Nature Stays
near Almaty

These are places in nature around Almaty where we love to go ourselves, and where we'd happily send our friends.

For us and the hosts, what matters most is how you feel once you arrive: whether you want to switch off your phone, linger on the terrace a little longer, stay another day. Many of these places are tucked away from the usual routes, and even people who grew up in Almaty often discover something new with us.

The places are very different, from a tiny house in a vineyard and an A-frame on a farm where the hosts make their own soap to a boutique resort in a mountain gorge with a restaurant and hotel-style service. But behind each one are people we know personally and believe in.

Who we are and why we started Sabay Sai →

No, and that's part of the charm. The places are spread across the Almaty region: some are right in Almaty, others in the mountains and foothills, about an hour's drive from the city.

Browse the list of all places and open the ones you like. On each page we've tried to cover everything worth knowing before your trip: where it is, how to get there, what to expect and who will make your breakfast.

Usually not. You don't need to enter card details to book, and you pay for your stay on arrival, in cash: tenge, US dollars or euros.

Sometimes we may ask for part of the payment in advance. This happens on weekends and holidays, when many guests want the same dates, or if the place itself requires it. If a prepayment is needed, we'll let you know after you book.

Most hosts don't have a card terminal, so please withdraw some cash in Almaty before you head out: ATMs there accept Visa and Mastercard. Our Kazakhstan travel FAQ has more tips on money, taxis and getting around.

Right after booking, you'll get a confirmation email with your booking details and check-in time.

Within 24 hours, we or the property manager will message you on WhatsApp, in English, to go over the details of your trip: how to get there, whether you'd like the hot tub or sauna, where to have dinner and what to do nearby.

If you'd like to check in earlier, leave later or need something special, tell us. We'll do our best to make your stay go the way you planned it.

After that, we're always in touch: ask us anything before your trip and during your stay.

Plans change, and that's fine. You can change your dates or cancel your booking right from the confirmation email. Cancellation terms depend on the rate and are shown when you book.

If something doesn't work, message Andrey and we'll sort it out together.

By taxi. Yandex Go, the main taxi app in Kazakhstan, works for all our places. Out of town, it can take a little longer for a car to arrive than in Almaty. At some places, the hosts can also pick you up from a bus stop, the bus station or the airport for an extra fee.

If the road to a place has any quirks, we describe them in the Location section on its page. After booking, we'll send you a map pin and directions.

Yes. Kazakhstan is generally a safe country to travel, and every place in our collection is one we know personally. You can reach the hosts or us on WhatsApp whenever you need, before and during your stay.

A couple of tips: use taxi apps rather than street taxis, and if you go hiking, don't go alone and tell your hosts your route, as there's often no mobile signal in the mountains.

Gladly. Our guide to things to do near Almaty is a good place to start: hidden gems, farms and good food, mostly within an hour's drive. Or tell us what you enjoy, and we'll suggest day trips that fit.

We also run private tours across Kazakhstan with English-speaking guides. Explore tours →

It isn't easy. First, we stay at a new place ourselves and look at everything through a guest's eyes. Then we work with the hosts to smooth out the rough edges: improving the service, the everyday comforts and the small details that make a good stay. Only when we're 100% sure of a place does it join the collection.

Leaving the collection is much easier than getting in. After every stay we ask guests how it went, and if guests keep being unhappy with something and the hosts aren't willing to change it, we part ways with the place.

Know a place that belongs in our collection? Tell us about it, we'd love to meet them.

Most places in our collection are also on Booking.com and Airbnb, and we manage those bookings too, so you'll be well looked after either way.

But when you book directly with us, you almost always get better terms and prices, plus special offers you won't find elsewhere. And the hosts don't have to give big commissions to the platforms, so they can put more into their place and into the small things that make a good stay.

For us, every new booking on our site is a small celebration. It feels like close friends are coming to visit, and we want to welcome them as best we can.