from$ 410
Duration 5 Days
Category ADVENTURE
Season May - September

This 5 day round trip takes you to some of the Almaty region’s top attractions like written cliffs, Scythian kurgans, singing sand and colorful Aktau and Katutau mountains, legendary Charyn canyon, pearls of Tien Shan – Kolsay lakes and mystical Kaindy lake


This 5 day round trip takes you to some of the Almaty region’s top attractions like written cliffs, Scythian kurgans, singing sand and colorful Aktau and Katutau mountains, legendary Charyn canyon, pearls of Tien Shan –Kolsay lakes and mystical Kaindy lake.
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.

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
Bes Shatyr burial mounds KAZAKHSTAN
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Bes Shatyr burial mounds (this Iron Age site composes 31 Scythian kurgans (ritual burial mounds) believed to be final resting places of tribal leaders and warriors. The largest is 17 km high and while the kurgans have been excavated in the 1950s, with weaponry, bones and pottery spirited away to museums, the kurgans are still an impressive sight. Be prepared to pay a small charge to enter the national park area.
To accommodate tour travel to Altyn emel national park area, we’ve set up small low impact eco friendly yurt camp next to some of the remaining Kazakh nomads for you to get in touch with them. Yurt camp located just 90 km from singing dune (1.5 hour driving). Check-in at the yurt (DBL/sharing accommodation). Hiking or horse riding (at your own payment). Dinner. Overnight at the yurt (Shoqan village).
2 Day
Altyn Emel national Park KAZAKHSTAN
Early breakfast at the yurt. 
Visit Altyn Emel national park. With its prime location Altyn emel is the ideal base for exploring the amazing natural landscapes that surround it: singing dune and Aktau and Katutau mountains. 
The Singing dune is composed of light-colored sand and has a length of about 3 km and a height of 150 m. In dry weather sands emit a sound similar an organ melody. Since ancient times this place was considered supernatural. The legends explained the sound by the activities of the desert spirits, mythical animals, the bells of buried towns, underground rivers etc. Lunch (outdoor picnic).
Visit Aktau and Katutau mountains. Aktau mountains are located 80 km from the village that takes approximately 1,5 hours to reach them. The Aktau hills look supernatural. You will observe rock layers of white, red and orange colors across the range, known as a unique paleontological deposit with an estimated age of 25-30 million years. Katutau hills are less spectacular, but certainly interesting since it’s a good place to see argali. Ancient willow visiting. Be prepared to pay a small charge to enter the national park area. Driving to Akkudyk village. Dinner. Overnight at the guesthouse (Akkudyk village).
3 Day
Charyn canyon KAZAKHSTAN
Breakfast at the guesthouse and departure 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. Be prepared to pay a small charge to enter the national park area. 
After exploration of Charyn National Park you will visit famous radon hot springs in Chundzha to have a pleasant bath and swim in natural thermal water. Chundzha Hot Springs are well known for their healing water. Bathing and swimming in our thermal pools contribute to the process of self-regulation of the whole body, which in turn increases its resistance to various diseases. Check-in the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation). Night at the guesthouse (Chundzha)
4 Day
Kolsai kolderi national park KAZAKHSTAN
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Check out of the guesthouse. Departure to the Karabulak village. Arrival and Check-in the guesthouse (DBL/Standard accommodation). Lunch. 
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. Be prepared to pay a small charge to enter the national park area. Free time. Return to guesthouse. Dinner. Overnight (Karabulak village).
5 Day
Kolsai kolderi national park KAZAKHSTAN
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Check out of the guesthouse. Departure to Kayndy lake.
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. Departure to Almaty. Arrival to Almaty
  • Accommodation in yurt (1 night) and in guesthouses on TWIN / DBL sharing basis (3 nights)
  • Meals: day 1 dinner, day 2 – full board, day 3 – breakfast, day 4 - lunch and dinner, day 5 - breakfast
  • Transport (Renault Duster 2015-2019 MT/AT)
  • Transport (Renault Duster 2015-2019 MT/AT)
  • Photo and video charges
  • Entrance fees for mentioned national parks
  • Medical or travel insurance
  • Gasoline
  • Cash deposit for a car (170 USD)
  • 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.

The value of the transaction may be subject to taxes, duties, foreign transaction, currency exchange or other fees. Your bank or credit or debit card company may convert the payment into the local currency and charge fees, resulting in differences between the amount displayed on Steppe and Sky Travel and the final amount charged to your bank account or credit or debit card statement. Please contact your bank or card company if you have any questions concerning any applicable conversion or fees.