3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay

Kolsay’s three lakes are the star, but the real appeal is getting there by horse and foot, far from the quickest sightseeing routes. You begin with local food in Baiseit, then trade city roads for mountain paths, simple huts, camp meals, and wide-open views.

I like the mix of real outdoor effort and careful support. Darya is praised for watching the group closely, while Gulnaz and Alex are also connected with Powder Nomads’ mountain trips. I also like the chance to buy tandyr bread, samsa, fruit, and vegetables before heading into the hills.

The main drawback is the price: $1,900 per person is a serious investment for three days. The long first day, basic sleeping arrangements, missing sleeping bag, and need for moderate fitness make this a better choice for committed hikers than casual sightseers.

Key points to know before booking

• Three lakes in three days: The route links the Lower, Middle, and Upper Kolsay areas by a blend of riding and hiking.
• A very long first day: Pickup begins at 6:00 a.m., followed by roughly 285 kilometers to Kurmenty and mountain access.
• Local food comes before the wilderness: Baiseit is a useful stop for bread, fruit, vegetables, samsa, chebureki, lagman, and shashlyk.
• Simple mountain sleeping: Accommodation includes a mountain hut, a tent place, sleeping pad, and meals, but not a sleeping bag.
• Private group format: Only your own party participates, with private transport and guide service.
• Good support, limited luxury: Horses, horse breeders, trekking poles, meals, and transport are covered, while personal gear, insurance, snacks, and drinks are not.

Why this Kolsay trip feels different

Many visits to Kolsay Lakes focus on a quick view and a short walk. This trip asks you to spend real time in the mountains. You ride across remote paths, walk between lake areas, sleep simply, and let the route unfold at a slower pace.

That matters because Kolsay is not just a photo stop. The experience is about the spaces between the lakes: passes, forested slopes, mountain air, changing weather, and the quiet routine of eating and sleeping outdoors. You get a taste of a nomadic rhythm without giving up a guide, transport, meals, or basic camp equipment.

The route is also private. That means your party is not folded into a large coach group once you leave Almaty. You can expect the guide to work with your group’s pace and needs, though the trip still has fixed distances and a demanding schedule.

Powder Nomads presents this as a mixed horseback and hiking trip, not a riding holiday alone. If you have little riding experience, the guide and horse breeder support are useful. If you prefer to walk, you should still expect to spend a meaningful part of the route on horseback.

Day one: Baiseit food, a 285-kilometer road trip, and Kurmenty

The day begins at 6:00 a.m. at the Magnum Hypermarket on Demyan Bednogo Street in Almaty. That early start is not decorative. You have a long transfer ahead, and the first day lasts about 12 hours.

Your destination is Kurmenty village, around 285 kilometers from Almaty. Transport is provided by SUV or minibus, and the road day forms a large part of the tour. If you dislike long vehicle transfers, this is the point to think carefully before booking.

The stop in Baiseit gives the drive a human and local touch. This Uigur village is known for its produce market and prepared food. You can look for fresh fruit and vegetables, tandyr bread, onion bread, samsa, chebureki, lagman, and shashlyk.

Buying food here is practical, not just scenic. The mountain days include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but personal snacks are not included. Baiseit gives you a chance to choose extra provisions before the route becomes more remote. Fresh bread is also a far better road companion than relying only on packaged food.

The village stop lasts about 30 minutes, so keep your shopping focused. You may find that the food market is one of the most memorable parts of the first day, but this is not a long food tour. It is a brief introduction to local tastes before the mountain work begins.

After arriving near Kurmenty, you prepare for the mountain portion. The exact sleeping arrangement can vary between the mountain hut and tent place included in the package, so ask the operator how your group’s first night is planned.

Day two: passes, horses, and the Middle Kolsay route

After breakfast, you prepare the horses and begin the mountain section. The stated riding route runs from the hut toward Middle Kolsay Lake, crossing two small passes along the way.

This is where the trip earns its adventure label. You are not being driven to a viewpoint. You are moving through the hills at horse pace, with the trail and weather shaping the day. In clear conditions, the route offers broad mountain views and changing perspectives as you gain and lose height.

