2-Day Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes Tour with Satty Homestay

• The recommended tour start time is 7:00 am. Your Almaty tour guide will pick you up from your hotel, hostel, or apartment in the morning.

• Proceed to Charyn Canyon. The first half of the drive will be on a highway of about 130 km before changing direction. The road quality is normal asphalt. The total distance to the canyon is about 200 km, or 3.5 hours. Along the way, enjoy stunning landscapes with their immensity and beauty - the road itself is interesting.

• You will make a short stop at the local bazaar in Baiseit village to buy fresh vegetables and fruits from farmers.

• Of course, it will also be possible to make a brief 30-minute coffee break stop with beautiful views of the rocky mountains of Kokpek Pass.

• At 11:00 am, you will arrive at Charyn Canyon. First, explore the canyon from the top. Our guide will show you the most breathtaking spots from the rim of the canyon. A walk along the top will take 1-1.5 hours, depending on the client's request. Walking along the bottom of the canyon is just exciting. The distance will be about 3.5 km, or around 1 hour. You will have lunch by the banks of the Charyn River for about one hour.

• At 15:00, return to the car and continue to the village of Satty. The drive takes about 2-2.5 hours over a distance of 120 km. Notice the change in climatic zones here, from steppe and semi-desert to mountainous areas at an altitude of 1500-1800 m. You will want to stop every 100 meters because of the breathtaking nature around you.

• Between 17:30 and 18:00, arrive in Satty village. Stop at a guest house with a local family. Here, you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of local village life and the lifestyle of a local Kazakh family. Get to know the traditions and try traditional national food.

Dinner will be at the guest house with a local Kazakh family, followed by an overnight stay.

• Have breakfast at 7:00 at the guesthouse.

• Transfer to Lake Kolsay. The distance is about 15 km, with a transfer time of around 40 minutes.

• Then enjoy a walking tour around the Kolsai Lakes. The lake here is about 1 km long and 200 m wide. You will see beautiful landscapes, a striking game of colours and contrasts, and hear the murmur of a mountain river. The guide will show you the most exclusive viewpoint over the lake. And, of course, hot coffee, tea, or chocolate will be prepared for you. You will enjoy views of the wildlife. The total visit to the lake will take around 1-2 hours, depending on the customer's wishes.

• Travel to Kaindy Lake by jeep. The road is less comfortable, but be sure to enjoy the beauty of the mountains. The distance to Kaindy Lake is about 15 km. By 11:30, you will arrive.

• Leave the jeep in the parking area and then hike around the lake. The guide will show you the loveliest spots for taking photos. Explore the lake region.

• Transfer back to a guest house in Satty village and have lunch there.

• Continue to Almaty by road. The drive will take about 4.5 hours over 330 km, and you will arrive at around 20:00. The timing of the tour program may vary significantly depending on conditions such as weather and season.