2-day Charyn Canyon & Kolsai Lake tour from Almaty

Canyon hike, lake reflections, village market and a night in the mountains

A 2-day tour from Almaty to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake and Kaindy Lake with an English-speaking driver, overnight guesthouse accommodation, all meals and hotel pickup. Day one covers a 2.5-kilometre walk through the canyon's sedimentary rock walls, lunch at a mountain guesthouse and an afternoon hike along Kolsai Lake. Day two explores Kaindy Lake's sunken forest and birch groves before returning to Almaty.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake

• Depart hotel to Charyn Canyon
• Stop at open air market
• Walk 2.5 km inside canyon
• Drive to Kolsai Lake
• Lunch at guesthouse
• Hike and take pictures at Kolsai Lake
• Dinner and overnight at guesthouse

Day 2: Kaindy Lake Tour

• Breakfast
• Drive and hike at Kaindy Lake
• Visit yurts and take photos
• Lunch in village house
• Depart to Almaty

The experience

The tour departs from your hotel at 8:00 am and heads south toward Charyn Canyon, a 230-kilometre drive that passes through an open-air market where you can pick up snacks or water. At the canyon, you walk 2.5 kilometres through the complex rock formations (the site is a 12-million-year-old natural monument), and return the same way, or take an open-air vehicle back if you prefer. By 12:30 you're heading to Kolsai Lake, arriving by 2:00 pm for lunch at a guesthouse where you can see the panorama of Black Canyon. The afternoon is free for hiking and photographs along the lake, which reflects the Tien Shan mountains. Dinner and overnight accommodation are in the guesthouse.

Day two starts with breakfast, then a 12-kilometre drive and hike to Kaindy Lake, one of the region's most unusual sites because of its sunken forest. The name means "birch tree" and you'll see birch groves along the route. You'll also visit a yurt settlement to see how local families live. Lunch is in a village house, and you depart for Almaty by 1:30 pm, arriving back in the city by late afternoon.

Bring warm clothes (mountain temperatures run about 5 degrees Celsius lower than in Almaty), and comfortable hiking shoes. Your passport is required for the eco-park check. If you're vegetarian or have food allergies, let the operator know ahead of time so they can arrange meals accordingly.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to Almaty.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• English-speaking driver.
• overnight guesthouse accommodation with double rooms.
• dinner on day one.
• breakfast on day two.
• lunch on both days at a guesthouse and village house.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 70 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Kazia Tour

Is this one for you?The fixed two-day schedule covers three lakes and a canyon in one trip from Almaty, so you see the full range of the region's landscape without splitting the journey across separate bookings. A shared tour with an English-speaking driver suits travellers who want the route planned and the driving handled, leaving you free to focus on the hikes and the views.

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Top questions

What is Charyn Canyon like to walk through?

Charyn Canyon is a 12-million-year-old natural monument made of complex sedimentary rocks. The walking route inside the canyon is 2.5 kilometres, and you can return on foot or by open-air vehicle.

How much hiking is involved over the two days?

Day one includes a 2.5-kilometre walk through Charyn Canyon and an afternoon hike along Kolsai Lake. Day two has a 12-kilometre drive and hike around Kaindy Lake with its sunken forest and birch groves, plus a visit to a yurt settlement.

What meals and accommodation are included?

Overnight accommodation is in a comfortable guesthouse with double rooms. Dinner on day one, breakfast on day two and lunch on day two are all included. Lunch on day one is at a mountain guesthouse with views of Black Canyon.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from the hotel?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. Your English-speaking driver collects you at 8:00 am on day one and returns you to Almaty by late afternoon on day two.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring your passport for the eco-park check, warm clothes because mountain temperatures are about 5 degrees Celsius lower than in Almaty, and comfortable hiking shoes for the walking sections.