If you want to see the most impressive natural attractions of the Almaty region from angles inaccessible to the mass tourist, and if you are a truly passionate traveler and hiker - then this tour is made for you! Do not miss the chance to see the magnificent Second Kolsay Lake and have lunch on its shore. Walk up and down the Valley of Castles - the most striking of the Charyn canyons. Go around Kaindy - the famous high-mountain lake with a "sunken" forest and share unique photos with your friends
Route overview
Almaty - Charyn - Kolsai-1 to Kolsai-2 hike - Kaindy Lake - Almaty
Difficulty: ♦ ♦ ◊ ◊ ◊
Type: hiking / adventure / sightseeing
Group size: min 1 - max 6
Get inspired
Not only visit, but hike though the main attractions around Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes.
Explore the beauty of the Second Kolsai, located at 2250m above sea level.
This tour is available in any season except winter - you can choose the dates that suit you best
Overnight stays on this tour are in a guest house in the village of Saty in the Kolsay 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.
5 to 6 hours of a hike between the lakes, with almost 500m elevation and 14km distance (round trip)
We pay special attention to food on the tour. Breakfasts and dinners are served in guest houses. Lunches can be organized as a picnic (on a hike) or in a local cafe.
The conditions in the guest houses are basic, but quite comfortable: we accommodate in double rooms with WC/shower facilities 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" - 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. 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.
In the afternoon, we come to the Saty village, located at the "Kolsai Lakes" National Park's entry. Accommodate at a guest house. Take dinner and stay overnight.
We take breakfast and drive up to the Kolsai-1 Lake parking (15 min).
The hike starts at the First Lake (also called Saty) at an altitude of 1800m. The track follows its western shore, up the valley. The trail is good; more than half of the way passes with a slight climb. Before the 2nd lake the slope increases (500m). You will definitely enjoy the wildlife: there are a lot of shrubs: various kinds of rose, cotoneaster with red and brown berries, red and black honeysuckle, currant of Meyer and raspberries. Blackberries, strawberries and bramble are often found in the riverside. Along the steep slopes the river flows as series of small waterfalls: in such places the rocks along the stream are covered with moss. Here you have a chance to see the famous blue bird. In sunny days the forest is full of twittering of various birds like nutcrackers, grouse birds – a rapid predator Sparrow hawk hunts them. In the evening or in very bad weather a real owner of this place appears – a bear. Walking to the second lake can take 3-4 hours. The Second Kolsai lake (middle) is also called Mynzhylgy - it has more than a kilometer in lenght and about 900 meters in width, located at an altitude of 2250m. From the shores the high peaks of Kungei Alatau are visible. At the second lake shore we take a lunch in a form of a picnic and start hiking back along the same trail.
In the late afternoon we get back to the same guest house, take dinner and stay overnight.
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 a 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 a fantastic underwater landscape. After a hike 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, 2 nights (sharing basis)
Meals
3 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts
drinking water
Guiding / Safety
English-speaking guiding throughout the tour
All guided hikes according to the itinerary (Charyn Canyon, Kolsay hike & Kaindy)
A comprehensive group first-aid kit is carried on every tour and is always easily accessible — with the guide at all times, whether in the vehicle or in the field
All tours are continuously monitored by our coordination team. Guides maintain regular mandatory contact with the office, ensuring real-time awareness of the group’s location, progress and overall situation throughout the tour
Clear communication is a core part of our safety system. For larger groups, radio communication is used between guides, vehicles or sub-groups to ensure smooth coordination at all times
All vehicles used on our tours undergo regular technical inspections and additional in-house checks before and after each trip. Each vehicle is equipped for the specific route and conditions, including off-road travel and remote areas, with an on-board kit for unexpected road situations.
National Parks entry fees and permissions
Charyn Canyons NP
Kolsai Lakes NP
Kaindy Reserve
Prices:
$525 per person per tour - if there are 4-6 people in group
$540 per person per tour - if there are 3 people in group
$720 per person per tour - if there are 2 people in group
$1170 - 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/boots, hiking gear etc.
porters for personal belongings, suitcases, backpacks 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 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 - foothills (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 - foothills (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/light boots, high trekking socks, sandals or slippers, long trekking pants, shorts, t-shirts with long and short sleeves, warm jacket (like fleece), wind/waterproof jacket (raincoat), peaked cap, buff, sunglasses, sun protection lotion, hat, backpack for day hikes. If you're coming in spring/autumn, then also: thermo-underwear (top and bottom), wind/waterproof pants, down jacket, gloves.
There can be no cellular connection in certain places outside 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 · 2 hours, ↔ 5km, no elevation
Driving · 5 hours, ↔310km
Guiding / Safety 
Prices:
