Asy-Turgen Observatory

Beautiful landscape, if you are visiting Almaty I totally recommend to spend a day and visit this site. The road and its surrounding is beautiful and worth the trip.
It is best to visit in summer time as up there weather is colder. Also book a 4x4 car, without the off road car is very difficult to get there.

Assy Plateau is my most favourite places around Almaty to visit from all other popular tourist locations, especially in autumn. Turgen gorge is golden beautifull. Turgen River along which you go is so powerfull. And views on the Roof of the World (Assy Plateau) are stunning. You need good offroad car to reach the place.

Just wow. We went overlanding throughout the plateau last weekend. Incredible scenery and breathtaking views. If you like astrophotography, bring your gear. Bring all of it, regardless of the weight! You'll need a decent 4x4 or "prepared" car to get here, although saying that, we saw a couple of heroes in a VW golf and an old mercedez. The trail is pretty brutal for normal cars though.

The location where the observatory is has some of the best views, but be prepared. The area is littered with trash unfortunately, which is pretty heartbreaking to see. It's also super windy, so be sure to dress accordingly for the night time. Even in summer, i'd say it's touching on freezing or below. We'll be back for sure!

Very beautiful place but hard to get there . At the end of trip you’ll find abandoned observatory which is still very impressive . To go there you will definitely need a full wheel drive car .

observatory is located on the Assy-Turgen plateau, 2750 meters above sea level, 85 km East from Almaty. It was build by Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, and observations began to be performed since 1981. By 1991, two telescope towers and hotel facilities were raised, and a 1-meter telescope was launched. By 1990 it was planned to set up a 1.5-meter AZT-20 reflector telescope. The dome and the building were constructed, but since the beginning of 1990s the construction was suspended due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 2015 yr. the process of building was continued. In October 2016 yr. there was first observation via telescope AZT-20. Since 2017 yr. at the regular exploitation.

The road is only for SUVs but the view is amazing

Great place for a weekend and must have to visit place near almaty

You can go there by car, It would be better if the machine was tall, as the road is generally heavy and rocky. I think the best season to go - autumn

Epic place!!! No word to describe it. A MUST SEE. Very very dirty road to get up there but it worths the ride

Incredibly beautiful place with breathtsking sceneries. Diverse foliage and fresh clean air. A perfect place for a gate away from city hustle

If you are travelling in Kazakhstan, spare a day, or better two to travel trough Assy Plato. There are two ways you can enter the Plato , so you don’t have to return the same way. Very different landscapes depending on the time of the year. But must see if you want to fern how nomads we’re living centuries ago. Locals bring their stock for the summer grazing from around May to end of September, so you will see hundreds of horses, caws and sheep.

Superb place the best time is middle of summer. But at the night you need to be ready for less than 10 degrees Celsius.

10-15 km's of gravel off-road

Highly recommend to visit!

Stunning beautiful and unbelievable. Must visit if you are in Almaty area. Mind there is a rough patch of a road for 14 kilometers

The old observatory is reminiscent of a landing pad for UFOs or a top-secret Soviet communications facility from the Cold War.
In reality it is an observatory that has been used to look into space since the 1980s.
The way up here is difficult for people and material and a vehicle with 4x4 and sufficient ground clearance is recommended. ;)
The area is fenced and guarded.

Near almaty, observatory at Assy plateau, highly recommended to visit. Very popular place to cycle from Assy to Bartorgai reservoir in late spring, summer and beginning of autumn. The road is good, but last 30-40 km gravel road. Possible only with good off road SUV.

Also possibilities to see a traditional Kazakh yurt camp with horses and other animals.

This is great place. Uniquely located observatory with the state of the art instruments. Clear sky. Best seeing in Kazakhstan.

Amazing place. Kazakh wilderness - the road is rough but still praticable

Almost like Hawaii. A hidden gem! Must visit with a tent best.