Charyn, Moon & Black Canyons · walk by Kolsai Lake 1 · return to Almaty
An early start from Almaty (around 06:00–07:00) and a long drive east to Charyn Canyon, which stretches for 154 km. Descend into its best-known section, the Valley of Castles, a 2–3 km walk where the sun turns the red sandstone cliffs to copper by midday and the path follows the river between jagged rock towers. Late in the morning, see Moon Canyon, a neighboring valley of gray and bluish rock whose bare slopes look like the surface of another planet. Around lunchtime, visit Black Canyon, with its dark volcanic walls and narrow passages, a sharp contrast to red Charyn. In the afternoon, take a walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise surface ringed by centuries-old Tien Shan spruces and silent except for the water and the birds. Return to Almaty late in the evening; the whole day takes about 14 hours, much of it on the road.