Kazakhstan: Butakovsky Gorge

Date: 24 May, 2026

After hiking to Shymbulak the previous day, I was unsure whether to go on another hike before heading to Kyrgyzstan or just relax for the remaining couple of days. However, I met a local Kazakh, Dauliat, on the Shymbulak hike suggested doing waterfall hike . Eventually, I decided to hike to the Butakovsky Gorge waterfall at night and informed Dauliat.

Dauliat brought along his friend Richardo from Italy, so the three of us set off at 6 AM and met around 8 AM at the Medeu bus stop. The weather was perfect, mostly sunny with some clouds. The hike is about 12 km one way and begins with a steep 4 km climb. The first kilometer is on the main road, then it transitions to a trail. The trail is surrounded by lush bushes and trees, making the clean air very refreshing.

Dauliat is apparently training for wrestling, and his fitness was evident on this hike as he carried heavy snacks and 2 liters of water while running up the hill. It was Richardo's first hike, but he performed better than I did; I was the slowest in the group. We took a break after 4 km where the trail begins to descend again.

The descent continues for 3 to 4 km until we reach the campsite. It was nice to see many young people and families doing this hike. At the campsite, people were having BBQs and snacks, and there were a couple of cafes for food. We took a 5-minute break and then headed to the waterfall.

The ascent starts gradually, but it becomes steeper as the terrain gets rocky. You have to pass through 3 km of rocky area to reach the waterfall. It's amazing that you don't notice the waterfall until the last 5 minutes of the hike.

People started posing for photos, and there was a great sense of joy among all the hikers. Some were rock climbing beside the waterfall. The waterfall isn't heavy, but it's extremely cold. We tried to get underneath it, but I couldn't endure it for more than 10 seconds as I felt dizzy.

Dauliat brought some snacks, and I ate an apple he offered, which was the best apple I'd had in a long time since Uttarakhand. After resting for 30 minutes, we headed back to the campsite.

At the campsite, we finished our lunch, took a 10-minute nap, and then headed back to Medeu.

Overall I would say this is a moderate hike and very enjoyable one. Great spots for picnics and camping.