2 Kolsai Lakes & Kaindy + Charyn Canyon 3-day tour with a hike

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2 Kolsai Lakes & Kaindy + Charyn Canyon 3-day tour with a hike

Starting/ending point: Almaty city

Driving distance: 680 km from Almaty and back

Tour duration: 3 days/2 nights

Start time: 09:00 am Almaty time

Availability season: May - October

Tour language: English | Russian

Tour options: PRIVATE

Description

3-Day Kolsai Lakes, Kaindy Lake & Charyn Canyon Tour from Almaty

Explore Kazakhstan’s top nature attractions in just 3 days on this well-paced multi-day tour from Almaty. Discover alpine lakes, dramatic canyons, and breathtaking mountain landscapes—all in one trip.

Visit the surreal Kaindy Lake, famous for its submerged forest, and enjoy a scenic walk or optional horseback ride. Hike through the stunning Kolsai Lakes National Park, reaching the picturesque Middle Kolsai Lake (optional 3–4 hour hike each way).

Continue your journey to Charyn Canyon National Park, where you’ll explore both the surreal Yellow (Moon) Canyon and the iconic “Valley of the Castles”, walking along the canyon floor surrounded by towering rock formations.

With comfortable transport, overnight stay in a local guesthouse or traditional yurt, and a carefully planned route, this tour offers the perfect balance of adventure and comfort.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

⚠️ [Visits to any of the tour sites may be canceled and their order changed due to the change of seasons, weather conditions and other circumstances beyond our control]

PHOTOS OF OUR TOURISTS

OPTIONS & PRICES

PRIVATE tour	✅ Hotel pick-up/drop-off ✅ National parks entrance fees ✅ Comfortable SUV/minivan ✅ English-speaking guide-driver ✅ Bottled water ✅ Accommodation (details below)
[ECONOMY] option	✅ Guesthouse or yurt (Kazakh traditional dwelling) accommodation ✅ Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 3, Dinner x 2 of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Number of people	1	2	3	4
PRICE in USD	$900	$1000	$1100	$1200
[COMFORT] option	✅ Hotel accommodation at Kolsai Lake with mountain view (see photo) ✅ Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 3 of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available) ❌ Dinner is not included and available in the hotel's cafe
PRICE in USD	$1100	$1150	$1300	$1450
Room type at Kolsai Lake	Double Room	Double Room	Junior Studio	Junior Suit

⚠️ [If you are more people, contact us and we will make an individual calculation for you]

IMPORTANT INFO

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Mid-high
Travelers should have a good physical fitness level.

WE RECOMMEND TO TAKE WITH YOU: weather/season-appropriate outerwear, head cover, trekking boots/sport shoes, sunblock, replacement socks, some cash in KZT for personal expenses and optional activities (boating, horseback-riding).
!!! Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes are situated close to the Kyrgyzstan border. Please make sure to carry your original passport (copies are not accepted), as border checks may take place. Travelers without a passport may be subject to a fine.

PRECAUTION

• Not recommended for travelers with serious medical conditions, high/low blood pressure;
• Not recommended for pregnant women;
• Not recommended for travelers with a fear of heights and who can not withstand long trips by car/long walks/hikes;

PRIVATE TOUR BOOKING

[Here you can submit a request to book a private tour. We will try to respond to you within 24 hours]

BOOKING TERMS

PAYMENT TERMS

A 50-$100 deposit is required to confirm a private tour booking.
A 15-50% deposit is required to confirm a group tour booking.
The exact deposit amount depends on the selected tour/option and the number of travelers in the booking.
The remaining balance is paid at the start of the tour.

CANCELLATION POLICY

PRIVATE TOURS

Customers may change or cancel their booking up to 72 hours before the tour start time. After this time, no changes or cancellations are possible.
Change or cancellation of a Comfort Option booking may incur additional fees.
The deposit is non-refundable as it covers booking administration, reservation costs, and the time reserved exclusively for your tour.

GROUP TOURS

Customers may change or cancel their booking up to 24 hours before the tour start time and receive a deposit refund. After this time, no changes, cancellations, or refunds are possible.
Late arrival or no-show by the customer may result in cancellation of the booking without a refund.
Group tours require a minimum number of participants and suitable weather conditions. If these requirements are not met, the tour may be canceled no later than 48 hours before the start, and customers will be offered an alternative date/tour or a deposit refund.

FORCE MAJEURE

Any tour or booking may be canceled due to force majeure circumstances (extreme weather, road closures, natural disasters, government restrictions, flight cancellations, etc.). In such cases, customers will receive a deposit refund or the option to reschedule the tour.