Yuliya.

Yuliya is an excellent guide and a very safe driver. Not only she planned a very interesting itinerary, but also delivered a unique experience for us. She is a knowledgeable person with a lot of insight into various aspects of Kazakhstan: culture, geography, nature (plants, animals) and daily life of Kazakh people. We always had options for us (plan B, plan C, etc) and we were always taken care of with a lot of professionalism and dedication.The programme offered an interesting mixture of Kazakh landscapes, and the recommended accommodation and restaurants were excellent (Yuliya’s advice in choosing from the menu was much appreciated). The visit to the Golden Man museum in Yssyk was an added treat. If you plan to go to Kazakhstan and/or Kyrgyzstan get in touch with Yuliya, let her know more about yourselves (preferences, age, level of physical fitness, expectations) and rest assured that she will prepare and deliver a tailormade experience for you. Yuliya to znakomita przewodniczka i kierowca jeżdżący bardzo bezpiecznie. Nie tylko zaplanowała niezwykle interesującą trasę, ale też zapewniła nam wyjątkowe wrażenia. To osoba o ogromnej wiedzy, świetnie orientująca się w różnych aspektach życia w Kazachstanie: kulturze, geografii, przyrodzie (roślinność, zwierzęta) oraz codziennym życiu mieszkańców. Zawsze mieliśmy alternatywne rozwiązania (plan B, plan C itp.), a o nasze potrzeby dbano z wielkim profesjonalizmem i zaangażowaniem. Program wyjazdu obejmował różnorodne krajobrazy Kazachstanu, a polecane miejsca noclegowe i restauracje były doskonałe (bardzo doceniliśmy wskazówki Yuliyi przy wyborze dań z menu). Dodatkową atrakcją była wizyta w muzeum „Złotego Człowieka” w Issyk. Jeśli planujecie podróż do Kazachstanu i/lub Kirgistanu, skontaktujcie się z Yuliyą, opowiedzcie jej o sobie (preferencje, wiek, kondycja fizyczna, oczekiwania) i miejcie pewność, że przygotuje ona dla Was ofertę idealnie dopasowaną do Waszych potrzeb.

I had such a brilliant experience travelling with Yuliya. Communication before the trip was excellent. She gave me really useful advice about what to bring, and even things like when proper walking shoes would be needed, which made preparing for the trip so much easier. What really stood out was how much she listened to what I wanted from the trip. She took the time to understand my likes and dislikes and tailored things around me rather than just following a standard itinerary. There were a few unexpected things along the way that were completely outside of her control. She stayed calm, practical and reassuring throughout and did everything she could to make sure I was still able to finish the trip as planned. She speaks very good English, is incredibly knowledgeable about Kazakhstan, and was always happy to answer my endless questions.

Susan

September 2026

Our guide in Yuliya (Julia) is an experienced, inspiring and adventures lady. Born and raised in Almaty, she definitely knows her way around and not only in Almaty. Going off the beaten track she took us on amazing trips in her trusted land cruiser, exploring beautiful lakes, canyons and much more. She was not only a great guide, but also a really fun person to spend time with. Her stories were fantastic, and she brought so much energy and personality to the trip. You could tell she truly loves what she does and proudly sharing the diversity of her country with others. A wonderful experience for the ones that want something different. We definitely recommend Yuliya if you want to experience Kazakhstan in a different and more adventurous way! 🚙🏔️✨

Marvin

August 2026

It Is difficult to describe how we was happy with Julia. She caught exactly our desire and build a taylored on US trip. We had a great fun with her delicate and efficient way of explaining, of organizing. Her car was ready for every adventure or inconvenienti, even if all was smooth and perfect. Grazie Julia, большое спасибо!!!

