Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour
Description
Welcome to Kazakhstan! Experience five breathtaking natural wonders in one unforgettable day from Almaty. Start at iconic Charyn Canyon — towering red rock walls carved over millions of years, often called the little brother of the Grand Canyon. Continue to the mysterious Black Canyon with its dark volcanic cliffs, and the surreal Moon Canyon — pale formations that look like a lunar landscape. Then hop aboard a legendary Soviet UAZ-452 off-road van for an adventurous ride to Kaindy Lake — a submerged forest where spruce trees rise from crystal-clear turquoise water. End the day at peaceful Kolsai Lake, surrounded by pine forests and mountain peaks. In between, enjoy a homemade lunch at a local family's home in Saty village — real Kazakh hospitality our guests call the highlight of the day. Private Tour: Same epic route for your group only — flexible pace, personalized attention, no strangers. English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup from 5 AM. All entrance fees included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
05:00 Pick-up and departure from Almaty 07:00 Shortstop for coffee/WC 8:30Arrival at Charyn Canyon "Valley of the Castles", visiting several spots, walking along canyon 10:00 Departure from Charyn Canyon
Moon Canyon is a unique, pale colored section of Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan, known for its smooth, moon like landscapes that contrast with the canyon’s red cliffs.
Black Canyon, viewing spot, photographing
12:00 Arrival at Saty village, transfer to Kaindy Lake In Kaiyndy lake car goes until parking point. From parking until the lake 2km of walk. You can use horses or taxi insead of walking. 14:30 transfer to saty 14:30 Lunch in the guesthouse
16:00 Transfer to the Lower Kolsai Lake from Saty 17:00 Leaving Kolsai Lakes National Park 20:30 Shortstop for coffee/WC 22:00 Drop-off in Almaty
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will send you all information of pick up and transport the day before the tour. We will pick-up you from your hotel with our mini bus or send you taxi. You will come to nearest hotel. PICK UP STARTS AT 5AM
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not allowed for travelers who can not withstand long trips by car, long walks and hikes
- Not allowed for travelers with disabilities, injuries, diseases that limit physical abilities
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- Not recommended for children under 6
Reviews(890)
I have great experience for the whole day with this trip. Assem the tour guide during my trip is knowledgeable and friendly, i just really want to repeat this trip again in future and will definitely choose this to package to experience again.
Mukhtar is a really knowledgeable guide and told us lots of information about each place, I even did more research at home and struggled to find out more!! I learned a lot which is the most important for me. The food at the guesthouse was delicious toilets available at each location (100 tenge,150 or 200. Or free in the tea rooms / visitor centre at the valley of the castles. Make sure you have toilet paper extra!! had enough time at each place to really take everything in, I have never been to such places before it was incredible!! My favourite was definitely the Valley of the Castles - it doesn't look real!! the early start isn't for everyone so make sure you feel happy doing it 😄 I am used to it and you can sleep between places if you need to. bring a raincoat and good shoes, overall I recorded about 2 or 3 km walk at each place, with some steep uphill, so again feel prepared 😊 Overall very enjoyable experience and great talking to people when everyone was awake 😆😉 the group size is perfect.
My first tour with Viator and in Kazaksthan and its great! The communication was good, the guide is really good. Making sure we are comfortable and safe. Chatting with everyone of us along the way. Sharing alot of stories and history. Didnt know there was so much hiking but the information before the tour had me prepared for the walks, cold and rain. Visited really beautiful place that i wont be able to alone. The lunch was a good everyone was so hungry after a cold wet morning walk. It was raining but hiking in the rain is also a very fun experience. Really enjoyed the day.
Great job by guide and managers who helped us a lot and accompany us during tour
One-day tour to Kolsay, Kaindy and Charyn Canyon organized by Kazakhstan, Very Nice! and lead by Zhandos was a very high quality experience and definitely exceeded my expectations. I do appreciate the effort put by our motivated, knowledgeable and passionated guide, Zhandos, and our brave and experienced driver who covered by bus safely about 600 km into making the tour an unforgettable adventure for all its participants. The tour commenced at 5:00 and finished at 23:00, therefore there is no doubt that their outstanding work and organizational skills deserve a special recognition, and were essential in making this 18-hour activity so successful. There was enough time to explore each of the tour highlights without any rush, admire breathtaking beauty of the visited places, learn about their geology and history, and take photos. Zhandos is very good at taking pictures and always happy to capture unique moments and sceneries for your memories. Hotel pick-up was provided. Communication with the organizer via WhatsApp was very good. Depending on individual physical condition and preferences, participants were given a choice to access Kaindy Lake walking, riding a horse or by taxi, and taking a scenic route suitable to their hiking skills level exploring Charyn Canyon. The crazy ride by a historic UAZ bus to the Kaindy Lake car park was one of its kind adventure and made the tour even more memorable! I liked that highlight a lot. A delicious home made lunch rich in local dishes and products was the best possible break to relax and get more energy before exploring Charyn Canyon. I highly recommend the tour to everyone who would like to visit several not easily accessible and remote natural wonders during one day, in small group and at an excellent price.
That was amazing. Thanks Nurzhan!
Butter was a great guide overall
Kazakhstan, Very Nice! ran a great tour. It was a long day. If I remember right it was around 5am-10pm. But that's not a negative. It takes a lot of time and effort to do all of the sites in one day, but this tour made it possible. Communication from start to finish was great. Our guides Alibi and Saida were both very knowledgable and such fun people to be around. Saida even performed a local song on her traditional instrument (sorry, can't remember the name of the instrument). That may have been one of my favorite moments of the trip. Because you are going to so many locations, you don't get a lot of time at each location, so if you're someone who likes to hang around a spot for a while, this tour might not be for you. However, for me, the length of time at each spot was perfect. The lunch was delicious as well with some local cuisine. The nature was stunning and the value for the money was great in my opinion. I would definitely do this tour again.
Overall the tour was great. My hotel wasnt on the list but they still coordinated pick-up for me and were on time. The provided lunch experience was fun and family style.
Since my tour booked with viator was cancelled, I used the same company as on the first tour - Kazakhstan very nice. Manager squeezed me into a group which I am incredibly grateful for. He was very accommodating and helpful. Very highly recommended. The tour is a must-see - beautiful views that are incredibly unforgettable. Pick-up and drop-off at my hotel- which is just another plus. Kazakhstan very nice - fantastic👌👌👌
