2-Day Private Tour: Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes

Walk through canyon rock formations and wake beside mountain lakes in two days

A two-day private tour of southeastern Kazakhstan visits Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake with an English-speaking certified guide, air-conditioned transport, overnight accommodation in a guest house, and all entrance fees and meals included. The itinerary pairs canyon hiking with high-altitude lakes, moving through the Tien Shan mountains at a pace that lets you explore each site without rushing between them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit Charyn Canyon and Black Canyon

• Walk 2.5 km in Valley of Castles
• Take open-roof car ride to Charyn River
• Visit crystal-clear Kolsay Lake
• Explore dramatic Black Canyon

Day 2: Explore Kaindy Lake and surroundings

• Visit Lake Kaindy with submerged forest
• Enjoy scenic drives through valleys and meadows
• Overnight stay in cozy village guest house

The experience

Two days means you cover three major sites without the pace of a day trip. The first day starts with Charyn Canyon, roughly 200 kilometers east of Almaty, where you walk 2.5 kilometers through the Valley of Castles (a corridor of surreal rock formations in ochre and rust tones), or ride in an open-roof car to the Charyn River if you prefer to stay seated. The canyon's scale and color are what make it distinct from the usual mountain scenery. The rock walls rise in columns and spires that look sculpted rather than eroded. After the canyon, you move to the Black Canyon, a steeper and less-visited gorge with dramatic vertical walls.

The second day centers on the two alpine lakes. Kolsay Lake sits high in the Tien Shan mountains with water so clear the depth is visible from the shore, and you'll have time to swim or sit at the water's edge rather than photograph it from a distance. Kaindy Lake is the stranger of the two: a turquoise basin where spruce trees rise directly from the water, their trunks and branches still intact after decades submerged. The trees create a landscape that feels both serene and eerie, and it is the kind of sight that photographs do not quite capture. You stay overnight in a guest house in the village, which breaks the travel into two manageable chunks and gives you a real night's rest instead of a long drive back to Almaty at the end.

Your guide speaks English and holds certification. The tour includes all entrance fees, lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two, and transport in an air-conditioned car. Pickup is arranged from your hotel or a meeting point in Almaty.

What’s included

• English-speaking certified guide.
• entrance fees to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake.
• air-conditioned transport throughout.
• overnight accommodation in a guest house with two people per room.
• lunch and dinner on day one.
• breakfast and lunch on day two.
• hotel pickup in Almaty.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (19 to 61 years) · Senior (62 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 18 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 28

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Almaty Inspiration Tour

Is this one for you?A private tour suits travelers who want to move at their own pace and avoid a shared schedule. The two-day structure lets you spend real time at each lake and canyon instead of racing between them, and the overnight stay means you're not driving back to Almaty exhausted at the end of day two.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 18 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Charyn Canyon from Almaty, and what's the walk like?

Charyn Canyon lies approximately 200 kilometers east of Almaty. You walk 2.5 kilometers through the Valley of Castles, a path that winds through the canyon's rock formations, or you can ride in an open-roof car the entire way if you prefer not to hike.

What makes Kaindy Lake different from other mountain lakes?

Kaindy Lake is famous for the spruce trees that rise from its turquoise water. The trees were submerged decades ago when a landslide dammed the valley, but their trunks and branches remain remarkably well-preserved, creating a landscape unlike any other in the region.

What meals are included, and where do I sleep?

You get lunch and dinner on the first day, then breakfast and lunch on the second day. Accommodation is in a guest house in the village, with two people sharing one room.

Is the tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You can walk the 2.5 kilometers through Charyn Canyon or ride in the open-roof car instead, so you control how much hiking you do.