Golden Ring of Zhetysu: 5-day tour from Almaty

Multicolored mountains, a canyon carved by time, and lakes ringed by snow-capped peaks

This 5-day tour from Almaty visits three national parks across Kazakhstan's Almaty region: Altyn-Emel National Park with its Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains, Charyn Canyon, and the Kolsay Lakes. You travel by private SUV (1,500 km total) and hike 42 km across the five days, staying in guesthouses in Basshi, Zharkent, and Saty villages. The route covers dramatic canyons, alpine lakes surrounded by forest and peaks, and geological formations sculpted over millions of years.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Aktau Mountains, Altyn-Emel

• Breakfast
• Travel to Altyn-Emel National Park
• Explore Aktau (White Mountains)
• Enjoy panoramic views
• Stay overnight at guesthouse in Basshi village

Day 2: Visit Singing Dune and Zharkent

• Breakfast
• Visit Singing Dune
• Travel to Zharkent town
• Visit Jarkent Oriental Mosque
• Stay overnight at hotel in Zharkent

Day 3: Discover Charyn Canyon

• Breakfast
• Travel to Charyn Canyon
• Explore Valley of Castles
• Learn about geology and legends
• Stay overnight at guesthouse in Saty village

Day 4: Explore Kolsay Lakes

• Breakfast
• Visit Kolsay Lake 1
• Optional hike or horse ride to Kolsay Lake 2
• Stay overnight at guesthouse in Saty village

Day 5: Visit Kaindy Lake and return

• Breakfast
• Explore Kaindy Lake
• Walk along lake shore
• Return to Almaty

The experience

The Singing Dune opens the journey: a towering sand formation that produces an eerie, melodic sound when wind moves across it. Climbing to the top rewards you with panoramic views of the Ili River and the steppe stretching beyond. Before that, you spend your first day in Altyn-Emel National Park exploring the Aktau Mountains, multicolored rock formations that rise from the desert floor, then settle into a guesthouse in Basshi village. On day two, after the Singing Dune, you travel 30 km to Zharkent to visit one of only three Oriental Mosques in the world.

Day three shifts to Charyn Canyon, often compared to the Grand Canyon, stretching over 150 kilometers along the Charyn River. The Valley of Castles (a labyrinth of winding trails between towering red cliffs) is where you spend most of your time, with your guide explaining the canyon's geology and local history. You stay that night in Saty village. The next two days move into the alpine zone: Kolsay Lakes, known as the Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan, sit surrounded by dense forests and snow-capped peaks. You walk the shoreline of Kolsay Lake 1, and an optional hike or horse ride (at additional cost) reaches Kolsay Lake 2. On the final day, you visit Kaindy Lake, formed by an earthquake-triggered landslide in 1911, where spruce tree trunks rise eerily from the water's turquoise surface (a ghostly, unforgettable landscape) before heading back to Almaty in the afternoon.

Private transportation in an SUV and a professional guide in English or Russian are included throughout. You stay in cozy guesthouses rather than hotels, eating traditional Kazakh meals and experiencing the region's hospitality directly. National park permits and entrance fees are covered, as is 1.5 liters of drinking water per person per day. The itinerary is fixed, so all three parks fit into five days without gaps or rushed transitions.

What’s included

• Private SUV transportation for 1,500 kilometers.
• professional guide in English or Russian.
• all national park permits and entrance fees.
• accommodation in guesthouses for four nights.
• 1.5 liters of drinking water per person per day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Outfitters KZ

Is this one for you?The tour covers 42 kilometers of hiking spread across five days, so the pace is moderate rather than strenuous: most days combine short walks with SUV travel between parks. Early starts are built into the schedule to reach each site and return to the guesthouse by evening, which suits travelers who want to see multiple landscapes without a single intense hike or a rushed itinerary.

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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: Child (2 to 11 years).

What is the Singing Dune and why does it make a sound?

The Singing Dune is a towering sand formation in Altyn-Emel National Park that produces an eerie, melodic sound when wind moves across its surface. Climbing to the top gives you panoramic views of the Ili River and the Kazakh steppe.

How much hiking is involved over the five days?

The tour covers 42 kilometers of hiking across the five days, spread across multiple stops: short walks in the Aktau Mountains, trails through Charyn Canyon's Valley of Castles, a walk along Kolsay Lake 1's shoreline, and an optional hike to Kolsay Lake 2, plus time at Kaindy Lake.

What makes Charyn Canyon worth visiting?

Charyn Canyon stretches over 150 kilometers along the Charyn River with towering red rock formations sculpted by time. The Valley of Castles section features a labyrinth of winding trails between surreal cliffs, ideal for photography and exploration, and your guide shares insights into its geology and local legends.

What is Kaindy Lake and how was it formed?

Kaindy Lake is one of Kazakhstan's most unique natural wonders, famous for its submerged forest. An earthquake-triggered landslide in 1911 created the lake, leaving tall spruce tree trunks rising eerily from the water's deep turquoise surface.

Where do you stay during the tour?

You stay in cozy guesthouses in three villages: Basshi village (night one), Zharkent (night two), and Saty village (nights three and four). These guesthouses offer traditional Kazakh hospitality and are located close to the day's attractions.