Charyn Kulsai Kaindy 2 Days Tour
About this tour
Day 1. Almaty - Charyn canyon (Castle valley) – Saty village.
Day 2. Kaindy - Kulsai lake - Black canyon - Almaty.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Saty, Kazakhstan
Day 1. Almaty – Charyn Canyon (Castle Valley) – Saty Village At 9:00 AM your guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Almaty in a comfortable SUV, and together we begin our journey toward the breathtaking Charyn Canyon National Park. On the way, we stop at a small local village where you can enjoy traditional snacks and visit a local bazaar. Here you may buy fresh Kazakh bread, seasonal fruits and vegetables, or other local products — a perfect introduction to authentic Kazakh countryside life. After approximately 4 hours of driving including stops, we arrive at Charyn Canyon. We start an easy 30-minute walk descending into the famous Castle Valley, surrounded by spectacular rock formations shaped by nature over millions of years. Down in the canyon, we relax in the shade of the trees near the cool river, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and dramatic scenery. The return walk back to the vehicle takes around 45 minutes. We then continue our adventure with another 2-hour drive through mountain passes and endless steppe landscapes before arriving in the cozy village of Saty. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional homemade Kazakh dinner prepared with care by a local family, followed by an overnight stay in a welcoming guesthouse. Total driving distance: 315 km / approximately 5 hours Almaty – Charyn Canyon: 220 km / 3 hours Charyn Canyon – Saty Village: 95 km / 2 hours Total hiking distance: 6 km / approximately 1.5 hours Total duration of the day including stops, meals, and rest: approximately 9 hours
Day 2: Saty, Kazakhstan to Almaty, Kazakhstan
Day 2. Kaindy Lake – Kolsai Lake – Black Canyon – Almaty After breakfast, we drive for about 1 hour to Kaindy Lake — one of the most unique and magical places in Kazakhstan, famous for its submerged forest rising from turquoise water. From the parking area, you can choose one of three ways to reach the lake: 10-minute taxi ride followed by a short walk downhill 20-minute horse ride followed by a 10-minute walk Approximately 40-minute easy hike You will have plenty of time to walk around the lake, enjoy the scenery, and take photos from different viewpoints. After visiting Kaindy Lake, we return to Saty Village and continue for another 30 minutes to beautiful Kolsai Lake. Here we enjoy an easy 1.5–2 hour hike along the lakeshore and deeper into the forest surrounded by towering fir trees, mountain meadows, and fresh alpine air. Following the walk, a delicious homemade lunch with local cuisine awaits us at the guesthouse. We then begin our return drive to Almaty, making one final stop at Black Canyon to admire its dramatic bird’s-eye panorama. Total driving distance: 350 km / approximately 5 hours 40 minutes Saty – Kaindy – Saty: 30 km / 1 hour Saty – Kolsai – Saty: 30 km / 40 minutes Saty – Almaty: 290 km / 4 hours Total hiking distance: 8 km / approximately 2 hours Total duration of the day including stops, meals, and rest: approximately 10 hours
What's included
Enjoy a private all-inclusive 2-day journey through some of Kazakhstan’s most spectacular landscapes. Travel in comfort aboard a specially prepared 4×4 SUV with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide and translator. The tour includes all transportation costs, accommodation, meals (Day 1: lunch and dinner; Day 2: breakfast and lunch), drinking water, tea and coffee throughout the trip, one night in a cozy local guest house, and all national park entrance fees.
Alcoholic beverages are not included. For those who would like to add an extra touch of adventure to the experience, optional horse riding can be arranged for 8,000 KZT per horse. The guide’s horse is provided at no additional cost.
Languages spoken
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Saty, Kazakhstan