Kolsai Lakes

Kolsai Lakes National Park is a system of three beautiful lakes that is well known as the “Pearl of Northern Tien Shan”. The lakes with steep slopes covered with Tien Shan spruce are located on the spurs of the Kungei-Alatau ridge.

Each lake has its own special charm. The crystal clear blue waters are home to the king fish, the rainbow trout. This is a great place for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking.

The first lake is 1 km long at an altitude of 1,818 m. That is the most visited of three lakes due to easy accessibility. Here you can enjoy a stunning view and take a boat tour. The Middle Kolsai (2,252 m) is the largest and most beautiful lake, located 5 km uphill from the first lake.

Upper Kolsai is 4 km further and 600 m higher. After another 6 km, at the Kyrgyz border, the Sary-Bulak Pass (3,278 m) with its magnificent winters awaits the traveler to the blue lake Issyk-Kul. The whole trip (25 km) can be done in one day on horseback or in 3 days on foot.

Kolsai Lakes national Park is a must-see location who want to enjoy crystal-clear lakes whose waters reflect inaccessible peaks and mountain slopes covered with giant Tien Shan firs.

The two lakes are surrounded by blue spruce trees, alpine meadows and mountain pastures. The upper lake is dominated by rocks. The shortest and most difficult route to Lake Issyk-Kul is through the Kolsai Lakes.

The lake system is located about 300km east of Almaty. These picturesque lakes are often visited by tourists. The road to the lakes passes through Chilik, Kegen and Saty, a small traditional village where you can meet a local people and experience their traditions and cultures.

We invite you to the best-planned trekking tour where you can enjoy a beauty of Tien Shan Mountains. The attraction of the Kolsai Lakes is the dark blue water of the lakes and the peace and tranquility that surrounds them.

Hiking enthusiasts can enjoy an enchanting panorama of rocky lakes, dense forests and mountainous landscapes. All the lakes, except the third coldest, are rich in trout. The Kolsai lakes are quite deep – the maximum depth of the first lake is 80 metres, the second about 50 metres.

The territory of the National Park is divided into three zones with different access regimes: reserve (access is closed), tourist and recreational.

On the territory of the National Park there are such tourist sites as Sairam Peak, whose height is 4236 m above sea level; rocks Kyryk kyz, which translated from Kazakh means “kyryk” – forty, “kyz” – girl; lake Makpal, located at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level; alpine lake Susingen (1700 m above sea level), translated from Kazakh. “Rock paintings in the upper part of the Sazanata gorge, where Greig’s tulips grow.

More than 700 plant species have been recorded in the National Park. There are plants listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan – Kungei feather grass, golden Adonis, Tien Shan Adonis, orange jaundice, Schrenk’s el and others.

The fauna is equally rich and diverse – more than 200 species of vertebrates have been studied. There are 4 species of fish, 2 species of freshwater fish, 197 species of birds and 29 species of mammals.

Birds listed in the Red Book include the bluebird, painted tit, golden eagle, bearded vulture, saker falcon and kumai.

Mammals include Red Book animals such as argali, Tien Shan bear, snow leopard, Turkestan lynx and Central Asian otter.

The climatic conditions of the area, especially the middle zone of Kungei Alatau, are favourable for travelling; there are comfortable temperature conditions, clean air, absence of wind and low heat. The length of the period with an average daily air temperature of +15 is 110-120 days. During the transitional seasons, the weather is sunny, moderately humid and rainy.

Seasonality – all year round. The warmest and most pleasant season is from May to October, when there are many opportunities for fishing, hiking and horse riding. In winter our park is also attractive for tourists – clean winter air, ice fishing and hiking.

Our Almaty Expedition Team is looking forward to meet you and provide an amazing trip to Kolsai Lakes. Please feel free to get in touch with us!