Tamgaly Tas
Tamgaly Tas is located about 120 km north of Almaty, on the right bank of the Ili River. It is a climbing area in the steppe, known for the famous petroglyph site “Tamgaly” or “Tanbaly”.
With its tall rock walls overlooking the Ili River, Tamgaly Tas has attracted rock climbers since the 1970s. There are about 200 routes here, from 5a to 8a.
The area offers a mix of climbing styles, from smooth slabs and vertical faces to short crack sections. There are also some TRAD routes and multi-pitch climbs.
Butakovskiy Waterfall
Butakovskiy Waterfall is a picturesque climbing location near Almaty, about 1.5–2 hours from the city. The approach is easy and follows a clear footpath, which makes it convenient for a one-day program.
The climbing is on granite and offers a good overall experience for beginners. In summer, we use this area for rock climbing when it becomes too hot in the steppe. There are 30 sport climbing routes, from 5c to 8a.
In winter and spring, the waterfall freezes and becomes one of the main locations near Almaty for ice climbing, mixed climbing and drytooling. There are also 15 bolted drytooling routes up to D9, usually climbable from autumn to spring.
Tuyuk-Su
Tuyuk-Su is a gorge near Almaty, located in the central part of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, the northernmost range of the Tien Shan.
There are about 20 sport and TRAD climbing routes here, from 5b to 7c. The area also has several alpine climbing routes and multi-pitch climbs, which makes it interesting for climbers who want to move beyond short single-pitch routes.
The rock is granite, slate and gabbro. The best season for climbing in Tuyuk-Su is summer.