2-Day Private Tour - The Kolsai Lake & Kaindy (Sunken forest) via Charyn canyon

Embark on a 2-day private tour to explore the stunning Kolsai Lake, Kaindy (Sunken Forest), and Charyn Canyon in Almaty. Perfect for families and friends, this tour offers comfortable transportation and an experienced English-speaking guide.

Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 3 days learn more
Highlights

Almaty - Baiseit village - Kokpek Pass- Charyn canyon - Zhalanash Valley - Saty village

Charyn National Park - You will embark on an unforgettable journey to Charyn Canyon with a personal Experienced English-speaking guide in a comfortable SUV. Charyn Canyon - formed many millions of years ago, a unique place, fraught with many legends and mysteries …
The stunning panoramic views inspire you to take over a hundred photographs. An exciting hike of varying difficulty will also be amazing …

Zhalanash - The Zhalanash Valley is a beautiful area surrounded by mountains, herds of horses, sheep and mountain shepherds. We make a stop at the Kazakh Yurt, the guide will introduce you to the life of modern nomads. A great place to stop, have a picnic, take pictures.

Kolsai Lake - Kaindy Lake (Flooded forest) - Valley of the “Black Canyon”

Kolsai Lake - Let’s go to the Pearl Lake of the Tien Shan. Kolsay Lake is one of the largest alpine lakes in the Almaty Region. A fascinating hike through the coniferous forest. An English speaking guide will show you the most exciting photo spots away from the tourist crowds. It is allowed to sail on a boat on the lake, if the weather permits an unforgettable cruise on the Lake…

Lake Kaindy - Kaindy lake was formed more than a hundred years ago, during an earthquake, a rock collapsed and a mountain river flooded a forest of fir trees in the gorge. Translated from Kazakh “Kaindy” means birch …. Our professional English-speaking guide will tell you why the name of the Lake is.
We will see this beauty made by nature, go on an exciting hike, take stunning pictures.

What's Included
  • Accommodation at a cozy guest house
  • Bottled water provided
  • Meals included: 2 lunches, 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
  • All fees and taxes covered
  • Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transport in a private, air-conditioned SUV or minivan
Additional Information

