from$ 510
Duration 2 Days
Category NATUREHIKING
Season Year-round

Tour to Charyn canyon and Kolsay and Kaindy lakes


During this tour you will visit oneof the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan - Kolsay lakeand Charyn National Park. 

Charyn Canyon is a canyon of 154 km long. The canyon is located 195 km east of Almaty, not far from the border with China. The canyon isincluded into the territory of the Charyn National Park.
Charyn Canyon -is a natural monument, built of sedimentary rocks, the age of these rocks is about 12 million years. The height of the steep canyon mountains reaches 150-300 m.
The most interesting place for tourists is the so-called Valley of castles, which is about 2 km long and 20–80 m wide.
In the bosom of the canyon there is a grove of relict species of ash, which survived the epoch of glaciation - Sogdian ash. There is another similar grove only in North America. Since 1964, Ash Grove has been declared a natural monument.

Kolsay Lakes is one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. These lakes are located at heights 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. They are distinguished by the unique mountain watershed consisting of three natural zones and amazing variety of rare plants and animals. Kolsay Lakes are considered a pearl of Northern Tien-Shan located in 300 km from Almaty city.

Lake Kaindy was formed naturally in 1911 in the northern Tien Shan mountains after an earthquake caused an enormous landslide. Due to the shifting of the ground, the landslide formed a natural dam which created the lake. It has a depth of 30 meters. The lake is 400 meters long and sits around 2,000 meters high. The word ‘Kaindy Kul’ means birch tree lake in Kazakh, It’s also a very cold lake. Its highest temperature is only 6C, in the summer. The cold temperature helps keep the trees preserved in the lake.

1 Day

Kolsai kolderi national park KAZAKHSTAN 08:00 early breakfast at the hotel and departure. 11:00 arrival to Saty village, Check-in at the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation). 11:30 transfer to Kolsay lake1. Kolsay Lakes – one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. These lakes are located at heights 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. They are distinguished by the unique mountain watershed consisting of three natural zones and amazing variety of rare plants and animals. Hiking from Kolsay lake 1 to Kolsy lake 2. 13:00 lunch. Hike back. 18:00. Return to Saty village. 19:00 dinner. Night stay at the guesthouse.

2 Day

Charyn canyon KAZAKHSTAN Breakfast at the guesthouse. 09:00 Transfer to Kaindy lake (11 km off road). Kayndy lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. The rockslide “place of origin” can still be seen today, because it has not been overgrown yet. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing in this place along the river. Return to Saty. Lunch. Trip to Charyn canyon. The canyon has been described as the Grand canyon’s little brother and is considered to be the floor of the ancient ocean Tethys. The erosion made by the river Charyn below and the elements created a dramatic and impressive landscape. The Charyn canyon itself is approximately 150 km and in some places up to 300 m deep. 17:00 departure to Almaty 21:00 arrival to Almaty and transfer to the hotel

  • Accommodation at the guesthouse 1 night on twin/double sharing basis
  • Meals: day 1 - LD, day 2 - BL
  • English speaking guide-driver services
  • Transport
  • Water 1L per person per day
  • Entrance fees
  • Alcohol and beverages
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Any personal expenses and any services not included in the above itinerary

Cancellation policy

Payments & Cancellations

When you book a reservation for a Product through the Website, Steppe and Sky collects your payment information and processes your payment as described below under "Payment Processing". Steppe and Sky accepts the following credit cards: Mastercard, Visa, American Express. Also Steppe and Sky travel can issue invoices to your name.  Full payment by credit or debit card is required to make a reservation.

No refunds are available once a tour or service has commenced, or in respect of any package, accommodation, meals or any other services utilized.

If you wish to cancel a reservation made via the Website, the supplier's cancellation policy contained in the applicable product listing will apply to, and govern the terms of, your cancellation and any refunds. When canceling a booking, you will be notified via email the total refund amount you will receive, if any.

The standard cancellation policy for Customers is:

  1. a 90 % refund for cancellations made at least 15 days  in advance of the start date of the experience. (Except for the tours to Baikonur Cosmodrome, see point 1)
  2. a 60% refund for cancellations made later than at least 15 days in advance of the start date of experience. Unless the Customer could not inform the Steppe and Sky travel due to the force-majeure reasons.
  3. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the start date of the experience will receive no refund.
  4. In case of no-show the Customer will receive no refund.
  5. For the tours to Baikonur Cosmodrome the following penalties apply:

1 a 90% refund for cancellations made after the payment is made before the permission from Roscosmos State Corporation is received.

2. a 80% refund in case of cancellation of the tour after receiving permission to visit the Cosmodrome  Baikonur by Roscosmos , regardless of the time.

3. a 0% refund for cancellations made 14 days prior to the tour start.

4. a 80% refund in case when Roscosmos refuses the Customer  in permission to visit the spaceport (Cosmodrome Baikonur),

5. a 80% refund is applicable when Roscosmos either transfers or cancels the launch of the spacecraft, unless  the Customer chooses to use  the tour package of ‘between launches’ period, in this case the cost of the tour is recalculated and the difference is transferred to the account of the Customer.

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