Kazakhstan's largest city has quietly picked up a global nod. In the 2026 Worldworthy 100 ranking — an editorial list built from visitor reviews, ratings and journalistic research — three Almaty attractions landed spots among the world's top 100 in their categories.
The first two are hiking spots in and around the Ile-Alatau State National Park, the mountain belt that sits right on Almaty's southern edge. Kimasar Gorge came in 56th among the world's best hiking trails, while Butakovka Gorge placed 79th globally and second in its category. The third is the Shymbulak cable car, which ranked ninth worldwide among cable cars — high praise for a lift system that whisks skiers and summer hikers up the Trans-Ili Alatau slopes.
All three received Worldworthy 100 award certificates for 2026. The expectation, according to local reporting, is that the recognition will draw more international visitors to the Ile-Alatau area and help showcase Kazakhstan's ecotourism potential — a sector the country has been pushing hard as it tries to broaden its appeal beyond steppe-and-silk-road clichés.
What makes this genuinely useful for travellers is the proximity. Unlike many "top 100" natural attractions that demand a multi-day expedition, these sit practically on Almaty's doorstep. Kimasar Gorge is a short ride from the city centre and popular for quick walks and trail runs. Butakovka Gorge, a little further out, follows a river valley past waterfalls and pine forest, with trails that range from an easy afternoon stroll to steeper climbs. Shymbulak, the ski resort above the city, runs its cable car year-round — winter for skiing on decent snow, summer for alpine views without the sweat of the ascent.
Almaty works well as a base for all three. The city has a growing cafe and restaurant scene, reliable public transport and one of the more affordable cost profiles of any major Central Asian hub. Add in the Green Bazaar, the bowl-shaped Arbat shopping street, and day-trip options like Big Almaty Lake, and you have a compact city-and-mountains trip that few Western travellers have ticked off yet.
The timing matters too. Rankings like this tend to precede the crowds. Kazakhstan has been easing visa rules for a growing list of countries in recent years, and flight connections through hubs like Istanbul, Dubai and Seoul keep improving. Getting to these trails before they become a checklist item is a real window, not marketing spin.
For hikers, this is the headline news: two of the world's top 100 trails are within an hour of a major city with good hotels. For skiers and scenery-seekers, a cable car ranked ninth on the planet is reason enough to look at Almaty for a winter or summer mountain break. Either way, the 2026 list has made Kazakhstan's biggest city considerably easier to justify as a holiday pick.
Thanks to The Astana Times for the original report.
