Damir

Damir.

Local Tour Company in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Written by Indy Guide from Damir's trips and guest reviews, edited by Damir

About this host

Damir runs a tour company in Almaty that plans and operates private day trips and multi-day road trips across the region, and he drives some of the tours himself.

The range is built around the classic sights east of Almaty: Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, Big Almaty Lake, the Assy Plateau, Altyn-Emel and the Tanbaly petroglyphs. Trips run from easy one-day outings to five-day loops such as the Golden Ring of Zhetysu, with options that add off-road driving to lesser-seen viewpoints or a full day of hiking between the Kolsai lakes. City tours and ski-area trips to Medeu and Shymbulak are also on offer.

Every tour is private, with just one group, a guide-driver and an SUV, and hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Almaty. On multi-day routes guests stay in guest houses or yurts with private rooms, and meals are included along the way. Itineraries can be adjusted to a family's schedule, as when Damir put together a custom winter itinerary around a family's ski days, with gear able to stay in the car throughout the trip.

Tours & Activities

13 Listings

Charyn & Kaindy With Hike To Kolsai Lake 2: 3 Days Private Hiking Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
3 Days
Charyn & Kaindy With Hike To Kolsai Lake 2: 3 Days Private Hiking Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
This private 3-day tour is for travellers who want more than the viewpoints. Alongside Charyn Canyon and Kaindy Lake, it gives you a full day on foot in the mountains, hiking through spruce forest from the first Kolsai lake to the second, Mynzhylky. Day 1 is Charyn Canyon in depth: the Valley of Castles on foot, then off-road to the Lunar Canyon, the Stone Shelf and the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints, and the Black Canyon on the way to Saty village. Day 2 is the hiking day, about 9 km each way on forest trails, with a picnic lunch by the second lake at about 2,300 m. On day 3 you walk to Kaindy Lake, where spruce trunks rise from the water, and stop at a viewpoint over the Chilik River valley. Two nights in a Saty village guest house, with a private room, a private bathroom and home-made local food, let you rest well between the active days. Highlights: - Hike through spruce forest from the first to the second Kolsai lake - Picnic by Mynzhylky Lake, the second Kolsai lake - See the Valley of Castles and the off-road viewpoints of Charyn Canyon - Walk to Kaindy Lake and its sunken spruce forest - Two nights in a Saty guest house, in a private room with a private bathroom - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Private Great Almaty Loop 3 Days: Lake Issyk & Assy Plateau To Charyn And Kolsai Lakes
Tours & Activities
3 Days
Private Great Almaty Loop 3 Days: Lake Issyk & Assy Plateau To Charyn And Kolsai Lakes
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
The Great Almaty Loop is a three-day private road trip for travellers who want variety: a mountain lake, a forest waterfall, a high plateau, a night in yurts, the red rocks of Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, with off-road driving and short walks in between. On day 1 you walk down to Lake Issyk, trek to Bear Waterfall in the Turgen Gorge and drive up to the Assy Plateau and its observatory, before an evening in yurts at the Aul Tumar ethno-village. Day 2 is all about Charyn Canyon: the Valley of Castles, the Lunar Canyon, the Stone Shelf and the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints, then the Black Canyon on the way to Saty village. On day 3 you see Kaindy Lake and its sunken forest from three spots and stroll along the shore of the lower Kolsai lake. Two very different nights are part of the experience: one in yurts and one in a guest house in Saty village. Highlights: - Walk down to Lake Issyk and trek to Bear Waterfall - Drive up to the Assy Plateau and its observatory - Spend a night in yurts at the Aul Tumar ethno-village - See the Valley of Castles and more viewpoints of Charyn Canyon - Visit Kaindy Lake and the lower Kolsai lake - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Private Golden Ring Of Zhetysu: Altyn-emel And Charyn To Kolsai & Kaindy In 3 Days
Tours & Activities
3 Days
Private Golden Ring Of Zhetysu: Altyn-emel And Charyn To Kolsai & Kaindy In 3 Days
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Desert, canyon and mountain lakes in three days. This private tour links the colored hills and Singing Dune of Altyn-Emel with Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes. It covers the same national parks as our 5-day Golden Ring of Zhetysu in less time, so it suits travellers who want the full variety of the region on a shorter trip. You trek through the Aktau Mountains among layered colored hills, climb the Singing Dune early in the morning for views over the Ili River, and walk between the red rock towers of Charyn's Valley of Castles. The last day belongs to the mountains: a stroll along the shore of Kolsai Lake and a walk to Kaindy Lake, where spruce trunks rise from the water. Your nights are in guest houses in Basshi and Saty villages, in private rooms with private bathrooms, with home-made local food. Highlights: - Trek about 7 km through the colored Aktau Mountains in Altyn-Emel - Climb the Singing Dune for views over the Ili River - Walk through the Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon - See Kolsai Lake and the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake - Two guest house nights with private rooms and bathrooms, meals included - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Altyn-emel Singing Dune & Aktau Mountains: 2 Days Private Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
