Canyons and Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes · return to Almaty
An early start from Almaty, around 06:00–07:00. In the morning, descend into Charyn Canyon and walk through the “Valley of Castles”, the best-known section of a canyon that stretches for 154 km. At midday the sun turns the red sandstone copper, and the path follows the river between tall rock towers. Next comes Moon Canyon, a neighboring valley of gray and bluish rock, where the view of the hills stays with you long after the stop. Near noon, visit Black Canyon, with dark volcanic walls and narrow passages, a quiet contrast to the red of Charyn. After lunch, stroll around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), where Tien Shan spruces come right down to the turquoise water; the silence is broken only by birds and the splash of trout near the shore. In the afternoon, visit Kaindy Lake, formed after the 1911 earthquake. Spruce trunks rise from the water like the masts of a sunken fleet, and the turquoise water between them makes it one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable views. In the evening, drive back to Almaty, arriving late. It is a long day of about 15 hours, much of it on the road.