3-Day Private Horseback Riding and Hiking Tour in Kolsay

This 3-day Kolsay Lakes adventure is interesting because it mixes horseback riding with hiking in Kungey Alatau mountains, while steering you toward quieter trails instead of a traffic jam viewpoint route. You also get a simple mountain camping rhythm, with real time in a remote environment rather than quick photo stops.

What I like most is the focus on getting there the old-fashioned way, on a horse and then on foot, over passes with big views and real effort. I also like that the trip includes guide support, horses, and most meals, so you are not constantly paying extra for basics once you are on the mountain.

One possible drawback: this is not a sit-and-stare walk. You should be ready for a long travel day, moderate fitness demands, and a few hours at altitude on trails, plus you will need to handle your own sleeping bag and outdoor clothing.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Private, guided route with a real plan, plus you return to the same meeting point in Almaty
• Horseback to the lake zone, then hiking between lake areas, with time on both animals and legs
• Mountain hut stay and tent setup, including a sleeping pad and trekking poles
• Food is baked into the pace, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included across the 3 days
• Early start at 6:00 am, so expect a full day right away, not a slow morning
• Weather matters, because the experience is explicitly dependent on good conditions

Stepping Out of Almaty and Into Kungey Alatau

If you are picturing Kolsay Lakes as a quick day trip, this tour will reset your expectations in a good way. The rhythm is slower and more physical: you start early in Almaty, travel by SUV or minibus, and then spend the core of the experience moving through the mountain terrain by horse and on foot.

The route is based around the Kungey Alatau mountains, and the trip is built to give you that remote feel. You are not just walking a single loop and turning around. You are traveling toward Upper Kolsai Lake, then continuing to Lower Kolsai Lake, with a return track that keeps the day structure practical.

Also, the tour is private. That matters more than people think. It means the timing and the pace can fit your group. It also means your guide can keep a closer eye on what is working, what feels steep, and how the horses are behaving that day.

Price and Value: What You Are Actually Paying For

At $1,900 per person, this is a serious splurge. The real question is what you are buying besides the views. In this case, you are buying a lot of logistics that are hard and expensive to run yourself.

Here is what is included:

• Private transportation (including the long drive out of Almaty)
• Horses rental plus horse breeder services
• Guide services
• Accommodation in a mountain hut, plus a place in the tent and a sleeping pad
• Trekking poles
• Meals: breakfast and lunch during the days listed, plus dinner across the overnight setup
• All fees and taxes

What is not included:

• A sleeping bag
• Outdoor gear and clothing
• Snacks and personal expenses
• Insurance
• Alcoholic beverages

When I look at value for a remote horseback plus hiking trip, I weigh three things: transport, horses, and feeding everyone while you are away. Here, those three are covered. That makes the price hurt less, because you are not suddenly paying for the mountain setup on top of the guide rate.

Getting Started: The 6:00 am Meeting and the Road to Baiseit

The tour starts at 6:00 am at Magnum Hyperулица Демьяна Бедного 3, Almaty 050018, Kazakhstan. You return to the same meeting point at the end. This round-trip structure is great if you want one simple handoff for the day.

Day 1 begins with two key moments: a food stop in the village area and then a longer travel push toward the Kurmety zone. You also get early exposure to local life. The Baiseit stop is built around a Uigur village feel, with hospitable locals and a vegetable and fruit market. You are likely to run into the kind of bread and snacks that make rural Kazakhstan feel personal, not generic.

Why that matters: for me, this is more than sightseeing. It is a cultural warm-up before you go into the mountains for the heavy part. If you are hungry after the early start, it is nice to have a food moment that feels local and practical.

Then, you move onward toward Kurmenty by SUV or minibus, with the drive being about 285 km. Expect a full day structure: one part is local stops, the other part is getting the group out to where the horseback and hiking start making sense.

Day 2 on Horseback: Reaching Upper Kolsai Lake

Day 2 is where the tour earns its reputation as an adventure mixed route. After breakfast and preparations, you ride horses toward the Middle Kolsai Lake area. From the hut to the lake, the trail runs through two small passes.

That pass detail is the kind of thing you do not see in simple lake tours. Those passes shape the entire day. You get that push-and-recover rhythm where your legs and your sense of direction both wake up. The guide plan matters because mountain terrain changes fast, and horses can only do so much if the route is not chosen well.

In clear weather, the route gives you incredible views along the way. Even if visibility is not perfect, the sheer act of traveling by horse in the wild environment changes your relationship with the terrain. On foot, you constantly measure every step. By horseback, you feel the route as a moving line through the mountain.

The included time is about 9 hours on Day 2. That tells me to expect a real day, not a short ride followed by tea. You will have time to enjoy the lakes, but you should also plan to feel the day physically.

Practical reality check: you are outside most of the time, and you will likely want to pace yourself with water and snacks. The tour includes meals, but it also notes that snacks are not included, so bring or plan extra calories if you know you tend to get hungry between meals.

Day 3 Hiking to Lower Kolsai Lake: The Tea Stop Moment

On Day 3, you shift gears. After breakfast and packing, you start hiking back to the Middle Kolsai Lake area, then follow the path toward the Lower (First) Kolsai Lake.

What I like about this structure is the way it turns the itinerary into something you feel. You are not just going farther and farther away. You are retracing a bit, then continuing along another stretch. That reduces the feeling of being locked into one long uphill struggle with no change in rhythm.

