Kazakhstan is a country filled with the most beautiful lakes in the world. We visited beautiful places in Almaty city during our trip. There are many places to explore within the city. You can take day tours to visit some amazing canyons and lakes located outside the city. We went for a day trip to Issyk Lake and Bear Waterfall. Issyk Lake Kazakhstan, is one of the picturesque lakes near Almaty.
Also read 12 Things To Know Before Visiting Almaty

Day Tour To Issyk Lake Kazakhstan
Many private tour operators organise day tours from Almaty city. These are guided group tours. They provide pick- up from the city and take care of commuting to the places you will be visiting. The guides are knowledgeable and they explain the places in detail. You have multiple tour options to choose from. We opted to take a private tour to Issyk Lake, Kazakhstan and Bear Waterfall. For best stay options in Almaty city, CLICK HERE

Almaty To Issyk Lake Kazakhstan
The driver picked us up from our Apartment early in the morning. We started our journey to Issyk Lake from Almaty city at 9 am. Almaty to Issyk Lake distance is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The journey towards the lake is wonderful. The roads are filled with scenic views. You will find green fields with horses grazing around giving a perfect picturesque view. The road towards the lake is also good and well-maintained. We had a smooth ride till the lake. On our way, there were stunning and scenic mountain views. We took a stopover to click pictures of the stunning views.
The best time to visit Issyk Lake, Kazakhstan is during Spring or Summer, that is from April to July. The green coloured lake surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges filled with pine trees looks beautiful during these months.
Well, once you get near the lake, the tour guide will take you to the trail from where you can walk down or take an electric van towards the Lake. You can take a ride on the electric van for a nominal fee. The van takes you to the lake.

Issyk Lake Things to do
We opted to take the electric van towards Issyk Lake. The beautiful scenic lake surprised me. The place seemed to be unreal, as if it were a painting. A beautiful lake with a natural green colour surrounded by green mountains filled with pine trees. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We spent some time sitting by the lake and taking beautiful pictures.

Issyk lake History
It is said that the lake was formed 8 – 10 million years ago. The formation of the lake was due to an earthquake. A dam was created due to the earthquake, and a lake was formed behind the dam with green water.

Bear or Turgen Waterfall
After visiting the beautiful Issyk Lake, we were on our way to the Bear Waterfall. This is one of the interesting places to visit near Almaty. The drive towards the Bear waterfall was beautiful and scenic. The Bear Waterfall is approximately an hour’s drive from Issyk Lake. Once we reached the Entry gate near the Waterfall, we came across a beautiful stream of water.

Well, you need to hike to reach the waterfall. The hike is a bit tough. There are rough and patchy paths on the way. You also need to climb up steep slopes. The hike is gorgeous. It is a refreshing experience walking through nature, with small streams flowing on the way, passing through small bridges built on the streams. Also, there were a few wooden logs on the way to sit and relax.
We reached the waterfall after a 40-minute hike. It is an amazing experience to reach the top of the mountain. The weather surrounding the waterfalls is cool and pleasant. I felt a sense of achievement after finishing the hike. We sat near the waterfall for some time and enjoyed the cool breeze.
After spending some time near the waterfall, we headed back to the entry point. There is a beautiful café near the information centre at Turgen Waterfall. You can refresh yourself at the café and spend some time here. The ambience of the café is good.
Journey towards Almaty city

After enjoying a coffee at the café, we headed back towards Almaty city. On our way back, our tour guide showed us a beautiful spot. We took a halt at this spot, which is surrounded by greenery and a stream flowing along. Many locals come here for a picnic and spend their day with fun and frolic. I have never seen such beautiful places in a long time. Nature is at its best in Kazakhstan.
Also Read Top 5 Places To Visit In Almaty City
Issyk Lake, Kazakhstan, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. This is a perfect day trip you should plan when in Kazakhstan. The two most beautiful places near Almaty. Check out the video below for a detailed tour of both these stunning places