Charyn, Kolsai & Kaindy in 3 Days with a Lakes Trek

A morning walk through Alma-Arasan Gorge, where a mineral thermal spring, a mountain stream, and paths beside small cascades run under a canopy of conifers. Next, a stop at the Ayusai eco-park in the Small Almaty Gorge, with wooden boardwalks and alpine flowers along the trail toward Big Almaty Lake. Toward lunchtime, the falconry show at the Sunkar center: a berkut (golden eagle) takes off from the falconer's glove and returns on command, the ancient nomadic art of hunting brought to life. Return to Almaty by evening.

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 late afternoon, walk along the shore of the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), framed by Tien Shan spruces, a few kilometers above the village. In the evening, continue to Saty village in Kolsai Lakes National Park, about two hours more. Dinner and overnight in a family guesthouse.

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. The walk from the parking area down to the shore takes 20–30 minutes each way. After lunch, drive back to Almaty, about five hours, arriving in the early evening.