Kolsai Lake-2 (Middle)

Overview

The Kolsai Lake 2 trail leads to Kolsai-2, which sits at 2,252 m in the Kungey-Alatau — the largest and deepest of the three Kolsai lakes - about 1.5 km long, 350 m wide, and 50 m at its deepest point. Kazakhs call it orta Kolsay (middle lake). The basin formed during a late-Pleistocene tectonic shift around 10,000 years ago, when a rockslide blocked the Kolsai River and glacial meltwater filled the gorge behind it. A day at the lake is one of the headline Almaty lakes stops and a peak of Kazakhstan nature on any itinerary. It is widely listed among the top things to do in Almaty for travelers planning a Kazakhstan tour, and most multi-day routes from Almaty include it.

Water reads turquoise-blue from the fine glacial suspension carried down by the Kungey-Alatau ridge - clay particles so fine they refract sunlight back as colour. Summer temperatures hold at 8–14 °C; midwinter brings 1.5 m of solid ice across the surface. Tien Shan spruces (Picea schrenkiana) ring the shoreline, with alpine meadows climbing the slopes above.

Only one trail leads here: 8 km from Kolsai-1 through dense spruce forest with 400 m of elevation gain, taking 3–4 hours up and 2–3 hours down. The path is marked but technical in two places - a wooden bridge over a side stream and a scree section just below the lake. Most day-hikers turn around at the shore after 30 minutes of photos and snacks; trekkers continuing to Kolsai-3 set up tents at the small flat meadow on the northern bank.

Kolsai-2 draws a quieter crowd than its lower neighbour. Weekend day-hikers from Almaty fill the trail between 10:00 and 14:00; experienced hikers from Bishkek cross over via the Sary-Bulak Pass in late summer; photographers come for the September gold-hour reflections of golden larches in deep-blue water. Locals from Saty graze sheep in the alpine meadows above the lake from June through August - you'll see flocks moving along the southern ridge in early morning.

The lake changes character through the year. June–July brings the loudest trail traffic and wildflowers (edelweiss and Tien Shan geranium open in the meadows above); August adds edible mushrooms (birch boletes and milk caps) along the lower trail; September stretches into a long golden hour with almost no other hikers; October–April requires winter gear and the lake freezes from the edges in by mid-November.

A detail trail-runners notice: the wooden bridge midway up the trail crosses a side stream that locals call aldyngy bulak (front spring) - its water is drinkable straight from the source, the only safe source between Kolsai-1 and the upper lake. Marmots whistle from the rock outcrops above the lake at dusk; berkut (golden eagles) ride thermals over the surrounding ridges in the middle of the day.

Practical Info

Kolsai-2 is reachable only on foot or horseback from Kolsai-1 - no road, no shuttle, no helicopter access. The trail starts at the eastern shore of Kolsai-1 (look for the marked sign past the boat pier) and climbs steadily through spruce forest. Allow 3–4 hours up and 2–3 hours down; experienced hikers do it in 5 hours round-trip, casual walkers need 7–8 hours.

Lake GPS: 42.7240°N, 78.4150°E.

Entry fee: included in the Kolsay-Kolderi National Park ticket bought at the visitor center near Kolsai-1 - around 900–1,500 KZT per pedestrian. Children under 18 free with ID. Bring cash in tenge - cards sometimes work at the visitor center but the gate is more reliable with bills.

⚠️ Passport required. Kolsai sits in a border zone with Kyrgyzstan, and the original passport (not a photocopy or digital scan) is checked at the gate. Most EU, US, UK, Japanese, Korean, Canadian, and Australian travelers enter Kazakhstan visa-free for 60 days; visitors from China, India, and most Middle Eastern countries need an e-visa.

Horseback option: local horsemen from Saty village rent horses for the trail year-round - typical short photo rides cost 5,000–15,000 KZT per hour; full-day guided rides to Kolsai-2 and back are priced separately by the operator and arranged through Treeple. The trail is rideable in both directions, though the scree section requires dismounting.

Camping at the lake: allowed in the designated meadow on the northern bank with a small per-tent fee paid at the visitor center. Open fires are prohibited - bring a gas stove. No facilities at the lake itself; the nearest toilet is back at Kolsai-1.

Water and food on the trail: the aldyngy bulak spring (midway) is drinkable. Carry 1.5–2 L of water per person plus a packed lunch - there are no shops, cafés, or refill stations between Kolsai-1 and the upper lake.

Connectivity: mobile signal disappears 15 minutes into the climb and doesn't return until you're back at Kolsai-1. Download Maps.me or 2GIS offline before the hike and let someone know your turnaround time.

Combine With

Kolsai-2 is almost always paired with Kolsai-1 as a full day-hike from a base in Saty village. The standard route runs drive to Kolsai-1 → hike to Kolsai-2 → return → overnight in Saty, with Kaindy Lake added the following morning before driving back to Almaty.

Multi-day trekkers continue from Kolsai-2 to Kolsai-3 (Upper Kolsai, 2,850 m) with a tent overnight at the upper meadow - total 18 km from Kolsai-1, best done over 2–3 days with a guide. The Kyrgyzstan border sits 10 km further at the Sary-Bulak Pass (3,278 m); cross-border treks into Karakol are possible with advance permits and a local guide.

For shorter Almaty Region itineraries, the most-booked 3-day route combines Charyn → Kolsai-1 → Kaindy with the hike to Kolsai-2 as an optional Day-2 add-on if the weather holds.

Longer programs extend into Altyn-Emel National Park (Singing Dune, Aktau Mountains) for a 5–6 day eastern Almaty Region loop, or wrap into 7–10 day routes adding Assy Plateau (2,500 m, observatory) and the Turgen Gorge waterfalls.

Two-week itineraries that include Kolsai-2 typically start in Almaty city (Kok-Tobe, Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park), head east through Charyn → Kolsai → Kaindy, then loop west to Altyn-Emel and Tamgaly petroglyphs, closing with a city day before departure.

Kolsai-2 is the second stop on the canonical Almaty lakes multi-day route between Kolsai-1 and Kolsai-3.

Tips

Start the hike before 09:00. Afternoon thunderstorms above 2,000 m are common from mid-June through August; you want to be back below the treeline by 15:00.

Footwear matters: waterproof hiking boots with ankle support - the trail has stream crossings, mud after rain, and a scree section near the top where running shoes will roll an ankle. Trekking poles save the knees on the descent.

Layered clothing: even in July, the air at 2,250 m sits 8–10 °C cooler than Almaty. Pack a windbreaker, light fleece, and a hat. Sun is intense above the treeline - SPF 50 and sunglasses.

Cold-water reality: Kolsai-2 holds at 8–14 °C in summer. Swimming is permitted but most people sit on the rocks and dip their feet; full immersion requires neoprene if you want to stay in longer than a minute.

Photo strategy: the trail's classic shot is from the wooden bridge at the midway clearing - both lakes visible in one frame on a clear day. At the lake itself, the south shore catches afternoon light on the spruces; September brings golden larches reflecting in dark-blue water. Drone use needs park permission for personal photography.

With kids: the trail is fine for confident hikers aged 10+ with previous trekking experience. Under 10, plan the lakeshore loop at Kolsai-1 instead - the climb to Kolsai-2 is long and the descent harder on small knees.

Treeple's standard Kolsai trek includes a guided ascent to Kolsai-2 with packed lunch, trekking poles, a satellite-comms device for the guide, and an arranged horse for the descent if anyone in the group tires out.