Things to do · Mountains and nature
Almaty Hills
An hour on horseback through apple orchards with the mountains behind them — and it is still inside the city.
Been there myself · 1 visit · last Jun 2026
Rides run through the warm months. In winter, check the online schedule before you set off.
What you can do there
One-hour ride
1 hour
9,000 ₸ · ≈$19 per person
I paid this
Walking pace, 4–5 km through the orchards with an instructor riding along.
Riding lesson
They teach as well as ride out. I have not taken a lesson, so I have no price to give you.
The practical part
- Area
- Southern foothills
- Season
- Spring · Summer · Autumn
- Payment
- Cash only
- Booking
- Book a slot in the online schedule on their site, or over WhatsApp.
- Getting there
- Order a Yandex Go — it is the way out here, and back.
Almaty Hills is the closest thing to a proper ride you can reach without leaving the city. The route goes at a walk through apple orchards — the fruit this city is named for — with the mountains standing behind them the whole way, and an instructor rides with you rather than sending you off alone.
If you want to canter, Horse Explorers, by the Park of the First President, opens one stretch of its route for it — this one keeps you at a walk.
An hour is 9,000 ₸ a head, and they take cash on site, so bring notes: this is one of those places where turning up with only a card is a wasted trip.
There is also a house on the grounds that is let to guests through Booking.com. That is a place to sleep rather than something to do, so it is not priced here — but it is worth knowing about if you would rather stay out here than drive back into town.
When I was there
- 13 Jun 2026
Last updated .