Turgen & Kairak Waterfalls: How to Get There
Turgen Gorge sits about an hour and a bit east of Almaty. Most people come for two waterfalls: the Bear Waterfall lower down, and Kairak higher up in the mountains.
The Bear Waterfall and Kairak
The Bear Waterfall is the busy one - closest to the road and easiest to reach. Kairak is higher up; the way there follows a dirt track along the river through spruce forest. Fewer people make it that far, because a regular car can only go so far before the road gives out.
Getting there
You can drive to the lower gorge and the Bear Waterfall in any car. After that the dirt road starts, and a passenger car won't climb to Kairak - it's a couple of hours on foot uphill from there. Minibus tours stop at the bottom too.
That's why the upper part is easier on an e-bike. The motor does the climbing, you skip the hike, and electric enduro handles the dirt where a car would get stuck.
Our routes
We run two trips to Kairak: the Kairak Waterfall tour - difficulty 2 of 10, fine for a first ride, and the longer Assy Plateau & Kairak Waterfall. Helmet and protective gear are included, and we teach you to ride before the start.
One more thing: an e-bike doesn't roar like a petrol enduro. Up in the gorge you notice it - you hear the river, not the engine.
When to go
Late spring to early autumn: dry roads, full rivers. Skip the upper sections in winter or mud season. Check the schedule and availability when you book - summer weekends fill up early.
