Charyn Canyon and Kolsay Lake: One Day Exploration Tour of Kazakhstan’s Natural Wonders

Experience the natural wonders of Kazakhstan on a one-day exploration tour. Discover the ancient Charyn Canyon and its stunning sedimentary rocks, then relax by the beautiful Kolsay Lake in the Tien Shan mountains.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Charyn Canyon - During the tour you will:
    • see some of the most beautiful places in our region
    • have an opportunity to see life in a village, and visit an open air market with local organic food.
    • be escorted by our professional guide. They will tell you about all the sights, answer all your questions about the cultural and historical facts, and…
What's Included
  • Lunch included
  • Parking fees covered
Additional Information

If you want to see the diversity of the landscape in a desert canyon, hike along a beautiful mountain lake, or take boat and relax; enjoy local cuisine in a hospitable guest house,then this tour is for you!
Charyn Canyon is a 12-million-year-old natural monument, consisting of complex sedimentary rocks. Kolsay Lake is a natural mirror, reflecting the…

Location
Charyn Canyon
Charyn National Park, Charyn River
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(43 Ratings)
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Sarabjiet2012
Sep 13, 2025
Great Day - Was a great tour, a private tour just the two of us and the tour guide was good as well, went early before the crowd, enjoyed it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexbd3780cs
Sep 5, 2025
Great experience - many thanks - Great tour and an amazing way to see the beauty of rural Kazakhstan just outside Almaty! Driver was good and safe and the tour guide was very informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
264aaliyaa
Aug 14, 2025
Amazing experience - Amazing tour! Our guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable. Black Canyon and Kolsai Lake were breathtaking. The car was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Everything was smooth and the hospitality was outstanding. 10/10 recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad46252379062
Aug 13, 2025
Highly recommended - Long tour with many beautiful impressions and experiences. You can’t explore the stations extensively, as with a multi-day tour, but there was always plenty of time. With the heat in August, you don't want to be out much longer. Our guide Jenis has organized this relaxed and perfectly, gave a lot of information and provided a good atmosphere. The lunch looked great and was also delicious. Thank you Jenis for the lovely day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail63116249869
Jul 31, 2025
とてもすばらしい景色と美味しい食事Very nice view and delicious food - チャリン渓谷とコルサイ湖というアルマトイ郊外の見所が1日で回れるツアーでした。 かなり駆け足にはなりましたが観光ポイントでの時間は充分に取られていました。 日本では見られない景色を楽しむことができました。 また途中のカザフ料理の昼食も大変美味しかったです。 This tour took us to two of Almaty's most popular sights, Charyn Caniyon and Lake Kolsai, in one day. Although the tour was quite rushed, we still had plenty of time to visit the sightseeing spots. We were able to enjoy scenery that you can't see in Japan. The Kazakh lunch we had along the way was also delicious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aniket_b
Jun 24, 2025
Beautiful place !! Excellent guide !! - This is a brilliant tour for people with families . Our guide Dias excellent and helped make the day better . You should specially ask for him while booking the tour . Kolsai lake is stunning with beautiful turquoise waters . Charyn canyon are big and beautiful , since we were with a baby they gave us a golf cart tour of the canyon from top which was a wonderful gesture and the views were stunning . Thanks a lot for making our trip wonderful .
Review provided by Viator
Michaeltp9520hc
Jun 6, 2025
Great Day - We had a great time! As others have said, it's a long day. That having been said, there isn't much "fluff" that you get with other day tours–you are either traveling to the natural beauty of the canyon/lake or having lunch. Stops along the way are well planned rest breaks. The destinations themselves are must-see and absolutely gorgeous. The company is thoughtful, responsive, and kind. Our guide and driver were both fantastic. We got enough information about places we were passing through or stopped, but we were also given space to enjoy ourselves as a couple. The driver was safe and professional. Overall, highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
466gitae
May 26, 2025
Once in a lifetime experience! - If you’re considering just one tour in Kazakhstan, make it this one with Kazia Tours — it’s the perfect way to experience the country’s stunning diversity in a single day. We visited Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake, and everything was flawlessly organized by Gulzat, the incredible manager behind the scenes. From the very start, we were impressed: our guide Zaure and the driver arrived early to pick us up at our hotel, setting the tone for a seamless and memorable day. Zaure was truly exceptional — warm, engaging, and deeply knowledgeable. She conducted the entire tour in English, sharing rich insights into Kazakhstan’s history, traditions, and food culture, all with genuine passion. Beyond her guiding skills, Zaure also turned out to be an amazing photographer — she captured so many beautiful moments for us that even the pickiest photo selector would find a favorite shot among hers! We stopped at a local guest house for lunch, where we were welcomed with a generously filled table of delicious treats. The standout? The plov — hands down the best I’ve ever had. At Kolsai Lake, the weather gave us a soft drizzle, but rather than spoiling the moment, it added a mystical, serene ambiance that made the landscape feel like something out of a dream. Our driver was equally wonderful — careful and composed, yet managed to skillfully avoid traffic on the way back, which was a blessing after a long day of exploring. I cannot recommend Kazia Tours and Zaure enough. This tour was the highlight of our trip and a beautiful, immersive way to experience Kazakhstan’s natural beauty, warm hospitality, and cultural richness.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alokmili77
Oct 14, 2024
Mesmerising - Both sites are amazing & must visit,while in Almaty great UNESCO canyons & mesmerising view of Kolsai Lakes,snow peaks in background,lively atmosphere fantastic view
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gregory_h
Oct 8, 2024
Amazing - Enlar and our driver were the best! We loved this immersive tour and ever changing nature! It’s really hard to describe how clear and beautiful Kolsai lake. The lunch provided was so delicious! Ending the day at Charyn canyon was a perfect way to close out exploring this beautiful part of the world. Definitely one of the best tours we have ever done!
Review provided by Viator
From $104
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).