Turgen gorge waterfalls

Turgen gorge is the valley of the Turgen river on the eastern edge of Ile-Alatau National Park, about an hour and a half’s drive from Almaty along the Kuldzha highway. It holds seven waterfalls. The easiest is Bear Waterfall (Medvezhy), about 1–1.5 km from the road on a trail; Kairak Waterfall, at 2,130 m, is a full day’s hike. The most comfortable time to go is from late spring to autumn.

Turgen gorge at a glance

The distance figures differ because sources measure to different points: Turgen village on the highway, the gorge entrance or the first waterfalls. We give both.

At the gorge entrance there is a park eco-post, with the Kieli-Bulak underwater spring next to it and the Golden Man monument a few hundred metres away (NUR.KZ).

Bear Waterfall

The best known and most accessible waterfall in the gorge. The Medvezhy stream drops from a rock wall in a deep niche. Sources disagree on the height: 30 m according to Advantour, Sxodim and Weproject, 40 m according to Tengrinews in 2018. Advantour calls Bear the largest of the seven, though Weproject puts Kairak’s main drop at over 55 m, so “largest” here probably means the most powerful of the easy ones.

Getting there: Sxodim puts the waterfall about 1 km from the gorge road, and Weproject estimates the trail at 1–1.5 km. To get into the gorge, Sxodim says, drive to Turgen village and turn at the large sign. Tengrinews in 2018 also described a longer option of about three hours on foot from the forestry station.

Keep in mind that rocks near the waterfall are wet and slippery, so wear shoes with good grip and keep children close.

Kairak Waterfall

Kairak is the highest and hardest to reach of the gorge’s well-known falls. According to Kazakhstan.travel, it is on the northern slope of the Ile Alatau at 2,130 m and consists of three cascades that are hard to see all at once. The name is usually translated from Kazakh as “whetstone”.

Weproject gives the main drop as more than 55 m. One described hiking route is about 16 km on foot and about 10 hours in total. On the way, NUR.KZ notes, the trail passes through mossy spruce forest.

This is a real mountain hike: start early and carry water, food, warm and waterproof layers. Without experience, go with a guide.

Other waterfalls

Of Turgen’s seven waterfalls, NUR.KZ names Bear, Kairak and Skalisty as the best known; reaching the rest may require serious mountain-hiking skills.

Getting there and the checkpoint

By car from Almaty, take the Kuldzha highway to Turgen village and follow the sign into the gorge. The gorge road passes a park checkpoint where the fee is collected.

Checkpoint hours can change with the season. In January 2025, according to Bizmedia, access to Lake Issyk was closed for the avalanche period (27 January to 31 March), while the route through the Turgen forestry checkpoint (Turgen to the observatory) stayed open to hikers; vehicles were let through from 10:00 to 17:00, and traffic was banned from 18:00 to 10:00. In winter, check the park’s announcements before you go.

What else is in the gorge

People come to Turgen for more than waterfalls. NUR.KZ lists trout farms that rent fishing rods, an ostrich farm, hot springs, coniferous and mixed forests, alpine and subalpine meadows, lakes and springs. Tengrinews in 2018 also mentioned apple orchards, vineyards, an ethno-village and Saka burial mounds along the way. Recreation areas rent rooms, and tents can go up on the wide meadows.

Planning a day

The simplest day from Almaty is Bear Waterfall plus lunch at a trout farm: the walk is short, leaving time for stops. Kairak needs a separate day; with a hike of around 10 hours you will leave the city before dawn. If you also want to see the Assy plateau, plan to stay overnight in the gorge. Tengrinews advises hiking the gorge’s mountain routes with a guide, as the terrain is potentially dangerous.

Entry fee

Turgen gorge is part of Ile-Alatau National Park. Under Order No. 232 the fee is 0.15 MCI per pedestrian and 0.3 MCI per car; the fee calculator gives the current amount. Fishing at the trout farms is paid separately by the weight of the catch, according to NUR.KZ, and nearby cafés will cook it.

When to go

For the Assy plateau above the gorge, Tengrinews names late spring and summer as the best time, with autumn also attractive. The same warm season suits the waterfalls: trails are dry and the gorge road is passable. In winter, as January 2025 showed, the checkpoint may operate on restricted hours.

The Assy plateau above the gorge

The road through Turgen gorge climbs to the Assy plateau. Tengrinews places the Assy-Turgen observatory about 85 km east of Almaty at around 2,750 m. More on the plateau in our comparison of nature near Almaty.

Nearby

• Big Almaty Lake — another Ile-Alatau lake, reachable only on foot since 2026.
• Charyn Canyon — further east along the same Kuldzha highway.
• What to check before visiting a park.