High above Almaty, the Assy plateau is a sea of summer pastures, nomad camps and grazing herds.
The Assy plateau lies at around 2,500 m in the Trans-Ili Alatau, a few hours’ drive from Almaty. Every summer, herders bring their horses, cattle and sheep up to its lush pastures, and the valley fills with yurts.
There are no hotels — just wide-open space, an astronomical observatory and some of the clearest night skies in Central Asia. Many travellers combine it with Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai lakes.
The road is rough, so a 4x4 is essential. The plateau is accessible from June to September.
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