3-Day Almaty Lakes and Charyn Canyon Tour with Kaindy and Kolsay

• Early morning departure to Charyn Canyon. The road to the canyon takes 4 hours. While driving, the guide-driver will tell the story of the creation of Charyn Canyon, and there will be some short stops for photographing the opening landscapes of the Tian-Shan mountains.
• Upon arrival at Charyn Canyon, we can also make a stop at a small bazaar to buy some freshly baked lepeska (bread) and some fruits, although we will still have our lunchboxes with us.
• Our first stop is the Valley of Castles, where we will descend and then walk approximately 2 km, enjoying the views of these "Medieval castles". To be sure that these fantastical walls accept you, we will pass through stone gates.
• Then, continuing our route and taking photos at the Charyn River, it is here, while listening to the birds singing, that you get an idea of eternity. During this tour, our guide will tell you many legends associated with the canyon.
• We will arrive at the Valley of Castles from the right bank of the Charyn River. Here, we will hike for a final batch of photos of amazing red towers and nature-made 100 m walls. While standing on top of the rock and looking down at the landscape of the Valley of Castles, you will feel that you might be the only person on this planet.

Charyn Canyon, among locals, is known as a little brother of the Grand Canyon because they look very similar, but Charyn is smaller, at 154 km long and 300 m deep - though no less beautiful.

During this tour, we will visit the most famous part of the Charyn - the Valley of Castles. People gave it this name because the huge rocks of the canyon, with their different shapes and forms, look like rising fantastical towers. The Valley of Castles stretches for up to 2 km.

Departure to Saty village (~212 km).

Lunch with lunch boxes, dinner at the guest house.

(L, D)

• Breakfast at the guest house and transfer to Kolsay Lake.
• Drive from Saty to the First Kolsay Lake (15 km - 20 mins). National park arrangements. Kolsay is the name for a cascade of three lakes in the Kungey Alatau Ridge. The lakes are dark blue in color and filled with pure glacial water.
• Lake Kolsay-1 is clamped in a narrow gorge. The firs here are higher than on the other lakes, and the water is much warmer. Here you can try mountain strawberries, and lovers of fishing will find their favorite pastime.
• You can rent a horse at the first Kolsay and go to the second Kolsay, or see the pishers and a small waterfall. You can also rent a boat and enjoy the scenery of the first lake. Payment for renting a horse or boat is about 10-20 dollars.
• The area is part of Kolsay Koldery National Park, located 330 kilometers east of Almaty.
• Drive back to Saty.

Hiking from the First Kolsay Lake ("Satty") to the Second Lake ("Mynzhylgy") and back (8 km - 3h one way).

Kolsay Lakes are called the pearl of the northern Tien Shan. Three picturesque mountain lakes, located in the northern part of the Tien Shan, are called the Kolsay. The two lower lakes are surrounded by firs, alpine meadows, and mountain pastures. The upper lake is among the rocks.

(B, L, D)

• Breakfast at the guest house and transfer to Kaindy Lake.
• If you drive along the gorge for 15 km, you will reach Lake Kaindy. This unique basin, 400 m long, lies about 1800 m above sea level in a 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 rockslide's "place of origin" can still be seen today because it has not yet been overgrown. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of a natural dam that blocked the gorge, the water that filled the basin formed a lake but did not destroy the spruce that had been growing along the river.
• The upper parts of the trees sticking out of the water lost their lateral branches and bark, and the wood became white. Such a pattern will delight even experienced travelers. The lower part of the "drowned" pines retained branches that became overgrown with algae under the water, thus creating a fantastic underwater landscape. Thus, Lake Kaindy is known as one of the best places for divers in North Tien Shan.
• Kaindy Gorge, called after a small spring river that runs through its depth, is located east of the village of Saty in Kolsai National Park.
• After contemplating the lake and the wild nature around it, lunch during the excursion will be served with lunch boxes.

At 14.00 - transfer to Almaty (280 km).

(B, L)