DAO Travel · Big Almaty Lake + Alma-Arasan
DAO Travel drives you to Big Almaty Lake at 8 am from the Abay Opera, then on to the Almarasan hot springs, and has you back in town around 1 pm. Pick it for the languages: guides speak English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Korean.
DAO Travel is a large Almaty operator with more than 300 reviews on this tour. The typical schedule is tight: meet at 8:00 at the fountain by the Abay Opera Theatre (or the First President Park bus stop at Dulati and Al-Farabi), switch to the car for the lake around 8:30 and arrive about 8:40. You get roughly an hour up there. By 10:30 the group is at Almarasan, as the operator spells it, and you are back around 1 pm, dropped at the Opera or near Euro Flowers.
The language list is the reason to choose it. Guides work in English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Korean, which no other lake tour here matches. Park entry, the car to the lake, the springs and some food and drinks are included, and some options add a pickup. The listing is also blunt about the rules: do not enter the lake water, it is the city's drinking supply, and guards may issue fines.
Be clear on the rating. At 4.2 from 306 reviews it sits below Adam Hiking Tours (4.8) and Panda Travel (4.6), and the page's sub-scores rate value lowest, at 3.9, against 4.4 for transport and 4.2 for the guide. Our read: it runs on time, and guests who rate it well say so, but if you speak English and only want the best-rated trip, book Adam's. Book DAO if your group needs another language.
Meet the guide at the fountain by the Abay Opera Theatre, or at the First President Park bus stop on your option.
Up the gorge to the barrier, where the group takes the car to the lake.
Roughly an hour at the viewpoints above the water.
Down to the Alma-Arasan gorge for the hot springs. Bring swimwear.
Drop-off at the Abay Opera or Euro Flowers Almaty.
★★★★★Well-organized for those who want to see the lake without a hike
★★★★★Well organised prompt and managed to get everywhere without long waits.
★★★★★Igor was so friendly and considerate. He picked us up from our destination and dropped too!
★★★★★Thank you. Everything was great, on time, and informative. Thanks to our guide Dmitry.
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At the fountain near the Abay Opera Theatre at 8:00, or at the First President Park bus stop on the corner of Dulati and Al-Farabi, depending on the option. Some options include pickup.
English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Korean, per the listing. Pick your language when you book.
It scores 4.2 from 306 reviews, and the value sub-score (3.9) is the weakest part. Guests who liked it praise the timing and organisation. The time at the lake is about the same hour as elsewhere.
No. The listing says not to enter the water: the lake is Almaty's drinking supply and guards may fine you. Swimwear is for the Almarasan springs.
Ready to book
A car straight to the lake and the Almarasan springs, with guides in six languages, back in town by early afternoon.
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