Kazakhstan / Almaty & the Mountains / Big Almaty LakeBig Almaty Lake
Turquoise Mountain Reservoir Above Almaty
A turquoise lake at about 2,500 m in the Ile-Alatau National Park, 30 km south of Almaty, ringed by peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau. It is a reservoir that supplies the city's drinking water, so swimming, fishing and camping are banned, and the national park has shut the road to private cars, motorbikes and e-scooters: you take a taxi to the park checkpoint and walk up, or ask a licensed tour operator how they reach it. Most visitors come for half a day from Almaty and sleep in the city. Bring layers: it is cold up here even in summer, and snow lies from October to May.
Highlights
- The lake's turquoise colour in late summer
- Big Almaty Peak above the water
- Walk up the gorge road from the park checkpoint
- Snow peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau
Things to do
- Walk up the gorge road to the lake and backMorning · 5h
- Viewpoints above the damAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: June – September
Worth knowing
No Private Cars or Swimming at Big Almaty Lake
The Ile-Alatau National Park has shut the road to Big Almaty Lake to private cars, motorbikes and e-scooters, and has extended the ban: taxis stop at the checkpoint and you walk up. The lake is Almaty's drinking-water reservoir, so swimming, fishing and camping are banned. From October to May the road is snowy and icy; go only in good weather.