Almaty in spring: apple blossom, tulips and the first mountain walks
April and May are the most beautiful months in the city of apples: orchards and tulips bloom, the parks turn green, and the mountains are still white. Where to see the blossom, where to walk and what to expect from the weather.
By Super Admin1 min read
Almaty is the “father of apples”, and in spring you can see why: orchards on the slopes bloom in April, tulips and poppies follow in May, and the mountains are still white. It is a short season, three or four weeks, and worth planning a trip around.
Where to see the blossom
The Main Botanical Garden comes first: a tulip collection, lilacs, an avenue of apple trees. In April the garden beats any museum; come in the morning and allow two hours. Baum Grove is the oldest woodland in the city, planted in the 1890s, airy and quiet in spring. First President Park has fountains, young avenues and the mountains right behind the fence; go in the afternoon.
The first mountain walks
May opens the season for short hikes. Kok-Zhailau is the alpine meadow above the city where poppies bloom in late May; the route from the eco-post takes four hours. Above 2,500 m there is still snow in May, too early for BAO and the passes. For a warm-up try Terrenkur, the health trail along a stream at the foot of the mountains, an hour or so.
Weather
April is changeable: +20 °C by day and rain by evening, sometimes snow. May is warm, up to +25 °C, with afternoon thunderstorms. Bring a waterproof jacket and shoes that can take muddy trails. Mornings are almost always clear, so plan walks for the first half of the day.
Also
- Nauryz, 21–23 March, is the spring festival with yurts and nauryz-kozhe on the squares.
- In April and May the bazaars fill with the first greens and cherries from the south.
- Cafe terraces open at the end of April.
A ready-made day is in the collection “Spring blossom”.