Itinerary

1. Day 1: Charyn Canyon

   • Early morning departure to Charyn Canyon. The road to the canyon takes 4 hours. While driving, the guide-driver will tell the story of the creation of the Charyn Canyon, there will be some short stops for photographing of the opening landscapes of the Tian-Shan mountains. 
   • Just upon arrival to the Charyn Canyon, we can also make a stopover at a small bazaar and buy some freshly baked lepeska (bread) and some fruits. Although we still have our lunchboxes with us.
   • Our first stop is the Valley of Castles to which we will actually descend and then walk approximately 2km enjoying the views of these “Medieval castles”. But to know for sure that these fantastical walls accept you we will pass through stone gates.
   • Then, continuing our route and taking photos at the Charyn river, it is here while listening to the birds singing you get an idea of eternity. During this tour, our guide will tell you many legends associated with the canyon.
   • We will arrive to the Valley of Castles but from the right bank of the Charyn river. And right here, we will hike for a final batch of photos of amazing red towers, nature made 100m walls. While standing on top of the rock stone and below you is a landscape of the Valley of Castles, you will feel that you might be the only person on this planet.

   Charyn Canyon, among locals, is known as a little brother of the Grand Canyon because they look very similar, but Charyn is smaller, 154 km long and 300 m deep. But not less beautiful!
   During this tour we will visit the most famous part of the Charyn – the Valley of Castles. People gave this name because huge rocks of the Canyon with different shapes and forms look like arising fantastical towers. The Valley Castles stretches up to 2 km.
   Departure to Saty village  (~212 km)

   Lunch with lunch boxes, dinner at the guest house

   (L, D)

2. Day 2: Kolsay Lake

   • Breakfast at the guest house and transfer to Kolsay lake
   • Drive from Satty to the First Kolsay lake (15km – 20 mins). National park arrangements. Kolsay is a name for a cascade of three lakes in Kungey Alatau Ridge. The lakes are dark blue in color and filled with pure glacial water.
   • Lake Kolsay-1 is clamped in a narrow gorge. The firs here are higher than on other lakes, the water is much warmer. Here you can try mountain strawberries, and lovers of fishing will find their favorite pastime.
   • You can rent a horse on the first kolsay and go to the second kolsay or see the pishers and a small waterfall or you can also rent a boat and enjoy the scenery of the first lake. Payment for renting a horse or boat is about 10-20 dollars
   • The area is a part of Kolsay Koldery National Park located 330 kilometers to the east from Almaty.
   • Drive back to Satty

   Hiking from the First Kolsay lake (“Satty”) to the Second lake (“Mynzhylgy”) and back (8 km – 3h one way).

   Kolsay lakes are called the pearl of the northern Tien Shan. Three picturesque mountain lakes, located in the northern part of the Tien Shan are called the Kolsay. The two lower lakes are surrounded by firs, alpine meadows and mountain pastures. The upper lake is among the rocks.

   (B,L,D)

3. Day 3: Kaindy Lake

   • Breakfast at the guest house and transfer to Kaindy lake. 
   • If you drive along the gorge for 15 km, you will reach the lake Kaindy. This unique basin (length is 400m) lies about 1800m above sea level, in the zone of dense spruce forest. The lake was formed in 1911 after a huge earthquake that resulted in a big landslide from the eastern slope. 
   • The rockslide “place of origin” can still be seen today because it has not been overgrown yet. The uniqueness of the lake is that after the rise of a natural dam that blocked the gorge, water that filled a basin has formed a lake but has not destroyed the spruce that had been growing along the river. 
   • The upper parts of the trees sticking out of the water lost lateral branches and bark, and the wood became white. Such a pattern will delight even the experienced travelers. The lower part of the “drowned” pines retained branches that were overgrown with algae under the water, thus created fantastic underwater landscape. Thus, the lake Kaindy is known as one of the best places for divers in North Tien Shan.
   • Kaindy gorge, called after a small spring river that runs through in the depth, is located in the east of the village Satty (Kolsai National Park).
   • After contemplating the lake and wild nature around. Lunch during the excursion with lunchboxes.

   At 14.00 - Transfer to Almaty (280 km)                                                                

   (B, L)