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Aksay Gorge: snowy ridges in autumn

Aksay Gorge near Almaty: routes, access and the Aksay Skete

A 20 km gorge system in Ile-Alatau National Park, southwest of Almaty. The realistic day hike climbs to the Aksay Skete at 2,160 m, while the upper valleys are multi-day terrain.

  • 27 km from Almaty
  • Kyzylzhar 2,160 m
  • About 20 km of gorge
  • Charge 0.15 MCI
See photos · 4 When to go Plan the trip

Photo: AlexeyMadecam · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Verified: 2026-11

Aksay Gorge near Almaty: when to go, month by month

  1. January: off season
  2. February: off season
  3. March: off season
  4. April: possible
  5. May: possible
  6. June: good
  7. July: best time
  8. August: best time
  9. September: best time
  10. October: possible
  11. November: off season
  12. December: off season

No official season exists; guides give July to September for the high route.

Aksay Gorge near Almaty: why go

The trail to the skete

A gentle climb from the Koklaisai dachas along the forest edge at about 2,000 m, with benches and a spring 900 m in.

The Aksay Skete

Founded in 1913, closed in 1922 and reopened in 1993. After a 2019 mudflow the church moved higher up the ridge.

Upper valleys for the experienced

Left, Middle and Right Aksay lead to glaciers and lakes near 3,250 m, on multi-day routes from July to September.

The permit question is open

One directory describes a hard-to-get pass for upper valleys, and another source mentions only the eco-post charge.

Aksay Gorge (also Aksai) lies southwest of Almaty in Ile-Alatau National Park, with Left, Middle and Right branches totalling about 20 km. Visitors with one free day go to the Aksay Skete, a small Orthodox monastery on a forested ridge. Everything higher, with moraine lakes and glaciers, is multi-day terrain for experienced trekkers or guided groups.

The right route for your experience

Pick by fitness and time, because the gap between the skete walk and the upper valleys is large.

RouteHeightTimeWho it suits
Koklaisai dachas to the sketeabout 2,000 m, top 2,160 mno published figure, gentleday visitors
Aksay round trekglacier zone, moraine lake5 days, 8–10 km a dayguided, 18 and over
Aksay lakes, on a 10-day routeabout 3,250 mJuly–Septemberexperienced trekkers
Aksay Horseshoe14 peaks on the ridgeno figuremountaineers

Walking to the skete

The path is a gentle dirt climb with benches after each rise. About 900 m in you reach a stream and a spring where you can fill up. It follows the lower edge of the forest around 2,000 m, crosses a river at the monastery grounds, and finishes on a new staircase through dense trees. From Mount Kyzylzhar, 2,160 m, you can see the gorge and Almaty. Carry a hat, sunscreen and at least a litre of water each, as Informburo advises.

Getting there and paying the park fee

A car or taxi gets you closest, and Informburo prefers a 4x4 for the final stretch.

  1. Bus: routes 212 or 26 to the terminus at 1,560 m.
  2. Car: Upper Kaskelen road, turning after the Aksay River and fuel station, about 9 km past the city limit. One directory counts 27 km and an hour from Almaty.
  3. Eco-post: pay here, then drive about 4 km further. You pass a dam broken by a mudflow and scars of the 1887 Akzhar rockfall.
  4. Trailhead: a meadow with blue and wooden signs for the skete.

Order No. 232 sets 0.15 MCI per person per day for sanitation, 0.2 MCI for a tent pitch and 0.1 MCI for parking. Convert with our fee calculator. General rules are on the Ile-Alatau park page.

The permit question

A 2023 travel directory says entering the area requires a hard-to-get pass issued in Kamenka (Akzhar), and that the skete is exempt. Informburo mentions only the eco-post charge. We could not reach a park document that settles this, and Aksay is not named on the Emergencies Ministry’s list of routes that we checked. Contact the park before going above the skete.

The skete and its rules

The skete was founded in 1913, closed in 1922 and reopened in 1993, according to Informburo. After a 2019 mudflow the church moved up onto the ridge, with repairs in 2023, and parts of the monks’ caves survive. Dress modestly, covering shoulders, chest and legs above the knee, and leave pets at home. Visitors often bring food as gifts for the monks.

When to go

We found no official season. Guides give July to September for the high route, especially July and August. Mudflows have reshaped this valley before, so postpone if storms are forecast. Compare other options in nature near Almaty, or look at Kaskelen Gorge just to the west.

Not verified yet We could not confirm whether the park currently issues permits, spring and late-autumn trail conditions, bus timetables, the length and duration of the skete trail, or service times.

Aksay Gorge near Almaty: tips before you go

  1. Carry at least a litre of water each, plus a hat and sunscreen.
  2. Dress modestly for the skete, with no alcohol or smoking.
  3. Contact the park before going above the skete.

More to see nearby

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for Aksay Gorge?
Sources disagree. A 2023 travel directory says the area needs a pass but the skete does not, while Informburo mentions only a charge at the eco-post. We found no park rule specific to Aksay, so ask before going beyond the skete.
How do I get to Aksay Gorge without a car?
Informburo lists city buses 212 and 26 to a terminus at 1,560 m. The start of the skete trail is further up, about 4 km past the eco-post, so walking adds distance. We could not confirm timetables.
How hard is the hike to the Aksay Skete?
It is described as a gentle dirt climb with benches and a spring, reaching 2,160 m at Mount Kyzylzhar. We found no published distance or time. Bring at least a litre of water each.
Can I visit the skete if I am not Orthodox?
Sources describe hikers and pilgrims both visiting. Dress to cover shoulders, chest and legs above the knee, with no smoking or alcohol.

Sources

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