Almaty - Charyn Canyon - Kolsai Lake

Charyn Canyon - Begin the day with a morning pick-up in Almaty and drive to the main entrance of Charyn National Park. The “Valley of Castles,” the most captivating canyon, is situated 200km east of the city, so an early start is essential. After completing the park’s entry procedures, embark on a hike through the gorge to admire the canyon’s renowned vistas. The vertical walls here range from 150 to 300 meters in height, with shapes that vary greatly! Some formations resemble fossilized dinosaurs, while others appear as the heads of giant wizards. Marvelous towers, sky bridges, and other indescribable figures in various colors create the sensation of walking through a real Fairyland. The trail concludes near the Charyn River, where a lunch/picnic is enjoyed on the riverbank, shaded by ancient Sogdian ash trees.

Kolsai Lake - After lunch, return to the car and continue towards the Kungei Alatau mountains. The next stop is near Kolsai Lake. “Kolsay” refers to a series of three lakes in the Kungey Alatau ridge. These lakes are dark blue and filled with pristine glacial water, forming part of Kolsay National Park. As the sun sets, take a tour around the first lake, “Saty,” the largest and deepest, located at an elevation of 1800m above sea level. It resembles a “stretched mirror” along the gorge, measuring approximately 2 km in length and 80m in depth.

Saty - After visiting the lake, return to the park’s entrance and settle into a guest house. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight.

Kaindy Sunken Forest - Almaty

Lake Kaindy - Enjoy breakfast at the guest house before driving up Kaindy Gorge to the renowned lake. Kaindy Lake, named after a small river running through its depths, is located 15km east of the village of Saty (via a dirt road). This natural reservoir sits at an altitude of about 1800m above sea level, within a dense spruce forest. The lake was formed in 1911 following a massive earthquake that caused a significant landslide from the eastern slope. The lake’s uniqueness lies in the fact that after a natural dam blocked the gorge, the water filled the basin, creating a lake without destroying the spruce trees that had been growing along the river. The upper parts of the trees protruding from the water lost their lateral branches and bark, turning the wood white. The submerged parts of the “drowned” pines retained branches that became overgrown with algae underwater, creating a stunning underwater landscape.

Almaty - After exploring Kaindy Lake, return to the cars. Enjoy lunch and head back to Almaty, with a drop-off at your hotel in the late afternoon.

• Private transportation
• All National Parks’ entry fees and special permissions
• Accommodation at a guest house in Kolsai, 1 night sharing basis (double rooms)
• Private guiding
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• Drinking water

• Menu does not include soft/alcohol drinks, snacks
• Rent of personal clothes/shoes, personal hygienic set etc.
• Personal expenses like telephone calls, souvenirs, horse rental etc.

Many brief tours in the Almaty region aim to visit as many sites as possible in a short timeframe. However, this 2-day private itinerary takes a different approach, offering fewer stops and a more relaxed, balanced pace that provides ample time to walk, explore, and truly experience each location.

The tour highlights three renowned sites: Charyn Canyon (Valley of Castles), Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake. The routes and walking segments are tailored to the conditions and the group’s pace, with travel conducted by SUV. Accommodation and meals are pre-arranged as part of a cohesive program.

This tour is ideal for travelers who appreciate a well-organized, leisurely journey rather than hurried sightseeing, and who wish to explore the region without the need for self-driving or disjointed planning.

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.