Visiting Almaty, Kazakhstan for 4–5 Days — Itinerary Sanity Check

Hi everyone,
I'm visiting Kazakhstan (Almaty) for 4–5 days with a group of 4 friends and would love a sanity check on our itinerary.
**Our group's interests**

Nature

History

Food and local cuisine

Adventure

We'll be staying in Almaty every night and doing day trips only.
**Day 1 — Almaty City Highlights**
Panfilov Park

Ascension Cathedral

Central State Museum of Kazakhstan

Lunch

Kok Tobe (cable car, alpine coaster, sunset views)

Dinner at Navat (planning to try kazy, beshbarmak, etc.)

**Day 2 — Issyk Lake & Turgen Gorge**
Issyk Lake

Turgen Gorge and waterfall

Hoping to see horses and countryside scenery

**Day 3 — Charyn Canyon**
Full-day trip to Charyn Canyon

**Day 4 — Falconry & Horse Riding**
Sunkar Falcon Farm (eagle/falcon show)

Beginner-friendly horseback riding

Back in Almaty by 6 PM since one person has a night flight

**Places We Considered but Decided to Skip**
Kaindy Lake

Kolsai Lakes

Tamgaly Petroglyphs

Big Almaty Lake

Turkistan

**What We're Hoping to Experience**
Kazakh history and culture

Nomadic traditions

Horse riding

Eagle/falcon hunting traditions

Traditional food (including horse meat)

Mountains and canyons

A bit of adventure

**Questions**
Are we missing any must-do experiences around Almaty?

Is Issyk Lake + Turgen Gorge a good choice for a shorter trip?

Any dishes besides kazy and beshbarmak that are absolute must-tries?

Is the falcon show + horseback riding day worth it, or would you replace it with something else?

Would really appreciate any feedback from locals or anyone who has visited Kazakhstan recently. Thanks!