Almaty

Almaty is Central Asia's most cosmopolitan city — a sophisticated, green and surprisingly beautiful metropolis set against the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains, which rise to over 4,000 metres directly behind the city and are visible on clear days from virtually every street corner. As the former capital and commercial heart of Kazakhstan, Almaty combines a vibrant café culture, excellent museums and a dynamic food scene with extraordinarily accessible mountain adventure.

For outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous travellers, Almaty is exceptional. The Shymbulak Ski Resort, one of the highest in Central Asia, is just 25 kilometres from the city centre, while Big Almaty Lake — a jewel of turquoise glacial water set among high alpine meadows — is one of the region's most beautiful natural sights. The Medeu high-altitude ice rink, the largest in the world when it was built, sits in a dramatic mountain valley that has hosted world speed-skating records.

Eutouria crafts Almaty experiences that combine the city's considerable urban appeal — the Green Bazaar's extraordinary abundance of Central Asian produce, the Soviet-era architecture of Panfilov Park, and the excellent Central State Museum — with guided excursions into the surrounding mountain wilderness, offering travellers a genuinely off-the-beaten-path Central Asian adventure that few Western visitors have yet discovered.