The lake is a reservoir inside a protected area, and the rules for getting close to it
have changed several times. The walk itself is short; most of the day goes to the road
up the gorge. The colour of the water is best around midday on a clear day.
Before you go
Check current access and permit rules — do not rely on an old blog post, including this one.
It is noticeably colder at the lake than in the city. Bring a warm layer.
Take the altitude seriously if you arrived in Almaty the day before.