Three days, two ways to move, one big payoff. This Kolsay Lakes adventure mixes horseback riding and on-foot hiking in the Kungey Alatau mountains, with an emphasis on quiet trails instead of tourist shortcuts.

I like two things a lot: the chance to live that simple mountain camping rhythm (hut, tent, meals, early mornings), and the way the guides bring clear know-how to the terrain—exactly what you want when the route is remote. The main drawback to weigh is that you need decent stamina and good weather, and you should plan to bring your own sleeping bag since it’s not included.

Quick hits before you go

• Private, guide-led route through the Kungey Alatau with horse support and hiking help built in
• Baiseit food stop for market snacks and baked breads before you head up into the mountains
• Horseback to Middle Kolsay with time through passes and big glacier-fed water views if weather cooperates
• Tent night plus mountain hut stay, and included basics like sleeping pad and trekking poles
• Strong guide care and safety focus, with Darya and Alex named repeatedly for responsible guidance and comfort

Why Kolsay Lakes feels wild (not staged)

Kolsay Lakes sit in a mountain zone where the day-to-day pace changes fast. One minute you’re driving through valleys; the next you’re on trails where the world gets quiet. This trip leans into that. The program is built around horse + feet travel, so you’re not just hiking every meter, and you’re not just sitting on a horse watching scenery go by.

A big part of the appeal is how the route is described: you’ll follow more “unknown” paths and try to avoid crowded, touristic areas. That matters because Kolsay is popular—but a quieter trail experience changes everything: fewer bottlenecks, more time to notice details, and more of that sense of discovery that makes outdoor trips memorable.

Then there’s the nomad-style angle. Even if you don’t call yourself an outdoor person, you’ll feel the structure of mountain life: morning routines, practical breaks, and the rhythm of traveling with horses while you hike sections yourself.

Getting there: 6:00 am starts and a long drive day

This tour starts early—6:00 am at Magnum Hyperулица Демьяна Бедного 3, Almaty 050018. You also have pickup offered, which helps if you don’t want to play taxi roulette before sunrise.

Day 1 includes a substantial transfer: a route that totals about 285 km to the countryside area around the Kolsay access points. In plain terms, you’re trading a sleep-in for a head start. If you hate early mornings, this isn’t the one for you. If you like maximizing daylight outdoors, the early start is part of the logic.

Because the tour is private (only your group participates), the transport and timing are arranged to fit your ride and hiking days rather than juggling a big public schedule. That’s useful when you’re moving between horses, huts, and lake trails.

Day 1 in Baiseit and Kurmety: eat well, then climb

Day 1 is your reset day—food first, then mountains. You’ll stop in Baiseit, a Uigur village known for a vegetable and fruit market and baked breads like tandyr bread and onion bread. It also lists classic local dishes like samsa, chebureki, lagman, and shashlyk. The point isn’t just to snack; it’s to arrive with full energy for the road and the first mountain phase.

Admission tickets for this stop are listed as free, which is a small but nice cost-control detail.

On the way to the mountain area, you’ll also stop again in Baiseit for a chance to explore the local food market and buy fresh bread, vegetables, and fruits. If you’re the kind of person who loves “I ate like locals today” travel days, this is one of the best chances in the whole trip.

Then you head onward to Kurmenty village. This is where you shift from city life to mountain life, and it sets up the next days of horseback and hiking. The tour includes accommodation in a mountain hut, so you’re not improvising lodging in the middle of nowhere.

Day 2: Riding to Upper/Middle Kolsay with passes and big moments

Day 2 is the core travel day. After breakfast and preparations, you set out on horseback riding to the Middle Kolsay Lake. The ride is described as starting from a hut area and moving along a trail that goes through two small passes.

Why this matters for your experience: passes are where weather and light can change quickly. If the forecast is decent and you get clear conditions, the views on the way can be a highlight. The program explicitly notes that in clear weather you can see incredible landscapes along the route.

In practical terms, plan for day length and movement. The horseback segment plus time on the trail is about 9 hours. This isn’t a short stroll. It’s a true “out there” day where you’ll likely want to stay mentally flexible—stop for breath, don’t rush, and let the pace feel like mountain travel rather than sightseeing.

Horses: handle with patience

One practical note that comes through in feedback: horses can start out a bit lazy, then pick up once you’ve settled into the flow and they’re encouraged to move. That’s not a failure; it’s how some animals work when they’re warmed up and focused. If you get impatient, it can ruin the vibe. If you go in calm, the riding becomes part of the adventure.

At the end of Day 2, you’re set up for the lake area experience and the next day’s hiking plan, with meals handled by the tour.

Day 3: Hike back to Middle, then onward to Lower Kolsay

Day 3 shifts from riding to hiking. After breakfast and packing, you’ll hike back to the Middle Kolsay Lake, then follow the path leading to the Lower (First) Kolsay Lake. On the way, you make a stop near Middle Lake for snacks and tea.

That tea stop is small on paper, but it’s a big deal emotionally. It gives you a moment to reset, hydrate, and enjoy the scenery without feeling like you’re “always moving.”

Day 3 is about 8 hours, and because you already traveled the day before, you’ll feel it in your legs. If you’re choosing shoes, bring footwear that handles rocky trail and uneven ground. The tour also includes trekking poles, which can help a lot on descents and uneven sections.

