About Us
Our story
It all started back in 2016 when we printed out our first edition of Friendly Map for guests of Almaty and offered our tours at the backside of the map. Suddenly we started to have a good amount of calls and messages and we decided to start a travel agency in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We didn’t think a lot about the name – Friendly Tours as the next step after Friendly Map!
2020 brought a lot of time to think and reflect, we loved our name and our guests did too but we always wanted to add a bit of authenticity and here we go – our name changed a bit: Dostar Trips! “Dostar” means friends from the Kazakh language, so our main idea didn’t change at all – we always meet our guests as our best future friends! Honestly, we think what can be better than meeting people from all over the world and show the best places in our country? Best job ever! We would do it for free but if we are paid – woohoo, even better!
Dostar Trips is a travel agency from Almaty, Kazakhstan. We provide unforgettable travel adventures in a laid-back ambiance with friendly knowledgeable guides.
Our Tour Operator License:
our team
“I am very lucky – I do what I really love: meet new people from all over the world and share with them the best what my country has to offer such as astounding nature, finger-licking cuisine and, of course, people – the best part of any trip. During my own travels (mostly US & Europe) I understood that the long-lasting memories are created not by sights you visited, but by personal connections you make. So, almost all of our clients we meet during the tours somehow become our friends – and that is my favorite part of the work. I live and work in Kazakhstan all my life and still get excited by new places, new stories, and new routes I can show to my guests! So, I very much look forward to meeting and perhaps hosting you on a Dostar Trips adventure in the near future.”
Yana, operation manager:
Salem! My name is Yana, and I’m thrilled to meet you!
Two of my greatest passions are traveling and discovering new things. My journey into exploring different cultures began during my time at university, where I studied international relations. In 2009, I started hosting Couchsurfers, and my first guests were from France and Australia. That experience opened my eyes to the beauty of connecting with people from all corners of the world.
My career path has been anything but straightforward, but it’s led me to my dream job, and I truly feel at home in what I do. I absolutely love creating personalized tours that are tailored to your unique interests, making sure you have an unforgettable experience that stays with you and leaves you with a deep appreciation for the beauty of Kazakhstan. It’s a privilege to share my beloved country with those who come to explore, and I look forward to crafting a journey that will inspire you too!
