Altyn-Emel, Charyn & Kolsai Lakes 3-Day Trip from Almaty

Leave Almaty early, around 07:00, and drive about three hours east to Charyn Canyon. Walk down through the “Valley of Castles”, a 2–3 km trail to the river between jagged red sandstone towers. Then see Moon Canyon, Charyn’s neighboring valley of gray and bluish rock, and Black Canyon on the Temirlik river, with dark volcanic walls. In the evening, continue to Saty village in Kolsai Lakes National Park, about two hours more. Dinner and overnight in a family guesthouse.

Breakfast at 07:00 and a short drive to the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise lake framed by Tien Shan spruces. From the shore, trek about 8 km through conifer forest to the second Kolsai Lake (2252 m), around three hours each way; its shore has no buildings at all, only water, mountains and quiet. In the afternoon, a long drive north to Basshi village, the gateway to Altyn-Emel, five to six hours with stops. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Basshi.

Explore Altyn-Emel National Park, 4600 km² of desert with herds of kulans and goitered gazelles, where the open space is felt physically. In the morning, climb Singing Dune, a 150-meter dune 1.5 kilometers long; on the way down, the sand hums with a deep low note that really does come from under your feet. Near lunch, visit the Aktau chalk mountains, pink, green and blue bands of Paleocene rock, 56–66 million years old, left by a sea that is long gone. In the afternoon, stop at the Katutau colored mountains, volcanic rocks carved by the wind into sculptural forms. Then drive back to Almaty (about 255 km, 4–5 hours), arriving in the evening.