The day is planned for about nine hours. That is a full day outdoors, even if you are comfortable in a saddle. Expect the effort to come from the overall length, the passes, the uneven route, and the need to stay engaged around horses and mountain terrain.

The horses are not described as fast performance animals. One account notes that they can be lazy and may need encouragement to move along. For some people, that is part of the charm. You are not racing through the mountains, and a steady horse can make it easier to look around and take in the route.

For others, a slow horse may become frustrating. If you want a fast, athletic riding experience, this is probably not the right product. The trip is better understood as a patient way to cover mountain ground.

The guide team is an important part of the day. Darya is associated with close attention to comfort and safety, and the horse breeder service adds practical support when dealing with the animals. You should still follow instructions carefully, keep your gear secure, and expect to take responsibility for your own clothing and personal equipment.

The route description refers to Upper Kolsay in the day heading, while the detailed plan describes riding from the hut to Middle Kolsay and then moving through two passes. Ask for the exact overnight and riding plan before departure, especially if you are choosing the tour because you want a particular lake or trail.

Day three: from Middle Kolsay to the Lower Lake

The final day begins with breakfast, packing, and a hike back toward Middle Kolsay Lake. From there, the route follows the path toward Lower Kolsay, also called First Kolsay.

This is an eight-hour day, so do not treat it as a short walk before the return drive. You will need comfortable footwear, practical layers, and enough personal snacks to keep your energy steady. Trekking poles are included, which is helpful on long or uneven sections.

A stop near Middle Kolsay provides time for tea and snacks. That pause breaks up the walking and gives you a final chance to enjoy the lake area before continuing toward the Lower Lake.

The three-lake structure gives the trip a satisfying shape. You spend the first mountain day moving toward the higher and middle lake area, then finish by walking down toward the Lower Lake. The route is not simply a visit to one famous viewpoint followed by a drive away.

After reaching Lower Kolsay, the activity returns to the Almaty meeting point. The supplied schedule gives the overall tour an approximate three-day duration, with the last day including a substantial mountain walk and the return journey. Ask how the final transfer is timed if you have a flight, train, or separate evening plan.

What the $1,900 price really covers

At $1,900 per person, this is expensive compared with a basic day trip to Kolsay. The price makes more sense when you count the services bundled into a remote private outing.

Included are private transportation, guide services, horse rental, horse breeder support, accommodation in a mountain hut, a tent place, sleeping pad, trekking poles, two breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. All fees and taxes are included as well.

That package removes many of the hardest planning jobs. You do not need to arrange a vehicle for the long road transfer, find horses, locate mountain accommodation, plan the food, or work out the route between the lakes yourself.

Still, the value depends on what you want. If your priority is simply seeing Kolsay Lake for a few hours, the price will feel high. If you want private transport, a guided mountain route, horseback travel, remote sleeping, and meals across three days, the cost is easier to defend.

The missing items matter. You must bring or rent a sleeping bag, and outdoor clothing is not included. Insurance, snacks, alcohol, and personal expenses are also yours to handle.

Do not arrive with city clothing and assume the package covers the rest. The operator tells you to bring your own outdoor gear and clothing, and the moderate fitness requirement is real. Your comfort will depend heavily on your boots, warm layers, rain protection, and sleeping bag.

Food, camp life, and what to pack

The meals are a useful part of the package. You receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the mountain portion, so you are not expected to cook every meal or carry a full food supply for three days.

The food culture begins in Baiseit, where you can sample or buy local breads and savory dishes. In the mountains, the meals are best viewed as practical camp food rather than a restaurant program. Bring snacks you know you will eat, since they are excluded.

Water is another point to plan. One account recommends bringing a filter because the mountain water is fresh and appealing but not necessarily prepared for direct drinking. The supplied information does not promise water treatment, so ask the operator what water access is planned and carry the method you prefer.

