2-Day Charyn Canyon and Kolsay Lakes Tour with Kaindy Lake

2 Days Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the Valley of Castles, where dramatic red cliffs rise up to 300 metres
02 See the Black Canyon's ancient volcanic walls and dark, severe landscape
03 Take in Moon Canyon's pale yellow terrain shaped like another planet
04 Spend the night in Saty village with a home-cooked dinner and star-filled skies
05 Visit Kolsay's turquoise mountain lakes fed by Tian Shan glaciers
06 Reach Kaindy Lake to see a forest submerged by the 1911 earthquake
07 Watch the lake colours shift from milky blue to deep turquoise through the day

Walk into a canyon shaped over 12 million years on day one, then stand beside a lake born from the 1911 earthquake on day two, where drowned trees still rise from the water. Between them, spend a night in Saty, a small mountain village of 1,400 people at the foot of the Tian Shan, with glacier-fresh air and skies untouched by city lights. This two-day journey brings together red rock and turquoise water, ancient geological time and recent catastrophe, and the steppe, canyon, forest, and high mountain lake - all within reach of Almaty, yet feeling like the edge of the world.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Almaty, Sharyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes National Park

Languages English, Kazakh, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Charyn Canyon and Overnight in Saty Village

07:30 - Pickup from your hotel
08:00 - Depart Almaty toward Charyn Canyon
10:30 - Arrive at Charyn for an overview from the canyon rim
10:45 - Descend into the Valley of Castles and walk 2 km along the canyon floor, or take a UAZ jeep transfer
12:30 - Lunch break by the Charyn River at your own expense; a cafe is available at the bottom
13:30 - Transfer to Black Canyon
14:30 - Visit Moon Canyon and its pale yellow lunar landscape
15:30 - Walk the upper rim trail for panoramic views over all three canyons
16:30 - Drive to Saty village
18:30 - Check in to the guesthouse and have dinner

Day 02

Kolsay Lakes and Kaindy Lake

08:00 - Breakfast included
08:30 - Drive to Kolsay Lakes
09:00 - Visit Kolsay-1 for a forest trail walk and lakeside views
11:00 - Drive back to Saty village
12:00 - Lunch in Saty village with a home-cooked meal included
13:00 - Take a UAZ jeep transfer toward Kaindy Lake
13:30 - Walk 1.5 km through spruce forest to Kaindy Lake, or use the included UAZ jeep if you prefer not to walk
14:00 - Arrive at Kaindy Lake to see the sunken forest, turquoise water, and enjoy photo time
15:30 - Return by UAZ jeep to Saty
16:00 - Depart back to Almaty
19:00 - Drop off at your hotel

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Private transportation throughout (2 days)
English-speaking guide throughout the tour
UAZ jeep transfers inside Charyn Canyon (both ways)
UAZ jeep transfer to Kaindy Lake
Entrance fees to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes, and Kaindy Lake
Overnight accommodation in Saty village
Meals in Saty village

What's Not Included

Personal expenses

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes or light trekking shoes
Warm layers - Saty village can be cool at night
Sunscreen and a hat - there is almost no shade in Charyn Canyon
Insect repellent - ticks are active in May and June
Water - at least 2 litres per person per day
Cash for meals not included

Know before you go

The drive from Almaty to Charyn takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Private vehicles are not permitted inside Charyn Canyon and Kaindy - a UAZ jeep is included.
The walk to Kaindy is 1.5 km - an included UAZ jeep is available for those who prefer not to walk.
Kaindy Lake water temperature is +4°C.
There is no mobile signal at Kaindy Lake.
Pickup is available from any address in Almaty.

Logistics