4-Day Almaty Tour: Singing Dune, Kolsai Lakes & Charyn Canyon

A sand dune that actually sings, and canyons that formed millions of years ago.

A 4-day private jeep tour from Almaty visiting Altyn-Emel National Park, Kolsai Lakes and Charyn Canyon, with an English-speaking guide, accommodation and all transport. You drive through colorful Aktau chalk mountains, hike the Singing Dune on the Ili River shore, explore a mountain lake ringed by coniferous forest, and stand inside an ancient canyon carved over millennia. Hotel or guest house accommodation is your choice at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Almaty to Altyn-Emel National Park

• Travel to Basshy village
• Lunch at guest house
• Visit Singing Dune
• Hike and explore natural beauty
• See local wildlife in reserve
• Visit Aktau Mountains and ancient willow tree
• Overnight in Basshy village

Day 2: Explore Aktau Chalk Mountains

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Visit Aktau chalk mountains
• Walk along dry river gorge
• Picnic lunch outdoors
• Stop at oasis with ancient willow tree
• Overnight in Saty village

Day 3: Travel to Kolsai Lake

• Breakfast at guesthouse
• Drive to Saty village area
• Stop at Charyn Canyon viewpoint
• Visit Kolsai Lake
• Relax and explore mountain trails
• Optional boat and horse riding
• Overnight in Saty village

Day 4: Kaindy Lake and Charyn Canyon

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Visit Kaindy Lake
• Explore Charyn Canyon
• Return to Almaty city

The experience

The tour starts in Almaty and heads southeast to Basshy village, arriving at noon for lunch at a guest house before your first stop: the Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park. This is a massive sand formation in the middle of the steppe that produces sound when you slide down it: a natural phenomenon the itinerary describes as if someone moved it from the Sahara. You get free time to hike and explore, and on the way you may spot wildlife on the Red List: mountain sheep, gazelle, Przewalski's horses, saiga, golden eagles and cranes that inhabit the reserve.

Day two takes you deeper into Altyn-Emel to the Aktau chalk mountains, where scientists theorize the landscape was once the floor of an ancient Tetis ocean. The mountains rise in bright colors from snow white to saturated red, and you walk through a dry riverbed gorge exploring the formations. A picnic lunch happens here. You also stop at an oasis with a fresh water spring and an ancient willow tree before heading to Saty village for the night. On day three, the route passes a panorama viewpoint of Charyn Canyon on the way to Kolsai Lake, a mountain lake with pristine water surrounded by coniferous forests. The lake is the largest in a chain of three separated by fast rivers and alpine flower fields. Boat riding and horse riding are available if you want them (these cost extra). Day four ends the tour at Kaindy Lake, formed by an earthquake in 1911, where ancient spruces rise above the water surface and the water shifts color from light blue to emerald green depending on the season. You then visit Charyn Canyon itself, a formation millions of years old, before the drive back to Almaty.

The tour runs as a private booking with a live English-speaking guide, all transport by jeep, accommodation for three nights, and all fees and taxes covered. Hotel accommodation at Kolsai or guest house accommodation throughout is your choice when you book. Lunch is included on days one through three. The final day's meal is not. Children from age one are welcome, though the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy, and requires at least moderate physical fitness.

What’s included

• Private jeep transport for all four days.
• English-speaking guide throughout.
• three nights of accommodation (your choice of hotel at Kolsai or guest house).
• breakfast each morning.
• lunch on days one, two and three.
• all park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (7 to 75 years) · Child (1 to 6 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by NEOmad

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private jeep tour where you set the pace through four days of Almaty's major sites, and choose between hotel or guesthouse stays to match how immersed you want to be in each location.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 6 years): 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.

What is the Singing Dune and why does it make noise?

The Singing Dune is a massive sand formation in the middle of the Altyn-Emel steppe that produces sound when people slide down it: a natural acoustic phenomenon. The itinerary describes it as if someone transported it from the Sahara desert, and you get free time to hike it and experience the effect yourself.

Can I do activities like horse riding or boating on Kolsai Lake?

Boat riding and horse riding are available at Kolsai Lake, but they are not included in the tour price and cost extra if you want to add them during your free time there.

What animals might I see in Altyn-Emel National Park?

The park is home to wildlife on Kazakhstan's Red List, including mountain sheep, gazelle, Przewalski's horses, saiga, storks, golden eagles and cranes. You have the best chance of spotting them on the drive to and from the Singing Dune on day one.

How old is Charyn Canyon and how was it formed?

Charyn Canyon is an ancient formation carved over millions of years. The itinerary notes it as a unique natural phenomenon: one of very few such canyons still in existence in today's rapidly developing world.

Do I have to stay in a guest house the whole time, or can I choose a hotel?

You choose your accommodation type at checkout: hotel accommodation at Kolsai, or guest house accommodation throughout the tour. Both options include three nights and all meals except lunch on the final day.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

A live English-speaking guide is included for the entire 4-day tour, along with all transport by jeep and accommodation.