The payoff here is variety: you’re not only riding to one viewpoint. You’re also walking to different lake levels, which changes your sense of scale and gives you more than one “wow” moment.

Camp comfort: what’s included, what you must bring

This tour isn’t about luxury, and that’s part of the charm. But it is about being prepared so you don’t end up suffering unnecessarily.

Included for sleeping and comfort:

• Accommodation in a mountain hut
• Place in the tent
• Sleeping pad
• Trekking poles

Not included:

• Sleeping bag
• Outdoor gear and clothing
• Snacks
• Insurance policy
• Alcoholic beverages

So you’ll want to think like an outdoor traveler even if you’re new to it. A sleeping bag is the big one. If you show up without one, you’ll still sleep, but not in a way that feels comfortable.

Water is another smart planning point. One practical tip that came up is to bring a water filter. Mountain water may be fresh, but treating it is a simple safety move. If you forget a filter, you’ll spend energy worrying instead of enjoying the day.

Meals are covered: breakfast (2), lunch (3), and dinner (3). That’s valuable because it saves you money and reduces stress. In remote terrain, having meals planned beats improvising every day.

Guides make the trip: Darya, Alex, and a safety-first tone

You’ll feel the difference when a guide knows the area and keeps things organized. The operator behind these trips—Powder Nomads—runs this as a backcountry-style experience, and the guidance is a major reason people rate it 5/5.

Names that show up again and again in feedback: Darya and Alex. Darya is described as caring, keeping people comfortable, and focusing on safety and nutrition. Alex is also repeatedly credited for professional mountain guidance.

There’s also mention of Gulnaz as part of the team that helps tourists feel at ease. That tells me there’s a system here: not just one person running everything, but a small team attitude that supports the group.

What you should take from that, even if you’re an experienced hiker: you’re not just paying for views. You’re paying for decision-making in the field—horse handling, trail choice, pacing, and managing fatigue. When you’re traveling in remote mountains, that matters.

Food and rhythm: market snacks to mountain meals

This is one of those tours where eating is part of the strategy. You start with market foods in Baiseit—breads, fruit, and village flavors that help you build energy before the longer outdoor days.

Then you move into tour-provided meals in the mountains: breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included. That’s a real advantage because you don’t have to carry extra food for every stop, and you’re not burning time hunting for snacks.

Also, you’ll get built-in comfort moments like the tea stop on Day 3. If you’ve ever done long hikes where the only break is walking until you’re exhausted, you’ll appreciate that the plan includes actual recovery pauses.

Price and value: $1,900 feels steep, but here’s what you’re buying

At $1,900 per person, this is not a budget tour. It’s priced for a private, logistics-heavy outdoor trip: long transfers, horses, guides, and mountain stays.

What you’re getting at this price:

• Private transportation
• Horses rental and horse breeder services
• Guide services
• Mountain hut accommodation plus tent setup
• Trekking poles
• All fees and taxes
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner across all days

Here’s the value logic: with horses, remote lodging, and multi-day guiding, your costs don’t just come from “walking with someone.” They come from coordinating animals, safety, transport time, and the staff required to keep the experience smooth.

Who should pay this money?

• Couples or small groups who want a more personal pace
• People who want less crowded trails and more authentic travel life
• First-timers to this kind of backcountry riding who want support rather than guessing

Who might think twice?

• Anyone who wants a pure hike only (this includes horseback time, so your time isn’t entirely on foot)
• People who are comfortable improvising gear and logistics for themselves (because this tour does those things for you)

Finally, an interesting timing detail: this trip is typically booked about 71 days in advance on average. That suggests demand can be real, especially for prime travel dates.

Should you book this 3-Day private Kolsay horse and hiking tour?

Book it if you want:

• A horse + hiking combo that feels like real mountain travel
• Guides who focus on safety, food, and comfort
• Quiet trails and the chance to experience life close to the nomad/mountain rhythm
• A trip where key basics are handled—huts, tents, sleeping pads, meals, poles

Skip it (or at least think hard) if:

• You dislike early starts—this begins at 6:00 am
• You’re not ready for a full days of walking and riding (9 hours Day 2, 8 hours Day 3)
• You don’t want to handle basic outdoor needs like your own sleeping bag and proper clothing/gear

If you do book, go with a calm attitude about horses, pack for the night temperatures, and consider bringing a water filter. That small prep helps you stay relaxed and enjoy what you came for: the lakes, the trail time, and that rare feeling of being in the mountains instead of just passing through.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes private transportation, all fees and taxes, horses rental, horse breeder services, guide services, mountain hut accommodation, a place in the tent, sleeping pad, trekking poles, and meals (breakfast 2 times, lunch 3 times, dinner 3 times).

What should I bring since it is not included?

You should bring your own sleeping bag, outdoor gear and clothing, and any snacks you want. Insurance policy and alcoholic beverages are also not included.

How fit do I need to be?

The tour recommends a moderate physical fitness level. You’ll be doing long travel days on horseback and then hiking for about 8–9 hours on the lake days.

Where does the tour start and what time?

It starts at Magnum Hyperулица Демьяна Бедного 3, Almaty 050018, Kazakhstan, with a start time of 6:00 am. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s listed as a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel and get a refund?

Yes, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.