Hike to Titov Lake

One-day hike to the Titov moraine lakes at an altitude of 3,300 meters.

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More details about the Titov lake

hiking tour in Almaty mountains, Kazakhstan

COMPLEXITY

Difficult
only for experienced hikers

DISTANCE

Hike: 9 km one way
Elevation gain: 1500m

LANGUAGE

English

BACKPACK

Light,
take only basic things and snacks

DURATION

about 10 hours

SEASON

May-November

Timeline of the tour to the Titov lake

07:45 – 08:00

Meeting point

We will meet in the city center or near your hotel to get to the starting point together with a guide. From Medeo we start hiking, or if it is possible from Gorelnik springs.

08:35 – 09:00

Gorelnik gorge

The gorge is very diverse, with green glades giving way to steep ascents in the pine forest. After the forest, there are flower-filled alpine meadows, which are especially beautiful in August during the fireweed bloom.

11:30 – 12:00

Eagle's Nest

We will take a short break at the "Eagle's Nest" glade. Just a bit further, we will pass the last spruces and enter the zone of alpine meadows, where the landscapes of Upper Gorelnik will open up before us. We will approach a steep ascent, an old moraine covered with grass and moss. After this ascent, it’s practically the final straight.

13:30 – 14:30

Titov lake

Approaching the transverse moraine that acts as a dam for the lake, we will bypass it on the left, and the moraine Lake Titova will come into view. If we're lucky, we may be greeted by marmots on the rocks of the moraine. Sitting by the lake and drinking hot tea with snacks is pure bliss. The hardiest participants might even take a dip in the icy lake.

18:30 – 19:00

Back to the city

The way down is exactly the same as the way up: steep descents that our knees won’t thank us for, but that doesn’t matter. At home, in the warmth, after resting and taking a bath, we will remember this hike as something wonderful, something that makes our lives rich and happy.

List of essentials for hiking to the Titov lake

Essentials

Passport (border guard document check)
Some cash
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Personal first aid kit
Trekking poles
Seat mats (optional)

Food

Water 0.5l-1l
Thermos with tea
Lunch (sandwiches, pancakes, pies, etc.)

Clothes (summer)

Trekking shirt
Fleece jacket\Hoodie
Raincoat\Hardshell jacket
Trekking trousers
Sun hat and buff
Trekking shoes\boots

Clothes
(winter)

Long sleeve (thermal)
Fleece jacket\hoodie
Snow pants
Demi-season/winter boots
Jacket
Woolen beanie and gloves
Warm socks
Headlamp
Gaiters
Crampons

What is included in the price of the Titov Lake tour?

Included

Hotel pickup/drop-off
Guide service
Basic first aid kit
Photo report
Consultation
Transportation (Almaty-Medeo-Almaty)
Snacks

Not included

Porter service
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Lunch (sandwiches, pancakes, pies, etc.)
Trekking poles (available for rent)

Price for a day hiking tour to Titov Lake

1 person

$180

2 persons

$200

$100/pp

3 persons

$250

$84/pp

4 persons

$280

$70/pp

5 persons

$300

$60/pp

over 5 people

calculated individually

Contact us

Request a call

Where is Titov Lake?

The Titova lakes are located in the Gorelnik Gorge (Kuygensai in Kazakh), a gorge rich in a wide variety of scenery: flower meadows, cozy forests, alpine meadows, and at the end of the path, moraine lakes. The first lake is more like a large puddle and not particularly remarkable, while the second reflects the surrounding peaks in its blue waters. The lake is at an altitude of about 3330-3360 meters above sea level. There are also two waterfalls in the Gorelnik Gorge, but usually, there isn’t enough time to visit them during the hike to Titov lake; it's better to take a separate hike for that.

How difficult is the trail to Titov Lake?

TIME: The hike from the yurts in Gorelnik to the Titova lakes takes about 5-6 hours, depending on the participants' physical condition.
TERRAIN: Diverse, mostly good trails, sometimes rocky, and only in the upper reaches of the gorge, a transverse moraine serves as the dam for the lake.
PARTICIPANTS: Good hiking experience and physical fitness are required for this hike. It’s not for beginners.
DISTANCE: 9 km one way
ELEVATION GAIN: 1500 m
Sometimes, due to reasons beyond our control, the eco-bus cannot reach Gorelnik. In that case, the hike begins from Medeo, adding another 40 minutes to the overall hiking time.

How to prepare for a hike to Titov Lake?

First of all, refer to the information block with a list of essentials for this hike.
If you have any questions, write to us on WhatsApp. If you have any diseases that require regular medication, you shall take the medications with you, and also warn the guide in advance about any medical contraindications (especially heart disease, pressure drops).
It is forbidden to take alcohol and drugs on the hike.
Before hiking in the mountains, have a enough sleep, have a good breakfast in the morning and take at least 1 liter of water.
The sun is more intense in the mountains, so take a Panama hat, sunscreen and glasses.
Always take a raincoat or waterproof wind jacket - the weather in the mountains is unpredictable!
Remember that you are solely responsible for your health - be careful!
At altitudes above 2500 meters above sea level, mountain sickness may begin with the following symptoms: headache, weakness, and nausea. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately inform the guide, take a break, take out your water bottle, and drink as much water as possible in small sips.