Assy Plateau & Kaindy Lake 2-Day Tour with a Jeep Ride

4.5 2 reviews2 days · 1 nightPrivate tourModerateStandard comfortSummer onlyby Treeple
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Two-day tour from Almaty: Bear Waterfall, Assy Plateau by jeep and Charyn Canyon, a night in Saty, then Kaindy and Kolsai. Transport, guide, eco fees and guesthouse included.

Two days in the mountains and canyons east of Almaty, linked by a night in a village instead of a return to the city. Day one climbs Turgen Gorge past Bear Waterfall and, in a 4×4, crosses the high meadows of Assy Plateau (about 2500 m), then comes down past the Bartogai Reservoir to Charyn Canyon, which stretches for 154 km (the Valley of Castles, its best-known section, is a 2–3 km walk among jagged red cliffs). The night is in a guesthouse in Saty village. Day two starts early at Kaindy Lake, where spruce trunks stand in the water after the 1911 earthquake, continues to the first Kolsai Lake at 1818 meters and ends back in Almaty in the early evening. Transport, a professional guide and all required fees are included. Smaller groups and a private departure can be arranged on request.

Highlights

  • Assy Plateau — alpine meadows at about 2500 m, crossed by jeep from Turgen Gorge to the Bartogai side
  • Charyn Canyon — 154 km long; its Valley of Castles is a 2–3 km walk among red sandstone cliffs
  • A night in a guesthouse in Saty village, so Kaindy is seen early in the morning
  • Kaindy — a lake with a submerged spruce forest after the 1911 earthquake

Itinerary

Assy Plateau
Day 1

Turgen Gorge · Assy Plateau by jeep · Charyn · overnight in Saty

An early start from Almaty, around 06:30, east to Turgen Gorge, with a short walk to Bear Waterfall, about 30 meters high. Then change to a jeep and climb the gorge to Assy Plateau (about 2500 m): wide alpine meadows, herders’ yurts and the Assy-Turgen observatory on the ridge. Cross the plateau and come down the eastern side past the Bartogai Reservoir to Charyn Canyon for a walk through the Valley of Castles, a 2–3 km trail between red sandstone towers. In the evening, continue to Saty village in Kolsai Lakes National Park. Dinner and overnight in a family guesthouse. A long day, much of it on mountain tracks.

Day 2

Kaindy Lake · Kolsai Lake 1 · return to Almaty

An early breakfast in Saty and a drive to Kaindy Lake, formed by the 1911 earthquake; the last stretch of track is rough and is usually done by 4×4. Spruce trunks rise from the turquoise water like the masts of a sunken fleet, and in the morning the lake is still quiet. On the way back, a walk along the shore of the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), framed by Tien Shan spruces. Then drive back to Almaty, about five hours, arriving in the early evening.

Want to change a day? The guide adapts the pace and stops to your group.Ask the guide →

What’s included

Included
  • Transport along the entire route
  • Professional guide services
  • All eco-fees and entrance tickets to national parks and specially protected natural areas
  • Jeep transfer across Assy Plateau
  • Accommodation in a guesthouse in Saty village (1 night)
Paid separately
  • Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners)
  • Entertainment and additional activities outside the main program
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips
Good to know

Free cancellation 24 hours before the tour starts — full refund. After that — according to the operator's rules.

Reviews

Questions & answers

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Practical info

Good to know

Meeting place
You choose the meeting point: an address, hotel, or airport in Almaty, arranged at booking
Suitable for
Families with children from 6 years · Active adults · Senior guests without serious health limitations
Not suitable for
Pregnant women · Children under 6

What to bring

  • Identity card or passport
  • Trekking shoes with good tread
  • Sunscreen (SPF 30+), sunglasses, and a hat
  • Warm jacket or fleece — it gets chilly in the mountains even in summer
  • Light raincoat or membrane jacket in case of mountain precipitation
  • Water bottle (refill in villages and hotels) and a light snack for the road

Safety notes

Please follow the guide's instructions, check the weather forecast before departure, and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

Tour season: May 1 – October 30 (Season: May 1 – October 30 (mountain roads closed in winter))
Not sure? Ask a local expertDates, a different hotel, a child seat, another day order — we’ll reply within 2 hours.
from $645/ person