Your packing list should include:

• Sleeping bag
• Warm and weather-ready outdoor clothing
• Strong walking shoes or boots
• Personal snacks
• Water treatment or a filter, after confirming the plan
• Personal toiletries and medication
• Insurance documents
• Any personal riding or hiking equipment you prefer

The tour supplies a sleeping pad and trekking poles. That is useful, but it does not turn the trip into a luxury camp. You should be comfortable with simple accommodation and changing conditions.

Fitness, riding ability, and group style

The stated requirement is moderate physical fitness. That means you should be ready for about eight to nine hours of riding and hiking on the mountain days, plus a long first day in a vehicle.

You do not need to be an elite athlete based on the information provided, but you should not book this as an easy sightseeing outing. The route includes two passes, long periods outdoors, and a final day that combines packing, hiking, tea stops, and the route to Lower Kolsay.

The tour is private, so only your own group participates. That is a major advantage for families or friends who want a shared challenge without strangers setting the pace. Group discounts are available, which may improve the value for a larger party.

The experience can also suit a solo person if the operator arranges the party accordingly, but the formal description says the activity is private and limited to your group. Confirm the arrangement before paying if you are booking alone.

Service animals are allowed. Other accessibility details are not provided, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask directly about the horses, passes, hut, tent area, and walking surfaces.

The human side of the experience

Good mountain logistics are important, but the guide relationship can shape the whole trip. Darya is repeatedly connected with this experience and is described as attentive, energetic, and strongly focused on showing the best parts of the mountains.

Gulnaz and Alex are also associated with Powder Nomads’ wider outdoor work. The team’s reputation centers on responsible guiding, safety, food, and personal care. Those details matter more here than polished facilities because the route spends much of its time away from ordinary tourist services.

You should also be ready for a guide-led adventure rather than a self-guided trek. The horse breeder service and mountain guide help manage the route, animals, timing, and practical decisions. Listen closely to instructions, especially if you are new to horseback travel.

The atmosphere is likely to feel more personal than a standard coach excursion. You share meals, weather, camp routines, and long trail hours with the people in your group. That can create strong memories, but it also means you need patience and a good attitude when the pace is slow or plans adjust.

Weather, cancellation, and booking timing

This experience requires suitable weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The tour is booked an average of 71 days ahead, which suggests that planning early is sensible, especially if you need particular dates, private transport, or a certain guide. Confirmation is provided at booking.

Who should book this Kolsay adventure?

You should consider it if you want a serious introduction to Kazakhstan’s mountain country and like the idea of combining horseback travel with hiking. It suits people who value quiet trails, local food, simple camps, and a strong sense of place over polished hotels.

It is also a good fit for a small private group that wants transport and meals organized. Families with older children may enjoy it if everyone meets the fitness requirement and is comfortable with horses and basic sleeping arrangements.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed three-day holiday, dislike long road transfers, need hotel comfort, or do not want to carry and arrange your own outdoor gear. The price is high, and the schedule leaves little room for treating the mountains as a casual stop.

Should you book the three-day Kolsay trip?

Book it if your ideal Kolsay visit includes all three lakes, long days outside, horses, passes, a mountain hut, tents, local food, and guides who stay involved from Almaty to the trail. The private format and wide range of included services give the price a practical basis.

Skip it if you only want the famous lake views or prefer an easier, shorter excursion. Before booking, confirm the exact Upper and Middle Kolsay route, sleeping arrangements, water plan, and gear list. If those details suit you, this is a strong choice for an active and genuinely outdoors-focused visit to the Kungey Alatau mountains.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at 6:00 a.m. at Magnum Hypermarket, Demyan Bednogo Street 3, Almaty 050018, Kazakhstan.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point in Almaty.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately three days. The first day takes about 12 hours, the second about nine hours, and the third about eight hours.

Which Kolsay Lakes does the route visit?

The route includes the Middle Kolsay Lake and Lower, or First, Kolsay Lake. The day two heading refers to Upper Kolsay, so you should confirm the exact Upper Lake route with the operator before departure.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation is included, with travel by SUV or minibus from Almaty toward Kurmenty.

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

Yes. A sleeping pad is included, but a sleeping bag is not.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the activity to be canceled.