Charmed by its sheer natural beauty, the Terra Forest Meadow trail is one of the best hikes in Almaty. This complete guide contains all your hiking information, as well as essential travel tips.

Kazakhstan is a country of sheer natural beauty, coming in many forms, including lush forests, raw mountains, as well as plenty of picturesque lakes and waterfalls.

It is therefore little wonder that an adventurous country such as Kazakhstan introduced me to hiking – an activity that is completely new to me.

But after my first ever hike in the Terra Forest Meadow, which is nestled in the stunningly beautiful mountains of Almaty, I’m pretty sure that a new hobby is emerging.

With that being said, here is my complete guide to the Terra Forest Meadow trail, where I share my hiking experience, as well as essential tips for visiting, including the costs, how to get there, the duration of the trail, and where to stay.

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Where is Terra Forest Meadow

The Terra Forest Meadow is a charming woodland of tall pine trees, nestled in the heart of the picturesque Ile Alatau National Park, just south of Almaty.

Charmed by dense wild forest, impressive Alpine meadows, and the northern slopes of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, the park is considered a hiking paradise, attracting adventurous travellers from all over the world.

At the centre of this stunning national park is the Terra Forest Meadow, where you’ll end up when following this adventurous trail.

Where to stay near Terra Forest Meadow

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan, and due to its sheer, natural surroundings, it is popular with locals and travellers alike.

As a result, you’ll find a great selection of excellent accommodations, including brilliant Airbnbs, cosy guesthouses, budget-friendly hostels, and high-end hotels for those looking for some extra comfort.

Ambassador | Ambassador offers large classic-style rooms that provide everything to unwind after an adventurous day in the mountains of Almaty. On top of that, the hotel is home to an excellent in-house restaurant.

Renion Park Hotel | Situated at just a stone’s throw away from the Almaty city centre, Renion Park Hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms at an excellent price-to-quality ratio. Perfect for those after some comfort.

Alternatively, search for accommodations in Almaty on booking.com.

The entrance fee of Terra Forest Meadow

To follow the Terra Forest Meadow trail, you’ll need to obtain a permit to visit the Ile Alatau National Park.

At the moment of writing – September 2024, a permit for the Ile Alatau National Park will set you back 500 KZT (€1,-) per person.

A guide to the Terra Forest Meadow Trail in Almaty

The Terra Forest Meadow trailhead location

The Terra Forest Meadow Trail is easily one of the most popular hikes in the famous Almaty Mountains and subsequently has a large, signposted parking lot at the beginning of the trail.

The beginning of the trail is situated at Alma-Arasan, a roughly 30-minute drive from Almaty.

From the parking lot, it is easy to get to the trailhead, as there is only one way to get in the Passage Gorge, which brings you to the beginning of the trail and takes you to the summit of Terra Forest Meadow.

Where | Alma-Arasan, Ile Alatau National Park

How to get to the Terra Forest Meadow trailhead

By car | For those planning to come to the trailhead by car, head in the direction of the famous Big Almaty Lake. Once you arrive at the crossroads, go straight in the direction of Alma-Arasan. The journey should take around 30 minutes.

If you’re planning to rent a car in Kazakhstan, you’ll have a significantly easier time to go on day trips. Do, however, make sure that you have good insurance, the roads in Kazakhstan can be pretty rough.

For car rental in Kazakhstan, I would recommend DiscoverCars. They offer excellent service, additional insurance, and a broad selection of cars, all at an affordable price.

By bus | For timetables, costs and information on how to reach the trailhead at Alma-Arasan by bus, check information regarding bus line 211 on easyway.

The journey by bus should take around 1.5 hours and costs 300 KZT (€0,60) for a one-way ticket.

The Terra Forest Meadow hike

The Terra Forest Meadow Trail is one of the moderate hikes in the Ile Alatau National Park, yet it was quite a challenge for me, someone who’s not familiar with hiking.

The majority of the trail is well-defined and pretty straightforward.

The terrain fluctuates between densely forested hills, several streams and rapids that you’ll have to cross, as well as large open fields that provide the most stunning views of the encircling forested mountains and steep rock formations.

The trail out towards the summit of Terra Forest Meadow is around 7,1 km with an ascent of roughly 900 meters, before reaching the summit at an altitude of 2.650 meters above sea level.

Once, you crossed a small stream, you’ll know you’re close to arriving at the top.

When we arrived at the official summit, we’re where welcomed by the most stunning views of the surrounding mountains, including Big Almaty Peak (3.680 meters) and Saw Peak (3,790 meters) and took some well-deserved time for relaxing.

Though most hikers stop here, it is also possible to venture higher in the mountains. Do however keep in mind that this can be quite dangerous, therefore I always recommend going with an experienced guide.

The Terra forest trail is easily one of the best hikes in the famous Almaty Mountains, and for me a special place to kick off the beginning of my new hiking journey.

Terra Forest Meadow in numbers

Hiking time | Roughly 6 hours
Distance | 14,2 km (8,8 miles) return trip
Ascent | +/- 900 m
Altitude | 2.650 meters above sea level

Terra Forest Meadow | The essentials

The best time of year to visit Terra Forest Meadow

It’s fair to say that winters in Kazakhstan are extremely rough, therefore it is better to avoid hiking during these extreme circumstances.

The summer and autumn months, early May to late November, are the absolute best months if you’re after good weather conditions, and a bright palette of nature’s finest colours.

Though you can hike the trail during the winter months, take into account that the circumstances might bring in some dangerous situations. For that reason, I highly recommend visiting during the warmer months.

I did the hike at the beginning of Autumn (Kazakhstan’s golden months) and had great circumstances throughout the entire hike.

The best time of day to visit Terra Forest Meadow

As the name might suggest, most of the hike will take place in a dense forest. Therefore, I recommend visiting just after sunrise or late in the morning.

By doing so, you have all the time to relax at the summit, while also having an easier time hiking down to the parking lot.

Although I haven’t done the hike during the evening, I’m pretty sure it can be quite a struggle as with any hike.

What to pack for the Terra Forest Meadow Trail

When going on a hike into the stunningly beautiful Almaty Mountains, it is good to bring some essentials that keep you safe, nourished and hydrated.

A reusable water bottle | It is no secret that hiking is a tough activity, and for that reason, it is pretty important to stay hydrated throughout any trail. That’s where the Grayl Geopress purifier comes in handy. This purification bottle is sustainable and convenient, and you can fill it up from almost every water source, all over the world.

Fruit and snacks | There are no restaurants or shops near the head of the trail, therefore I recommend bringing enough fruits, and a couple of (healthy) snacks, especially if you’re planning to chill away an afternoon in the beautiful mountains.

Hiking Cookware Kit | After your hike to the summit of Terra Forest Meadow, it is time to relax and enjoy a proper meal. We used the excellent cooking gear of Optimus to make a delicious, vegan buckwheat meal.

Hiking boots or a sturdy pair of trail runners | With a changing terrain it is wise to bring some sturdy shoes that are built to pass the test of hard conditions. While hiking boots will definitely provide more stability to the ankles, a good pair of trail runners with Vibram soles will also get the job done these days. For the last 3 years, I have been using the New Balance Hierro v7, a trail runner that offers all the features of a hiking boot, while still providing the looks of a trendy sneaker.

Stay safe in Kazakhstan | Travel insurance

Though Kazakhstan is safe for travellers, I always strive to sort out my travel insurance before arriving in a foreign country, and I highly advise anyone else to do the same.

Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury or an accident on the road. When that happens, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full COVID-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.