Charyn, Kolsai & Kaindy 2-Day Tour with a Night in Saty Village

An early start from Almaty, around 07:00, and a drive to Charyn Canyon. Descend into the canyon and walk through the “Valley of Castles”, a 2–3 km stretch of the 154-kilometer canyon, where the midday sun turns the red sandstone to copper. The trail follows the river between jagged towers. In the late morning, a visit to Moon Canyon, Charyn’s neighboring valley with gray and bluish rock formations and softly eroded slopes. Around lunchtime, a visit to Black Canyon with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark palette in contrast to the red tones of Charyn. In the afternoon, transfer to Saty village, a mountain aul in Kolsai Lakes National Park, the starting base for Kolsai and Kaindy. In the late afternoon, take a walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise expanse surrounded by centuries-old Tien Shan spruces. The lake is quiet, and trout swim in its clear water near the shore. Overnight in a guesthouse in Saty village, where the hosts cook home-style meals. This is a long first day.

After breakfast in the guesthouse, drive to Kaindy Lake, formed after the 1911 earthquake. Spruce trunks rise from the water like the masts of a sunken fleet; the turquoise surface between them is one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable images. After time at the lake, drive back to Almaty, about 300 km and five to six hours, arriving in the evening.