Charyn canyon – Kolsai lake – Kaiyndy lake tours

Day 1: Almaty city > Kolsai lake

Having met your guide at the Meeting Point at 08:00, you will board a comfortable minivan to start your unforgettable journey to Kolsai Lakes. This day you will cross over 300 km from Almaty to Saty settlement (5-6 hours). On the way you will have an opportunity to stop in a
village to feel the atmosphere of a Local market. Upon arrival to Saty, you will check-in at the guest house, where you will spend next two nights. After lunch, you will change the vehicle to one of AWD Local cars, such as UAZ or “PAZ (Russian car models), as they are fully
capable to cover uneven mountain road (12 km) to Kaindy Lake. After walking around the lake, you will return to Saty settlement to take a shower, have dinner and rest.

Day 2: Kolsai Lake > Kaindy Lake

This day starts with breakfast and departure to Kolsai Lakes at 08:00. For the day you will be provided with bottled water and lunch-boxes. Having arrived to the lower Kolsai Lake and got a brief instruction, you will start the trekking to the middle Kolsai Lake. The route lies on the bank of the lake and continues with the path through the pine forest, alpine meadows along pure mountain river flowing all the way down from the middle Kolsai Lake. The total walking distance between two lakes is about 7 km and usually takes 3-3,5 hours one way. An altitude rises up more than 400 meters, from 1818 meters above sea level at the lower lake to 2250 meters above sea level at the middle lake. There is no category of difficulty and route is accessible for healthy, average- trained people. Enjoying your lunch in front of the cold and pure-clean lake in surroundings of magnificent mountain peaks is priceless after active trekking. Afternoon walk back to the lower Kolsai Lake and driving back to Saty settlement for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Charyn canyon > Almaty

After breakfast you will leave a hospitable family and depart to Charyn Canyon at 08:00. It will take about 2 hours to reach the canyon. Upon arrival, you will admire the grand panorama and go down to the bottom of the canyon to walk around 2 km through the maze of the Castles Valley. The bottom of the Canyon has slight descend to the end of the walk, where you will get to the fresh oasis on the bank of icy cold Charyn River, where also located eco-park with several yurts (traditional dwellings) and a small open-air café, working in the summer time. After some rest, you will walk back the same path to the stairs and drive to one of the observation points for another breathtaking panoramic view. After 3-4 hours spent in the canyon you will depart to Almaty. The lunch will be served in a local café in a village in 1-hour driving distance after the canyon. Arrival to the original Meeting Point in Almaty is approx. at 19:00.