A four-day tour of Almaty Region: Charyn, Kolsai and the Huns Ethno-Village. Included: transport and guide, ecological fees, cable cars, museum tickets.
Kazakhstan’s natural classics, Charyn Canyon and high-mountain lakes, with city and nomad-culture days in between. The main stops are: the Huns Ethno-Village, a recreation of Kazakh nomad life outside Almaty, Medeu ice rink at 1691 meters, one of the highest in the world, and Shymbulak ski resort with a three-stage cable car rising to 3200 meters, then a day of museums, the Green Bazaar and Kok-Tobe in the city, and finally Charyn Canyon, whose red sandstone stretches for 154 km and whose best-known section, the “Valley of Castles”, is a 2–3 km walk among jagged towers, with Moon and Black Canyons and the first Kolsai Lake at 1818 meters, a turquoise mirror ringed by centuries-old spruces. An experienced guide, comfortable transport, tickets and ecological fees are included. The program suits a first visit and a return trip alike. The city and Medeu days run year-round, while the Charyn–Kolsai day is best from May to October, when the lakes are free of ice and the trails are clear of snow.
An immersion into nomadic culture at the Huns Ethno-Village, a reconstruction of Kazakh life 70 km from the city. Step into the yurts, taste beshbarmak cooked over an open fire, watch horseback performances and learn about the instruments of the nomads. A golden-eagle handler gives a falconry demonstration. Return to Almaty by evening.
Start at Medeu ice rink, at 1691 meters one of the highest in the world. In winter the ice is smooth, in summer it is a cool mountain amphitheater with a walk along the dam and views of the gorge. In the first half of the day, take the cable car up to Shymbulak mountain resort (2260 m), a three-stage line that climbs to 3200 meters in 25 minutes and opens a full panorama of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Skiing and snowboarding fill the winter, walks and cafes with a view fill the summer. Return to Almaty by evening.
An excursion to the Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments with a collection of 1200 dombra, kobyz and zhetygen instruments. The guide plays a kui, Kazakh instrumental music that is best heard live. Next, stop at the Eternal Flame in Panfilov Park, a memorial of granite and fire for the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. Near lunchtime, visit the Green Bazaar, operating since 1875, a true Eastern market with piles of dried apricots and raisins, rows of kazy and shuzhuk (horse sausage), barrels of honey from the jailyau, and friendly traders who let you taste everything before buying. After lunch, make a short stop at the Rahat chocolate shop, the oldest Kazakh brand, with gift boxes in 1970s-style design, a good place to pick up gifts. In the afternoon, visit TSUM, the Soviet department store on Zhibek Zholy, where you can still find souvenirs, felt and local clothing at a good price. By evening, take the cable car up to Kok-Tobe (1070 m), the city’s signature viewpoint. All of Almaty lies below you with the Alatau behind; at sunset the peaks turn pink and the lights of the city begin to glow in the valley. Return to Almaty by evening.
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, where the midday sun turns the rock copper. The trail runs between tall rock towers along the river. Then explore Moon Canyon, a valley near Charyn with gray and bluish rock formations. Near lunchtime, visit Black Canyon with volcanic walls and narrow passages, a dark counterpoint after Charyn’s red cliffs. After lunch, walk around the first Kolsai Lake (1818 m), a turquoise surface ringed by centuries-old Tien Shan spruces, with only birdsong and trout splashing near the shore. Return to Almaty late in the evening: it is a long day of about 13–14 hours, much of it on the road.
Free cancellation 24 hours before the start of the tour — full refund. After that — according to the operator’s rules.
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Please follow the guide's instructions, check the weather forecast before departure, and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.
