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Canyons and Mountain Lakes (1 day)

Duration of the route: 1 day
Tour distance: by car – 700 km, on foot – from 3 km
Route: Almaty – Charyn – Lake Kolsay – Lake Kaindy – Almaty
Transport: comfortable tourist-class vehicle

Sample tour program:

• 06:00: Early departure for the tour.
• 09:00: Arrival at Charyn National Park.
• 10:00: Walk to the canyon panorama.
• 11:30: Transfer to Saty village.
• 14:30: Departure to Lake Kaindy (on off-road vehicles).
• 15:30: Walking tour to Lake Kaindy.
• 16:00: Lunch in Saty village.
• 17:00: Departure for an excursion to Lake Kolsay 1.
• 22:00: Arrival in Almaty.

Included in the price:

• Taxi Mode: Comfortable transportation.
• With a Russian-speaking guide: Guided tour in Russian, comfortable transportation, national park environmental fee, 1 liter of water, lunch.
• With an English-speaking guide: Guided tour in English, comfortable transportation, national park environmental fee, 1 liter of water, lunch.

Not included in the price:

• Other expenses.

What to bring:

• Comfortable clothing and footwear.
• Hat.
• Camera.
• Good mood.

Tour Description: Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes, and Lake Kaindy

Every country has its natural wonders, and Kazakhstan is no exception. One of the most famous and impressive natural landmarks is the Charyn Canyon, located on the slopes of the Tian Shan Mountains near the Chinese border. This canyon leaves no one indifferent, evoking deep emotions and a desire to return again and again.

The path to the famous "Valley of Castles" runs through the Sogety Valley, surrounded by the Ketmen and Ulken-Bogety mountain ranges. The “Valley of Castles” got its name thanks to the amazing rock formations that resemble fortress walls. The canyon stretches for 154 kilometers, and the height of its walls reaches from 150 to 300 meters. Here, you can feel the spirit of exploration, wandering through the stone labyrinths where you can find ancient plant imprints and fossils of prehistoric creatures. When tired from walking, you can always rest by the river in the shade of poplars. This canyon is the result of nature and time working for 12 million years, and it remains one of the most classic spots for ecotourism.

No less impressive are the Kolsay Lakes — a chain of crystal-clear high-altitude lakes with piercingly blue waters, surrounded by coniferous forests fragrant with resin and wildflowers. These lakes are located in a picturesque gorge of the Northern Tian Shan, where pristine nature meets careful human activity. Here, among Tian Shan fir trees, you can walk along well-maintained trails, watching as the silver stars fade in the morning and listening to the wind rustling through the tree crowns during the day.

Another natural wonder is Lake Kaindy, located in a gorge near the Kolsay Lakes. The road to it passes through a birch grove, from which the gorge gets its name (the word "Қайың" in Kazakh translates to "birch"). The history of Kaindy began about 200 years ago when an earthquake blocked a river, and the gorge was flooded. As a result of this cataclysm, fir trees that ended up underwater still cling to the bottom, displaying their bare trunks above the surface — a sight that leaves no traveler indifferent.

Join our tour and explore these amazing natural landmarks of Kazakhstan!