Assy Plateau
Асы үстірті
A high-altitude grassland about 2,500 meters above Turgen Gorge, where summer yurts and herds of horses are scattered across the land. You can stargaze here at night.
The Assy Plateau lies in the Zailiskiy Alatau mountains at an altitude of about 2,500 to 2,800 meters. It is a rolling alpine meadow about 30 km long. From Turgen Gorge, it is about 30 km up a rough gravel mountain road. In summer, Kazakh herders set up yurts here to graze horses, cattle and sheep. Visitors can try horseback riding and drink mare’s milk. Near the entrance to the grassland is the Assy-Turgen Observatory, where the Milky Way is clearly visible on clear nights. The road is rugged, so it is best to travel by off-road vehicle or join a one-day tour from Almaty (often combined with Turgen Gorge and Lake Issyk). A nature reserve entry fee is required. Temperatures on the plateau vary widely between day and night, so bring a jacket even in midsummer and take care of sun exposure at high altitude.
Opening hours
Open all day (roads often closed in winter)
Nearby sights
- Turgen Gorge
- Lake Issyk
- Shymbulak
- Medeu
- Kok Zhailau
- Kok Tobe
- Central Park of Culture and Leisure (Gorky Park)
- Big Almaty Lake