2 Days
Altyn-emel Singing Dune & Aktau Mountains: 2 Days Private Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Altyn-Emel National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Cold Winter Deserts of Turan", a desert landscape that looks nothing like the mountains around Almaty. Over two private days you see its two most famous sights: the Singing Dune and the layered, colored hills of the Aktau Mountains. On the first afternoon you climb the Singing Dune (Aygaykum), short but steep on loose sand, and stop at the Oshaktas stele on the way back. You spend the night at a guest house in Basshi village, the park headquarters. The next day you stop at a 700-year-old willow and walk through the Aktau valley among its Cretaceous hills, a wonderful place for photos. It suits travellers who love wide open landscapes and want time to enjoy them without rushing. In the warm months, a night in tents at the foot of the Aktau Mountains can be arranged on request. Highlights: - Climb the Singing Dune in a UNESCO-listed national park - Walk through the colored Cretaceous hills of the Aktau Mountains - See a 700-year-old willow and the Oshaktas stele - A night at a Basshi guest house, in a private room with a private bathroom - All meals except breakfast on day 1 are included - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Charyn Canyon & Kolsai And Kaindy Lakes: 2 Days Private Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
2 Days
Charyn Canyon & Kolsai And Kaindy Lakes: 2 Days Private Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Three of the most famous places east of Almaty, without the rush: the red rock towers of Charyn Canyon, the mountain water of Kolsai Lake and the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake, with a night in Saty village in between. On the first day you walk through the Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon, stop at the Black Canyon and stroll along the shore of Kolsai Lake, then check in at a guest house in Saty village for a home-made dinner. The next morning you walk through the forest to Kaindy Lake, where spruce trunks still rise from the water, and see it from the main viewpoint and from the inflow of the Kaindy River. It suits anyone who wants to see the classic highlights of the region at a gentle pace. From late May to mid-October the lakes are at their bluest; in winter they freeze and the mountains turn white. Highlights: - Walk among the red rock towers of Charyn's Valley of Castles - Stroll along the shore of Kolsai Lake - See spruce trunks rising from the water at Kaindy Lake - A night in a Saty village guest house, in a private room with a private bathroom - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes And Charyn Canyon In One Day: Private Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
1 Day
Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes And Charyn Canyon In One Day: Private Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Short on time but keen to see the region's best-known landscapes? This long private day takes you from Almaty to Kaindy Lake, Kolsai Lake, the Black Canyon and the Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon, from early morning to late evening. At Kaindy you follow a forest trail to see the lake from three spots: from above, at the river inflow and from the shore, where the trunks of a sunken spruce forest rise from the water. Lunch is at a guest house in Saty village, and in the afternoon you stroll along the shore of Kolsai Lake before finishing at the Valley of Castles viewpoint in Charyn Canyon. It is a big day, with about 570 km of driving, made for travellers with only one day to spare. We suggest it for children over 10; if you have a second day, our 2-day tour of the same places is more relaxed. Highlights: - See Kaindy Lake, Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon in a single day - Walk to Kaindy Lake and its sunken spruce forest - Stroll along the shore of Kolsai Lake - Stop at the Black Canyon and the Valley of Castles viewpoint - Lunch at a guest house in Saty village - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Tanbaly Petroglyphs Unesco Site: Private Day Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
1 Day
