riding trip would limit the experience to the saddle. A pure hiking trip would demand more from your legs and might reduce the distance you can cover. Combining both gives you a broader way to move through the area.

The trip also includes time for tea and snacks near Middle Kolsay on the third day. That small pause is important. Remote mountain travel is often improved by simple routines: stop, drink, eat, check your clothing, and continue.

Fresh mountain water is part of the appeal, but you should not assume every water source is ready to drink without treatment. Bring a filter or another suitable method if you plan to use natural water. The tour does not include snacks or personal water-treatment equipment.

Hiking back toward Lower Kolsay

The third day begins with breakfast and packing. You hike back toward Middle Kolsay, then follow the path toward Lower, or First, Kolsay Lake.

This reverses the rhythm of the previous day. Instead of relying mainly on the horses, you spend more time on foot. The route gives you a chance to notice details that are easy to miss from the saddle, including the feel of the trail, changing views, and the effort required to gain and lose height.

The day is listed at about eight hours. That is a full hiking day, even with breaks. Trekking poles are included, but sturdy outdoor shoes and suitable clothing are still essential. The operator asks for moderate physical fitness, and that requirement is worth taking seriously.

Lower Kolsay makes a fitting endpoint because you see the lake system as a connected route rather than a single roadside attraction. You may find this day more tiring than expected, especially after the riding and travel already completed. The food support helps, but meals do not remove the need for stamina.

Darya, Alex, and Gulnaz as part of the experience

The guide team is a major part of this tour. Darya is associated with the trip’s personal care and strong energy, while Alex and Gulnaz are also named among the people involved in guiding and organizing outdoor journeys.

That personal scale matters on a private route. The guide is not only pointing out scenery. The guide helps with pace, comfort, food, safety, horses, and the transition between riding and hiking.

The tour has also accommodated solo participants by arranging them into small groups for similar mountain trips. For this specific package, however, the activity is described as private, with only your group taking part. If you are booking alone, confirm the exact arrangement before paying, since a private activity usually means a higher per-person cost.

The safety side is worth noting. The itinerary includes guides, horse breeders, private transport, and trekking poles. It does not include insurance, so you need to arrange your own policy.

What the $1,900 price really buys

At $1,900 per person, this tour is not a bargain in the usual sense. The value comes from the amount of support packed into a remote three-day trip.

Included are private transportation, all listed fees and taxes, horse rental, horse breeder services, guide services, the hut and tent place, sleeping pads, trekking poles, two breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.

You are paying for logistics as much as scenery. Getting from Almaty to the mountain area, moving horses and equipment, arranging food, and guiding a private group through remote terrain all add cost. A cheaper day tour may show you one lake, but it will not provide the same three-day structure.

Still, the price will not suit every budget. You must add outdoor clothing, a sleeping bag, snacks, insurance, and personal spending. Ask yourself how much you value private transport and hands-on support. If you already own camping gear and can arrange your own route, this package may feel expensive. If you want the mountain work organized for you, the cost becomes easier to defend.

Who should book this trip

I would recommend it to you if you want a real outdoor challenge without organizing every horse, meal, transfer, and overnight stay yourself. It suits people who enjoy quiet trails, basic camping, local food, and long days outside.

It can also work well for a family group with older children or several generations, provided everyone has the required fitness and is comfortable with the long hours. The horse sections reduce some of the walking burden, but they do not turn the tour into a passive ride.

You should think twice if you need hotel rooms, short sightseeing days, reliable indoor comfort, or a tightly predictable schedule. You should also reconsider if you dislike early departures, long transfers, basic camping, or uncertain mountain weather.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Otherwise, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, while changes made later are not accepted.

Should you book the Kolsay horse and hiking tour?

Book this trip if your goal is to experience Kungey Alatau through movement, not simply look at it from a vehicle. The strongest features are the combination of riding and hiking, the chance to reach all three Kolsay Lakes, the local food stop in Baiseit, and the close support of a private guide team.

Do not book it just because the photographs look appealing. You need to accept a 6:00 a.m. start, a long first day, basic sleeping arrangements, slow or unpredictable horse pacing, and full outdoor days. If that sounds like the kind of discomfort that leads to good stories, this is a serious and memorable choice. If not, choose a shorter Kolsay outing.

FAQ

How long is the Kolsay horseback riding and hiking tour?

The experience lasts approximately three days. The first day takes about 12 hours, the second about 9 hours, and the third about 8 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at the Magnum Hypermarket at 3 Demyan Bednogo Street in Almaty at 6:00 a.m. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The price includes private transportation, listed fees and taxes, horse rental, horse breeder services, guide services, a mountain hut, a tent place, a sleeping pad, trekking poles, two breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

Yes. A sleeping bag is not included. You also need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and gear.

How physically demanding is the trip?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The itinerary includes horseback riding, hiking, two small passes, packing, and full days in the mountains.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.