Kok-Zhailau: How to Get There and When to Go
Kok-Zhailau is a green plateau between the city and the Big Almaty Gorge, at around 2,000 meters. The trail opens onto a view of all of Almaty, so it gets busy in summer and on weekends.
Getting there
Hiking trails come in from a few sides: from Al-Farabi Avenue (the Terrenkur), from the Medeu side, and from Prosveshchenets. On foot it's about 2.5 hours up and the same back, so one walk eats most of the day.
Weather
Check the forecast first: it can be hot in the city but windier and cooler up on the plateau, especially toward evening. The best window is May to October; in winter the trail is under snow.
Faster on an e-bike
On the Kok-Zhailau tour the climb takes 30-40 minutes instead of 2.5 hours on foot, leaving time for photos and a break. It's a beginner route; we brief you and provide gear. Want to go higher? There's a continuation to the meteo station and the Kok-Zhailau ridge.
