A wonderful opportunity to see the most striking sights of the Almaty region in just 2 days. Visit the most famous of the Charyn canyons - the Valley of Castles and walk along the winding colorful gorge to the turbulent river. Have lunch with a beautiful view, surrounded by relict Sogdian ash trees. Touch the glacial waters of the emerald Kolsay. Walk around the famous sunken forest on Lake Kaindy.
Route overview
Almaty - Shelek - Charyn - Kolsai-1 Lake - Kaindy Lake - Almaty
Difficulty: ♦ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Type: sightseeing / adventure
Group size: min 1 - max 6
Get insipired
Visit the main attractions around Almaty in a weekend: Charyn, Kolsay and Kaindy lakes.
This tour is available in any season except winter - you can choose the dates that suit you best
Overnight stay on this tour is in a guest house in the village of Saty in the Kolsay Lakes area. You will have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the local culture and get to know the people living in Kazakhstan better.
This tour is organized on request and only for you. The guide accompanying you throughout the tour will focus on your needs, interests and safety. You can fully enjoy personalized service and comfort.
What to expect
Kazakhstan is a huge country, distances are long, roads are not always up to standard and traffic can be chaotic. Even though we use new comfortable cars with experienced drivers, you should be prepared for long drives - sometimes on poor quality roads.
We pay special attention to food on the tour. Breakfasts and dinners are served in guest houses. Lunches can be organized as a picnic or in a local cafe.
The conditions in the guest houses are basic, but quite comfortable: we accommodate in double rooms with WC/shower facilties in each room.
The cost of the tour is based on shared accommodation. Single accommodation is possible for an additional fee.
Day 1 · Almaty - Charyn "Valley of Castles" - Kolsai-1 Lake - Saty
Morning pick up in Almaty and drive to Charyn NP main entry. The most attractive canyon called "Valley of Castles" is located 200km to the east from the city, so we start early. After the Park's entry procedures, we take a hike along the gorge to enjoy the canyon's famous views. The height of the vertical walls here is between 150 and 300 meters, and their shapes are so different! Some formations look like fossilized dinosaurs, the others seem to be the heads of giant wizards. Fantastic towers, sky bridges and other indescribable figures of different colours make you feel walking through the real Fairyland. The trail stops near the Charyn River and we take a lunch/picnic at a riverbank, in a shadow of relic Sogdian ash trees. After lunch we get back to the car and head further, in a direction of the Kungei Alatau mountains.
Our next stop is planned near the Kolsai Lake. In fact, "Kolsay" is a name for a cascade of three lakes in Kungey Alatau ridge. The lakes are dark blue in colour and filled with pure glacial water. The area is a part of Kolsay National Park. In the rays of sunset, we take an excursion around the first lake called “Saty” – the biggest and deepest one located at a height of 1800m above sea level. It looks like a “stretched mirror” along the gorge and has approximately 2 km in length (80m deep).
After visiting the lake we get back to the Park's entry and accommodate at a guest house. Take dinner and stay overnight.
Meals · lunch, dinner
Accommodation · guest house in Saty
Walking · 1 hour, ↔ 2.5km, no elevation
Driving· 5 hours, ↔315km
Day 2 · Kaindy Lake with sunken forest - Almaty
Take breakfast at a guest house and start driving up, following Kaindy Gorge to the famous lake. Kaindy Lake, called after a small river that runs through in the depth, is located 15km to the east of the village Saty (dirt road ). This natural reservoir lies at a height of about 1800m above sea level, in the zone of dense spruce forest. The lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river. The upper parts of the trees sticking out of the water lost lateral branches and bark, and the wood became white. The lower part of the “drowned” pines retained branches that were overgrown with algae under the water, thus created fantastic underwater landscape. After an excursion around Kaindy Lake, we get back to the cars. Take lunch and head back to Almaty.
Meals · breakfast, lunch
Walking · 2 hours, 5km, ↑↓100m
Driving· 5 hours, ↔ 310km
Service and prices
Transfers
all transfers according to the itinerary, pick up and drop off in Almaty
SUV taxi to Kaindy Lake, if applicable
Accommodation
accommodation at a guest house in Kolsai/Saty, 1 night (sharing basis)
Meals
2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast
drinking water
Guiding
English-speaking guiding throughout the tour
All guided excursions according to the itinerary (Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy lakes)
National Parks entry fees and permissions
Charyn Canyons NP
Kolsai Lakes NP
Kaindy Reserve
Prices:
$360 per person per tour - if there are 4-6 people in group
$375 per person per tour - if there are 3 people in group
$450 per person per tour - if there are 2 people in group
$790 - 1 person (individual service)
Price does
not include
international flights to/out Almaty
any visa/migration issues, fees and support, if applicable
accommodation (hotel), meals and any entertainment in Almaty before/after a tour
airport/train/bus station meetings/transfers
personal traveller’s insurance
personal expenses like souvenirs, calls etc.
rent of personal clothes, shoes, gear etc.
porters for personal belongings, suitcases and bags during the tour
menu does not include soft and alcohol drinks, snacks, beverages
Important notes
We are responsible for your safety in the activities described in the tour program. Horseback riding, boating (services provided by local residents on the spot) - at your discretion and under your responsibility.
The cost of the tour is based on shared accommodation. Single accommodation is possible for an additional fee. Please inform us in advance if you want to require a single accommodation.
Let us know in advance if you have any specific food requirement (like vegetarian menu or food allergies)
Temperatures in summer in Almaty region depend on the height above sea level, location and current weather conditions. Below data is for information only: - steppes/semideserts (Charyn, lowerlands), 250m-700m ASL: +28..+42C degrees daytime, +25..+35C degrees in the night - foothhills (Saty, Kolsai & Kaindy area), 1000m - 1600m ASL: +20..+35C degrees daytime, +10..+25C in the night - mountains, 1700m - 2700m ASL: +15..+25C degrees daytime, +5..+15C in the night. Can be cooler when raining. Temperatures in spring and autumn in Almaty region depend on the height above sea level, location and current weather conditions. Below data is for information only, for April and late September - steppes/semideserts (Charyn, lowerlands), 250m-700m ASL: +18..+28C degrees daytime, +5..+15C degrees in the night - foothhills (Saty, Kolsai & Kaindy area), 800m - 1700m ASL: +12..+22C degrees daytime, +3..+10C in the night
We recommend having for this trip in summer conditions: hiking shoes/trainers, normal socks, sandals or slippers, long trekking pants, shorts, t-shirt, warm jacket (like fleece), wind/waterproof jacket (raincoat), peaked cap, buff, sunglasses, sun protection lotion. If you're coming in spring/autumn, then also: high trekking socks, t-shirt with long sleeves, thermo-underwear (top and bottom), light down jacket, hat, gloves.
There can be no cellular connection in certain places outside of the city (on the roads and in remote places). No wi-fi available at a guest house.
In early June there can be ticks in the forests and bushes. If you come in late May / June, then please do not forget to take anti-tick repellent, or also treat your hiking shoes/clothes in advance.
In remote villages, there may be a problem with paying with cards. If you plan to buy some small items or souvenirs, make sure to have cash - Kazakh Tenge.
This tour can be done with SUVs, which have limited trunk space. Limit your belongings to one duffel bag and one small backpack per person. Suitcases with wheels will not be accepted.
Meals · lunch, dinner 
Accommodation · guest house in Saty
Walking · 1 hour, ↔ 2.5km, no elevation
Driving · 5 hours, ↔315km
Guiding
Prices:
