Surrounded by mountains and giant Tien Shan firs, Big Almaty Lake is a scenic place. It’s worth a drive, and it looks like in the pictures.Also note that Big Almaty Lake has been the subject of turf wars within the Kazakh elite. No guns are being drawn, but it means the situation is always changing depending on who gets the upper hand. Sometimes, the lake is free to visit, at other times, access is restricted and entrance fees are raised.