There is also a built-in break near the Middle Lake for snacks and tea. That is a small detail, but it is smart. It gives your body a reset and lets the guide regroup the pace.

Day 3 runs about 8 hours. That is enough time to feel accomplished, even if you do not chase every photo opportunity. If you like leaf colors and going in shoulder seasons, one review mentioned the fall experience as a leaf-peeping highlight, which suggests the timing can be great for colors.

Mountain Hut Living, Tent Nights, and What Is Provided

The overnight setup is simple but thoughtfully planned. The tour includes accommodation in the mountain hut, plus a place in the tent and a sleeping pad. You also get trekking poles.

Not included is the one item you will feel immediately: a sleeping bag. If you show up without one, you might end up borrowing or improvising, and that is exactly the kind of hassle you do not want during a mountain trip.

Here is what that hut plus tent combo implies for you:

• You still get the comfort of a base and proper planning.
• You also get the more basic side of backcountry life, with tent space and pad support.
• Your comfort will depend heavily on temperature at night and on how cold-sensitive you are.

A few things from the overall experience stand out in a good way: people liked the good nutrition and safety. That tells me the food planning is not random, and the guide approach is not reckless. It is also consistent with the inclusion of horse breeder services and guide services, which usually means the operation knows how to handle equipment and animal logistics safely.

Also, service animals are allowed on this experience. That can matter a lot for some travelers.

Horses, Pace, and the Realities of Riding

Riding a horse is fun when it is smooth. It is less fun when the horse decides it is in charge. One review noted the horses can start off a bit lazy, then speed up once you settle in. That is normal animal behavior, and it is exactly why the human side matters.

This tour includes horse rental and horse breeder services, plus guide services. In practice, that means you are not just handed a mount and pointed at a trail. You should get help getting underway, and the guide can adjust pacing based on conditions.

For your comfort, focus on two basics:

• Wear footwear that gives you stable footing and protection on uneven ground.
• Assume you will need to move around before and after rides, not just sit.

If you have never ridden before, consider your comfort level. The tour is described as requiring moderate physical fitness. That sounds like the guide expects you to manage both riding and hiking time, not just one of them.

What to Pack (Without Guessing What You Forgot)

The biggest packing lesson here is that the tour provides trekking poles and sleeping pads, but you still need your own sleeping bag and outdoor gear.

You should plan on:

• A sleeping bag suitable for mountain nights
• Your own outdoor clothing (layers matter)
• Snacks, since snacks are not listed as included beyond the day-specific breaks
• Anything you need for personal comfort and hygiene

One review also recommended bringing a water filter, even while describing the mountain water as fresh. That is a good, low-effort upgrade, especially if you are picky about water safety or if you want to avoid thinking too hard about every container.

Finally, since the start time is early and the drive is long, pack smart for the ride day. You do not want to rummage for items after you have already arrived and started moving.

Who This Trip Is Best For

This tour fits travelers who want a real adventure mix, not a gentle stroll. You should like moving through terrain, enjoy being outdoors most of the day, and feel comfortable with a moderate physical requirement.

It is a good match if:

• You want horseback riding that is integrated into the route, not just a short novelty ride
• You want hiking between lake areas with a guide plan and breaks
• You like the idea of nomad-style camping life and staying in a mountain hut setting
• You prefer a private experience with your group, rather than navigating a crowd

It might be a poor fit if:

• You want a low-effort trip with minimal walking
• You dislike basic sleeping setups and would rather rely on a full hotel room
• You are not comfortable handling your own sleeping bag and outdoor clothing

The Guide Factor: Darya and Alex Matter

From what I saw in the provided feedback, the guides are a core part of why this works. People thanked Darya and Alex directly. Darya is described as caring, charismatic, and focused on making sure you are comfortable. Alex is mentioned alongside Darya as part of the team that runs remote experiences.

Why that matters on a horseback and hike trip: when something changes, you want a guide who can read conditions and keep the group safe. You are dealing with animals, passes, trail changes, weather dependence, and timing. In this kind of trip, the guide quality turns the whole operation from just transport into an actual experience.

So, Should You Book the 3-Day Kolsay Horse and Hike?

I would book if you want a serious, well-supported Kolsay Lakes trip and you are willing to pay for the logistics. The included horses, guide services, mountain hut setup, and most meals make it feel more like buying a managed expedition than buying a bare-bones tour.

I would think twice if the idea of packing a sleeping bag and walking for hours each day sounds stressful. The tour expects moderate fitness, and the schedule is long enough that you will feel the mountain.

If you do book, plan your prep like you are going camping in the real sense, not like you are going to a hotel. Pack your own cold-weather sleeping solution, bring a few extra snacks, and show up ready for both riding and hiking. That is the sweet spot where this tour turns into a memorable Kazakhstan escape, not just another bucket-list check.

FAQ

How long is the Kolsay horseback riding and hiking tour?

The tour runs for 3 days (approx.).

Where does the tour start and what time does it begin?

It starts at Magnum Hyper улица Демьяна Бедного 3, Almaty 050018, Kazakhstan, with a start time of 6:00 am, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is listed as a private tour, so only your group participates.

What is included in the price?

Included items are private transportation, all fees and taxes, horses rental, horse breeder services, guide services, accommodation in the mountain hut, a place in the tent, sleeping pad, trekking poles, and meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner as listed).

What should I bring since it is not included?

A sleeping bag is not included. Outdoor gear and clothing, plus snacks and personal expenses, are also not included.

What fitness level do I need?

The experience says travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level.

What happens if weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.