Take a bus out of the city of Almaty, going into the hills, most days you’ll see a number of people obviously heading up there for some kind of hike. Chances are, you’ll also notice the announcements played over the bus tannoy advising walkers to take great care in the mountains.
“The coolest hike is a safe hike!” concludes the speaker, following 30 seconds or so of sensible advice that should be common sense, but in some cases needs pointing out to people all the same.
In brief, then, check the weather for the mountains, not the city; inform people of your route, and be sure to stick to it.
Some may take this a stage further and suggest that, to make the most of a trip into the mountains in the Almaty Region, a professional guide would be a must for anybody wanting to explore anything beyond some of the well-trodden, accessible, lower-lying paths that pose little danger unless people take unnecessary risks.
The Old Japanese Road and Kok Zhailau (from Leshoz or Gornaya Street) are a few examples of walks that probably don’t require a guide – decent levels of fitness and good weather should be ample; with care, sensible shoes and a map placing on the same list.
If people want the full package, a guide is either absolutely essential or just an extremely advisable choice, even for experienced hikers. There have been stories of foreign guests getting stranded in the Almaty mountains despite having some of the best mountaineering CVs there are.
saqtimes.kz met up with one of the top local trip organisers, who firstly introduced himself before explaining the mountain scene over here.
“My name is Damir Ormanaev. I was born in Aqshi and raised in Talgar, both in the Almaty region, and have been working in the tourism industry for many years. I began my career as a guide and later founded Köktem Tour.”
So we welcome one of the leading mountain guides in the city, a man not merely proficient in knowing where paths lead, but a trained and experienced operator with advanced first aid certification, quality equipment, full accreditation, and good English.
“Over the years, I’ve had the honour of introducing tourists from dozens of countries to Kazakhstan. These days, my main activity is organising trips in Almaty and the Almaty region, including mountain routes, national parks, and Kazakhstan’s natural attractions.
“I’ve taken several training courses, including those for mountain trekking. I also took first aid courses. If something happens in the mountains, you need to administer first aid before reaching the first aid station. Knowing how to properly bandage and secure wounds and injuries is essential. I’ve taken courses like that, too. I also took a mountain guide course.”
His work revolves around mountain tourism, for example, hiking and guiding guests, but Damir also spearheads local efforts to explore possible new routes. To do this, he takes time away from his commitments to Köktem Tour in order to visit mountainous regions, study trail conditions, and monitor the climate.
This commitment is also documented and caught on film, some of the photos doing more than justice to the profession he chose several years ago.
Mountains have always been a part of my life. I was born near Talgar, so I grew up near them and never a day passed without seeing them. But I really began to explore the mountains as an adult when I entered tourism and began regularly spending time on the trails. Over time, this became not just a job, but a way of life.”
Damir has made every reasonable effort to acquaint himself with the peaks and valleys here, but he believes that experience is the best teacher – the mountains themselves. Some of his accomplishments are Furmanov Peak, the Bogdanovich Glacier, the latter also several times in winter. He has completed routes in the Butakovskoye and Turgenskoye Gorges, and has also reached the Assy Plateau.
Yet through all of this, it’s not about the numbers or the items ticked off on the bucket list. What makes a guide is not all the places they’ve been to once, but how well they know the destination and route from years of experience.
The most popular options taken by guests are in the mountains near the Kolsai Lakes National Park, the ascent from the first Kolsai Lake to the second Kolsai Lake. These routes are becoming very popular features on our itineraries.
“We offer both short day trips and multi-day tours. For guests with limited time, trips to Shymbulak, Big Almaty Lake, Alma-Arasan Gorge, and Charyn Canyon are popular.
“For those who want to explore Kazakhstan more, we organise multi-day trips to the Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy, Altyn-Emel National Park, the Assy Plateau, and other picturesque regions. And also the peaks above Butakovsky Waterfall, which are, firstly, easier to climb in summer.”
In the summer, there are thousands upon thousands of options, something for every day, for many years, if anybody has such levels of energy. Local places feature, like the Three Brothers Peak, Freedom Peak, and so on, but the Bogdanovich Glacier is one which Damir is very keen to show people.
“Each of these routes shows a completely different side of our region’s nature. Our area boasts an amazing diversity of landscapes. In a single day, you can see mountains, canyons, lakes, steppes, and even semi-arid landscapes.”
Selecting excursions doesn’t only depend on what guests want to do. As a guide, Damir is not only there to show people the route; his job also includes helping people navigate safely and avoid mistakes. This is a commitment he makes from before even the hike begins, as he will vet potential guests’ experience and levels of fitness before a route is even settled on.
“In addition to safety, the guide helps select a route tailored to the guests’ fitness level, organise logistics, and help them better understand the region’s nature and history,” he explained.
As a mountain lover, Damir would also love to see the Himalayas with his own eyes, but he accepts that his knowledge of Almaty would be of limited use when visiting a new region, a sensible reflection for any mountaineer when coming to the Almaty Region, because no matter where a hiker has been before, every mountain is different; every path is different.
Damir warns people to never underestimate the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains. He told me a story of when some experienced hikers did precisely that, fortunately with a happy ending.
“One winter, on the route to the Bogdanovich Glacier, we provided crampons for our guests. Some hikers initially didn’t understand their purpose, and didn’t even want to put them on because the route seemed fairly simple.
“But when we reached icy sections of the trail, it became clear that continuing without special equipment would be extremely difficult and unsafe.
“In addition, the weather here can change very quickly, so it’s essential to thoroughly prepare for each route and closely monitor the forecast.”
There are hundreds of miles of walking, not to mention cycling, available in the Almaty region, and many paths that do not go into the mountains. In such cases, sensible precautions and care will allow for an enjoyable day.
Damir finished by offering advice to those people tempted to reach a higher altitude.
“Even experienced hikers should remember that a mistake in the mountains can have serious consequences.
“Even in summer, temperatures in the mountains can drop significantly at night. Therefore, it is always necessary to have warm clothing. Bring plenty of water, stay hydrated, have charged communication devices, and research your chosen route in detail, in advance. Have the right equipment, and do not conclude that a walk will be easy just because it starts off that way.”