The two-Day tour, is the best way to visit the best nature attractions of Almaty. This Tour is great for family trip, children and friends. A Comfortable SUV and English-speaking experienced guide are to make your tour incredibly comfortable.
You will visit several climatic zones, photographing the breathtaking landscapes of the Canyons, mountains with coniferous forests and beautiful Lakes. The KolsaiTour team is happy to be your guide.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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Antoniocslj
Jul 14, 2024
Great way to explore the main nature attractions of you don’t have much time. - Very knowledgeable and helpful guide with excellent English. All the tours were great. And the barbecue by the river was amazing! Will definitely hire them again for another tour in my next trip to Kazakhstan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sylviet668
Jul 9, 2024
A motivated guide, happy to show off the beauty of his country. - We enjoyed the tour because it was well organised. You can tell Andrey loves his job as a guide and is happy to share information about his country. Accommodation was comfortable and the food was great. The tour was customised to our interests. Thanks Andrey for a wonderful time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Parag
May 29, 2024
Fantastic country, Amazing Tours, Excellent Tour Company - First up, the Almaty region, including the Charyn-Kolsai-Kaindy mountain area, that we visited, were absolutely gorgeous! Each day it felt like we were in a beautiful town and countryside of Canada. Then, there could be no better people than Andrey and Dima of Kolsaitours to organise for single day and multi-day tours of their brilliant country. They're very experienced, the best in their work, well versed in English, very connected to the local businesses and people, and, above all, extremely committed to giving their guests the best experience. They are more than worth every dollar they charge. We were fortunate to have stumbled upon them on the internet and went by the excellent ratings and feedback we found. I asked my family how they felt about these guys and they said - "they were the best choice". We have returned to India with more than we expected, and we have Kolsai Tour Almaty and the country of Kazakhstan to thank. Andrey and Dima - out best wishes to your dear ones and you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B4512glsharonk
May 13, 2024
Memorable and will definitely come back! - Andrey is very accommodating with all the questions and requests as well. We booked the 2-Day Kolsay and Kaindy Lake Tour for 5 People and we had a blast enjoying Kazakhstan's nature. Stayed in the Kolsai Hotel and really enjoy the view. Hakim our guide was also great during our whole trip! We added another 2 day trip to Altyn-Emtel with another guide Julie. We booked this very last minute (1-2 days before) as we extended our trip in Kazakhstan. Visited Singing Dunes and Aktau Mountains. Julie was very knowledgeable about the history, natural landscapes and geography of Kazakhstan. I am recommending this to all of my friends and can't wait to be back to Kazakhstan!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sunny2309
May 11, 2024
Most amazing tour! - We did 2 days tour in march end and had an amazing time. Andrey was kind enough to customize our itinerary because my wife was recovering from leg injury and couldn't walk long distances. We had gorgeous stay at kolsai lake. Kirill, who was our guide, was very warm and drove us to secluded spots with breathtaking views. We also did 2 lunch picnics where we cooked and ate near moon canynon and a water stream. This was truely the highlight of our trip. Thank you so much Andrey and Kirill. We hope to come back and do another trip with you guys Siddharth and Stuti
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sagorika
Feb 29, 2024
Personalised tour arrangement. Highly recommended - We had a great tour of Kolsay Lake and Canyon thanks to Andrey. The tour plan was tweaked to suit our comfort and need. Due to less time, Andrey picked us up directly from the airport in the early hours of the morning and drove us to Kolsay Lake via Black Canyon. His recommendation to stay at Hotel with beautiful lake view was amazing. He is well prepared with all tour requirements and has information to share about the places we were visiting as well as local traditions and people. He provided us with needed gear wherever needed and always had snacks, coffee, and local produce to share with us. Andrey n his tour is highly recommended by us for all Kazakhstan tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mmh98
Nov 30, 2023
Wonderful experience for a solo female traveller - I am a young solo female traveller and Andrey made me feel nothing but comfortable throughout our 3 days together on the tour. He takes you to beautiful untouched places in Kazakhstan and knows so much information about the areas. The food he / the guest houses make is delicious and always traditional which is amazing. The accomodation was with beautiful locals who provided a comfortable stay. I visited in November when there was snow / ice around the rounds we were driving on, I always felt very safe with Andrey driving! Andrey speaks good English and is able to have nice conversations with you This trip is 100% worth the money & time, amazing tour would recommend for anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E3389fsannad
Nov 20, 2023
Amazing tour 👍 - I thank Andrey for a great tour to Lake Bartogai and the Charyn Canyon! It was great 👍 as comfortable, interesting and cool organized as possible! Excellent service: fragrant coffee on the lake, a delicious picnic with an incredible view of the canyon and herbal tea, good care of tourists, I highly recommend this company and Andrey personally!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Moritch
Nov 3, 2023
A Journey through Kazakhstan's Natural Wonders with an Exceptional Guide - I had the absolute pleasure of exploring the enchanting landscapes of Kazakhstan alongside my spouse over the course of October 30th and 31st. Our voyage was enriched through the 2-day private tour via Charyn Canyon to the Kolsai Lake and Kaindy Sunken forest. Our guide, Hakim, was the epitome of professionalism, blending a wealth of knowledge with a warm, approachable demeanor. Our expedition commenced amidst the sprawling vastness of Kazakhstan’s countryside, a delightful escapade that left us enthralled. At Charyn National Park, we were greeted by majestic canyons that transcended the splendors of Monument Valley in the US and the Wind Valley near Uluru in Australia, which we had visited earlier. The geological wonders, variegated terrains of sandstone and basalt, coupled with the unexpected sight of small rodent-like wildlife, enriched our exploration manifold. The luncheon amidst such splendor was an experience to cherish. Hakim’s prompt adaptability shone through when inclement weather loomed; he astutely rearranged our itinerary, taking us to Kolsai Lake earlier. The pristine clarity of the lake waters against a picturesque backdrop was a sight to behold. Our stay in a quaint village was equally remarkable. We indulged in delectable local cuisine, whilst the serene vistas of grand mountain ranges, accompanied by the pastoral charm of cattle, chickens, and ducks, added to the rustic appeal. A minor hiccup arose with the late-night chatter of some students, but thanks to our hosts, peace was swiftly restored. The serene early morning visit to Lake Kaindy was a surreal experience. The visual of trees standing tall in the water, as though defying death, was mesmerizing. A small mishap occurred when my drone slipped from my grasp. Hakim, undeterred, retrieved it even at the cost of a soaked T-shirt, exemplifying not only his dedication but also his adherence to leaving nature undisturbed—a testament to his professional ethos. Our journey back included a detour to Zhalanash. Although strong winds prevented us from reaching the cliff, the scenic beauty we witnessed was no less captivating. Throughout our journey, Hakim was a repository of information, sharing insights into Kazakhstan's culture and the landmarks we visited with grace and patience. Despite his youth, he was a calm and reliable guide, embodying the spirit of Kazakh hospitality. Our expedition was not merely a tour, but a narrative of discovery, adventure, and camaraderie, eloquently orchestrated by our guide, Hakim. His professionalism, combined with the natural allure of Kazakhstan, has etched this journey in our hearts indelibly. User
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Newton_d
May 29, 2024
Did not live up to expectations - Can't afford more than two stars for this experience unfortunately. I booked the tour based on recommendations from other travellers however my experience was nowhere near the mark. Here is why: 1. The tour started on a somewhat distasteful note as guide Mihail was irritated that I unintentionally used a bit of muscle to close the car door after I got in. He went on to re-open the door and show me how to gently close it. The door is not light so a reasonable amount of energy is required to swing it closed. This produces a noise which may appear that it has been forcefully closed. Not true. If closing the door is such a sensitive matter, then I would suggest adopting a more subtle approach by putting a sticker on the inside of the door requesting guests to handle it gently or perhaps drivers should volunteer to close the door themselves throughout the journey. 2. Over the course of the first two hours in the car, I didn't know where we were going or how long was the drive going to be. Most of the two days felt to me like a pick-up and drop-off service with a dusting of information on points of interest. No substantial effort was put into explaining the details of these beautiful places or giving adequate context. 3. During stretches of the journey the air-conditioning was turned off and the windows rolled down which caused a noisy hum as cold air entered the car. I presume this was done to save power. I felt like I had to push the guide outside his comfort zone by asking for the air conditioner to be turned back on. 4. Finally I feel that Mihail's intonation and style of communicating sounded robotic and bossy rather than kind, gentle and friendly. Just didn't possess a warmth that you would expect relative to other tour guides that I have dealth with in Kazakhstan. Positives? 5. I had requested for a handful of photos to be taken at various viewing points and they were all done without a fuss or making me feel rushed. 6. The home cooked food and hospitality of the host family was very good. The guest house was fine. Overall given the significant price tag and awkwardness of this experience, how can I possibly recommend such a tour?
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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