Kolsai Lake & Charyn Canyon tour

Shaitankol, The dead lake Karkaraly national park

Overview: Kolsai Lakes National Park

Almaty Expeditions team offers you a great day tour that includes the best highlights of the Almaty region. The tour starts with early morning pick up and continues with visiting the main attractions such as Kolsai Lake, Kaindly Lake and Charyn Canyon.

It will be a long day, lots of stunning natural sights, traditional villages, hiking along the lakes, enjoying traditional meals in saty village and at the end of the trip you will have so many memories and a tired legs.

Kolsai Lake is one of three Kolsai Lakes, including the upper lake located on the northern slopes of the Tien Shan Mountains.

It is a system of three lakes, the Lower Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 1818 metres, the Middle Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 2250 metres and the Upper Kolsai Lake at an altitude of 2850 metres.

The stunning landscape of the Northern Tien Shan Mountains and the vibrant alpine meadows surrounding the lakes add to the scenic charm of the region.

Our tour includes a visit to the lower lake, known as Lower Kolsai Lake with its picturesque scenery. The alpine meadows around Lower Kolsai Lake enhance its scenic beauty. Here you can enjoy a boat ride on the lake. Take your time and enjoy the view!

Lake Kaindy was formed after an earthquake in the 1911’s caused a large landslide that formed a natural dam. The stunning blue lake is also known as a sunken forest, creating a natural wonder.

The trees are dead and it looks a bit eerie. Take a walk to the lake and back which takes about 1.5 hours. If you like horse riding we can arrange a horse trek. The lake is also famous for diving.

Charyn Canyon National Park Kazakhstan Motorcycle tour

Charyn Canyon is one of the best highlights of Almaty, including the chance to catch rainbow trout , where you can enjoy a picturesque red sedimentary canyon. The canyon is about 150 kilometres long and has many popular spots.

We will stop at a place called Black Canyon. Enjoy your day!

Pick up at 6:00 am at the entrance gate

We will pick you up at 6am and make our first stop at Charyn Canyon. Today you will be accompanied by an English speaking guide and an experienced driver.

At Charyn National Park you can enjoy the beautiful canyon and take an unforgettable picture. Drive to Kolsai Lakes National Park. Leave your car at the car park and take a short walk to the viewpoint.

The first lake is ideal for picnicking and is easily accessible for hiking. The second lake offers a more challenging trek with scenic beauty that makes the effort worthwhile.

Here you can take a boat trip and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Lunch is taken in the traditional village of Saty. In the afternoon we walk to Kandly Lake.

This is a slightly longer walk and if you prefer we can arrange a horse ride. Kandy is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country.

The logistics and planning required to visit Lake Kaindy include vehicle requirements and potential itineraries that combine it with visits to the Kolsai Lakes and Charyn Canyon.

At the entrance to the lake valley you can taste some traditional dairy products. Drive back to Almaty. On arrival in the city we will take you to one of the best restaurants.

End of the trip. Drop you off at your hotel. Thank you for coming!

Almaty is a big city and there will be a lot of traffic during your day tour. Please be patient.
If the any of attractions are not open, we will replace it with other highlights that are no less exciting.
The tour can be booked the day before. Please let us know your preferred date and wait for confirmation.
The tour can started with a picking-up from the airport.

Good to know:

This is one of the four Altmaty Day Tours that we offer. All four tours have different highlights. These tours can be combined and you can see the best of Almaty in 2-4 days.

We are flexible and always happy to offer the best. If there is a special event, concert or tournament, we are happy to include it as a highlight of the tour.

Kolsai Lakes National Park is a gem in Kazakhstan, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in breathtaking natural beauty and a variety of outdoor activities.

The park is home to three stunning lakes, each with its own unique charm. The first Kolsai Lake, situated at an altitude of 1,818 meters, is the most accessible and perfect for a leisurely hike or a relaxing picnic by the water. T

he second Kolsai Lake, located at 2,252 meters, presents a more challenging hike, but the panoramic views are well worth the effort.

For the more adventurous, the third Kolsai Lake, perched at 2,700 meters, offers a rewarding experience with its pristine beauty and tranquil surroundings.

In addition to the Kolsai Lakes, the park also boasts the enchanting Lake Kaindy. Formed by a natural dam after an earthquake in 1911, this lake is famous for its submerged forest, creating an eerie yet captivating sight.

The hiking trails around the park provide stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains and spruce forests, providing stunning vistas, catering to hikers of all levels.

Whether you’re seeking a peaceful day out or an exhilarating adventure, Kolsai Lakes National Park has something to offer everyone.

Kolsai Lake & Charyn Canyon tour

Duration: 2-Days
Availability: Four seasons
Best time: April-November
Begin and end: Almaty
Tour type: Outdoor, Around Almaty
Price from: 250 USD p.p

Our highlights

Enjoy the gorgeous Kolsai Lakes National Park
Charyn Canyon National Park
Kaindy Lake, and traditional village Saty

BOOK NOW

Tour Price Includes

Transportation + fuel
Experienced driver
English speaking guide
All permits and fees
Lunch and Dinner
All activities

Tour price excludes

Personal needs
Alcoholic beverages
Gratitude

Tour details:

Please get dressed according to the weather forecast. And please, make sure your phone is fully charged.

Take a day pack with the following items: sunglasses, fresh water, sunscreen, waterproof jacket, hand sanitizer, toiletries. And please have some cash in case you want to go shopping or buy souvenirs.

There are toilets at the national park. But not everywhere so please let your guide know in advance. Thank you very much.

This is one of four Almaty’s Day Tours and it is based on visiting the more remote attractions, including all three tourist sites. Recommended for nature lovers!

The Lower Kolsai Lake, located within the Kolsai Lakes National Park, is known for its stunning scenery, altitude, and opportunities for hiking and boating.

Kaindy Lake, also part of the park, features a unique submerged forest and offers activities like hiking and camping.

Our guide is a tour leader, we kindly ask you to follow his/her instructions and respect his/her job. Please do not hurt the feelings of the locals and respect their traditions.

Please be prepared for the trip and get ready on time.

Please remember that we are happy to meet you and it is our pleasure to guide you today. It is going to be a great day, so please enjoy your trip

We are responsible for visiting the places and seeing the attractions that we have mentioned in our itinerary. We are responsible for guiding you with pleasure and giving you a great expediton.

We are not responsible for any unplanned inconvenience during the tour. We are not responsible for the traffic in the city and finally we are not responsible for the bad weather conditions that you have to be prepared for in advance.

The Almaty City Tour is available all year round. Please check the weather forecast once you have chosen your tour date. And try to pack an extra jacket for the evenings.

We kindly ask you to pay a deposit to confirm your trip.

The remain balance can be paid 7 days before the start of the tour (but we are very flexible with payment terms)

Here is our cancellation policy that we recommend our clients to follow.

Cancelling the tour within more than 2 months, 50% of your deposit payment will be reinbussed

Cancelling the tour less than one month, the deposit payment will not be reinbussed

The Almaty Day Tour does not include accommodation.

During the tour you will have the opportunity to taste the traditional meals. If you are vegetarian or vegan please let us know in advance.

There is a wide choice of meals so we hope you will enjoy the traditional meals. In the evening we will take you to one of the best restaurants in town.

This is a fully guided day tour where you will be accompanied by local guides. We have an experienced driver and a comfortable vehicle.