Five popular hikes from Almaty (and links to some online hiking resources)

The view from the Three Brothers, one of several popular hikes in Almaty

The city of Almaty is situated at the foot of the Tien Shan mountains in the southern part of Kazakhstan.  This location makes it perfect for day hikes into the mountains with several summits within a one-day hike of the city.  Here are a few of the more popular day hikes from Almaty and some resources to assist you in your planning:

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Tales from the Road: A Night at the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory

Big Almaty Lake, as seen from the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory

The collection of wood and cement buildings that make up the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory sit perched on a grassy plateau above Big Almaty Lake, a mere 30km outside of Almaty, Kazakhstan.  There are several observatories in the region, but as far as I know, this is the only one with guest accommodations.

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The Intrepid Traveler: Fear Nothing (not even bedbugs)

Last month, while I was in the UK, I stayed at two establishments (one in Edinburgh and one in London) who had a tiny, little embarrassing problem: Bedbugs (insert dramatic music here).

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Khaki-sandy Girl: Gypsy Taxis for Beginners

Khaki-sandy Girl: Gypsy Taxis for Beginners: Catching a ride in a gypsy taxi in Almaty, Kazakhstan is a bit like hitchhiking, you stand on the side of the road, face the oncoming cars traveling in the direction you want to go, and stick your right arm out with your flat palm pointing slightly down. Some people feel really uncomfortable with Gypsy Taxis but I have not had a bad experience in one.  Aside from the inevitable (and for the most part, innocent) flirtation when a driver finds out you are single, the experience is almost always entertaining and a really great place to practice Russian...