Tanbaly Petroglyphs Unesco Site: Private Day Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Tanbaly is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Anrakay Mountains, about 170 km from Almaty, where more than 4,000 petroglyphs were carved into the rocks in the Bronze Age. Walking among them with a guide who explains what the carvings show and what they mean brings this ancient place to life. After the guided walk, a short hike takes you to the main petroglyph groups and viewpoints. Then you sit down to a picnic lunch, with free time afterwards for photos and a quiet walk in the Anrakay Mountains. This is one of our easiest day trips, with about 2 km of walking in total, so it is a good choice for children, older travellers and anyone curious about history. Spring is the prettiest time, when the steppe turns green and poppies flower in May. Highlights: - See more than 4,000 Bronze Age petroglyphs at a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Learn what the carvings mean on a guided walk - Hike to the main petroglyph groups and viewpoints - Picnic lunch and free time in the Anrakay Mountains - Easy walking, a good choice for children and older travellers - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Charyn Canyon Off-road: Private Day Tour To Hidden Viewpoints From Almaty
Tours & Activities
1 Day
Charyn Canyon Off-road: Private Day Tour To Hidden Viewpoints From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Charyn Canyon lies about 200 km east of Almaty, and most day trips see just one part of it. This private tour goes further, driving off-road to viewpoints most visitors never reach. You start in the Valley of Castles (Qyzylsay), the canyon's most famous section, walking down a wide gravel trail between red rock towers. After lunch at a local cafe, your guide-driver takes you off-road to look out over the Lunar Canyon, step onto the Stone Shelf and finish at the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints. Each is only a few minutes' walk from the car, so there is time for photos at every stop. It is a long, full day for anyone who loves big landscapes and photography, with easy walking throughout. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, and winter brings clear days and far fewer visitors. Highlights: - Walk among the red rock towers of the Valley of Castles - Drive off-road to viewpoints most Charyn day trips skip - See the Lunar Canyon, the Stone Shelf and the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints - Lunch at a local cafe on the way - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Assy Plateau & Bartogay Reservoir: Private Off-road Day Tour From Almaty
Tours & Activities
1 Day
Assy Plateau & Bartogay Reservoir: Private Off-road Day Tour From Almaty
Starts in Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan
A day for travellers who love wide open spaces and a bit of adventure. You leave the paved road behind, cross two mountain passes off-road and drive up onto the Assy Plateau at 2,800 m, a high land of meadows and long horizons east of Almaty. The day starts at Bartogay Reservoir, with a view over its 60 m rock dam and the valley, a relaxed break by the river and a picnic lunch by the water. Then the off-road part begins: over the Kyzylauz and Karaarsha passes, with photo stops above the Zhenishke Valley and the Sarytau ridge. On the plateau you visit the Assy-Turgen Astronomical Observatory and take a short walk to red-rock petroglyphs along the Assy River, before heading home through the Turgen Gorge. Most of the day is spent driving and stopping for photos, so the walking is easy. In June and July the plateau is green and full of flowers. Highlights: - Drive off-road over the Kyzylauz and Karaarsha mountain passes - See the Assy Plateau at 2,800 m, with meadows and long horizons - Visit the Assy-Turgen Astronomical Observatory - Walk to red-rock petroglyphs along the Assy River - Picnic lunch by the water at Bartogay Reservoir - A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Reviews
5.0
★★★★★
13 Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0

Grigoriy was a very good guide and driver with good knowledge of the area. He was informative and attentive. He had a good rapport with our hosts, making the whole trip very enjoyable.

P
Peter
July 2019
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0

It was perfect ! He was a great guide as I’ve learned a lot from him while exploring the canyon and I felt very comfortable throughout the whole journey .

A
Ameliapeiyee
July 2019
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0

Azamat is amazing! We had an incredible tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai, Altyn-Emel and more. We could not have wished for a better experience or a better guide. Azamat was extremely knowledgable and thoughtful and tailored our trip to suit us. Each day was jam packed with extraordinary experiences and Azamat was flexible throughout, making changes to the itinerary to ensure we saw things in the best light, or when it was too hot. He also consulted with us, and I can`t wait to on our next tour with him. Five stars!

T
Traveler
January 2019
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Tour Operator Licence No. 23012670 (TOO Outfitter KZ)

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Damir
Damir
★ Superhost
Damir
Local Tour Company · Kazakhstan
5.0
Rating
13
Reviews
13
Listings
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