Charyn Canyon Off-road: Private Day Tour To Hidden Viewpoints From Almaty
About this tour
Charyn Canyon lies about 200 km east of Almaty, and most day trips see just one part of it. This private tour goes further, driving off-road to viewpoints most visitors never reach.
You start in the Valley of Castles (Qyzylsay), the canyon's most famous section, walking down a wide gravel trail between red rock towers. After lunch at a local cafe, your guide-driver takes you off-road to look out over the Lunar Canyon, step onto the Stone Shelf and finish at the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints. Each is only a few minutes' walk from the car, so there is time for photos at every stop.
It is a long, full day for anyone who loves big landscapes and photography, with easy walking throughout. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, and winter brings clear days and far fewer visitors.
Highlights:
- Walk among the red rock towers of the Valley of Castles
- Drive off-road to viewpoints most Charyn day trips skip
- See the Lunar Canyon, the Stone Shelf and the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints
- Lunch at a local cafe on the way
- A private tour: only your group, with your own guide who speaks English, Russian and Kazakh
Activities included
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Charyn Canyon National Park, Tamerlik, Kazakhstan
Your guide-driver picks you up from your hotel at 07:00 and drives east through farmland. Around 10:00 you reach the Valley of Castles (Qyzylsay) and walk about 2 km down a wide gravel trail between red rock towers, then back up. After lunch at a local cafe, the off-road part begins: the Lunar Canyon (Zhabyr, Uzunbulak), the Stone Shelf, and the Napoleon and Austrian viewpoints, each only a few minutes' walk from the car. You leave the canyon around 17:00 and are back at your hotel around 20:00.
What's included
Private tour: only your group, with your own guide-driver and SUV. Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Almaty. Lunch at a local cafe, national park fees and 1.5 liters of drinking water per person.
Personal expenses. Pickup from outside Almaty city costs extra.
Languages spoken
What to know
The walks are easy: the longest is the Valley of Castles trail, about 2 km each way on a wide gravel path. The other viewpoints are a few minutes' walk from the car. It is a long day, from 07:00 to about 20:00, with around 3 hours of driving each way. We run the tour all year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable; in summer we start early to enjoy the cooler hours. Bring walking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a warm layer. Child seats are available on request, and your luggage can stay in the car during the tour. If weather or a closed road makes the route unsafe, we move the tour to another day or refund it in full. Prices are per person for groups of 1 to 4. For 5 or more people, message us for a price.
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Charyn Canyon National Park, Tamerlik, Kazakhstan