Candida

May 2026

Hi July and Dima, It has been 1 week since we left Almaty and we still think about that holiday! You gave us such happy memories :) As promised, below is our genuine review about our time there with you guys. We have this annual Friend-trip with our high school friend who we have known for more than 20+ years. They live in Sydney, Australia now and we want to go celebrate New Year together in a country we have never been to before. We both wanted to escape the hot weather so we decided to explore Kazakhstan. Luckily we have a friend who has been there and saw her posts and stories on her Instagram and I asked her how she travels around the city. That's how we get to know July. From the moment we exchange words through WhatsApp, July has been more than welcoming, very informative and helpful. She would let us know if she is on the road with customers and will be slow in response. She would give us recommendations on anything you asked for. We have full trust in her on the programme. We just gave her all the details i.e. Flight information, how many days etc and true enough we had a total BLAST. Not only does she puts our comfort first, but she goes above and beyond to make your dreams come true like a fairy Godmother. You only need to ask her once about something, she will try to make it happen. We remember she always says “This is your holiday, you can do whatever you want. And if I can, I will make things happen for you so you will be happy” As an example, in the programme we have 1 day in a ski resort and my partner asked if there will be snowmobiles there because she always wants to try. July said they don’t have it in the ski resort. However, the following day as we hit the road after visiting Ethno Village, she saw a group of people who were playing with the snowmobile in this huge snow field on the side of the road. She stopped the car and asked the guy if we could rent one. And surely we hit one of our bucket lists! This happened on the second day of the programme, and from that moment we know we really are in good hands. Ooo forgot to mention that our friend from Sydney has a 5 year old boy. July and Dima - Her Big Brother, really spoiled this kid! From wild sledding on the hill on the side of the road, looking and buying toys as presents, even guiding him as we hike through the snowy mountain. It really touched our hearts :) Both of them are very professional and throughout the 1 week trip we felt like we were hanging out with friends. We talked. We laughed. We share some deep conversations. And most importantly, they really think about every smallest detail. From making sure we always have coffee in the morning when we are outside of the city, snacks so we won’t feel hungry, water so we keep hydrated and even some local cognac to keep us warm. It really was the best time we had! We came with no expectations. But we left in an AWE, of the people, the city and especially the landscapes. And we have July and Dima to thank. If it wasn’t for the both of them, we might have different impressions. They also gave us insights about the history, economic and political facts so we can understand better and in the end fall in love with the country. We will definitely come back to experience different seasons and maybe even bring more of our family to experience the beautiful city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Thank you for everything :) Love Yurika and Bene

My friend and I had a really wonderful trip with Yuliya. She was so well organised, helpful and had great knowledge about the area. There was plenty of flexibility and Yuliya was able to curate the tour with our interests in mind. It was really lovely and easy to be together travelling for 2 days through the vast landscape of the mountains. We shared stories, jokes, and delicious cherries. Thank you for such a wonderful experience! Would love to try a longer trip in the future.

Louise

May 2025

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.

F

September 2024

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.

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!!

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!

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’.

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.

Eoin

April 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

We had a fantastic time with Julia! The tour had an easy pace and was well thought out. We could just let go and relax. Even in the face of an unexpected stressful situation which we brought upon ourselves, Julia's professionalism shone through as she took care of our problem. 5 stars out of 5. We highly recommend her or any tour she organizes.

Two adventurous days that reveal Kazakhstan in a completely new way. The private tour is highly recommended to all nature and offroad lovers. Thank you Dimitri & Yulia for the uncomplicated planning and the great time.

We spent two days with Dimitri. He showed us the canyons and lakes in the Almaty region and at the same time told us about the local culture and people. The trip was ideally suited to our schedule and the price-performance ratio unbeatable. An unforgettable trip with many lasting impressions and good conversations!

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.

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.

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!

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.

Yuliya is a very knowledgeable and experienced tour guide. Her 4x4 off-road car will take you virtually everywhere you would like to go. Moreover, she is a very safe driver, which is not so evident in Central Asia. She took fantastic care of us and really customized the tour to our likings. In short, if you would like to see some of Kazakhstan`s varied and very beautiful nature in a time efficient manner, we would highly recommend booking a tour with Yuliya. Warm greetings!! Maarten and Sanneke

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.

Yuliya sent me a guide who speaks Korean really well and a English speaking driver. They are terrific! No problem in communication and fell comfortable. Car and Lunch both are good. The Assy plateau is amazing and I could really enjoy it.

Our tour with Julia was amazing! She is a really great driver and guide. Taking us to the best places and telling us everything about those places, she really knows a lot. She took really good care of us (even arranged vegetarian food for me in such a meat loving country) and it was great fun with her. Her English is great as well and she is really responsive. Would def recommend a tour with her!