Kolsai Kaindy Lakes met Charyn Canyons 2-daagse tour

This tour experience was fantastic from start to finish! I did have to write to the company directly & request to be able to book solo, but once on the tour there were several other solo travelers so I think that may have been a Viator control, not the operator. Communication was clear & thorough from before the tour even began, both from the company prior to my trip, and from our tour guide the day before. Axsultan, or Ax, was one of the best tour guides I've ever had, especially on a tour like this which was only 2 days, with a fairly large group of ~32 people. I lucked out with a great group of travelers, for sure, but Ax also had a lot to do with keeping the energy of the whole group positive and exciting. Ax speaks excellent English, and he made sure to give clear directions & info about the country, places we saw, and details about pickup times, meeting times, options for what to do at the various sites, etc, which was very much appreciated! He also gave some good recs for Almaty after the tour. I cannot complain about anything from this 2 day tour with Ax, and I'd add that if you're debating between the long 1 day trips covering the same sites vs this option, go for overnight if you have the time. It's well worth it!

Amazing experience i would definitely recommend it Atmosphere was great Perfect amount of people Best for everyone solo, couples or friends and family The only thing i would say is that because i was at the back of the coach i sometimes couldnt hear the fun facts and talks the tour guide was saying on the microphone. The only thing i would say is that we had the same food on the 2nd day which we had on the 1st and i was hoping for something different. Everything was very fun i would do it again.

We participated last Sept. 3-4 and I especially recommend everyone to join this tour because you will not regret it. IT'S WORTH IT. One day is not enough. For people who have motion sickness like me, YOU WILL SURVIVE. If your trigger is the traffic fume smell, it's minimal. I don't even notice it most of the time. My initial worry was the long ride ( almost 700km) but the drive was smooth and not rushed. Generally from what I experienced in Kazakhstan, the drivers don't step on the pedal just because the road is empty and no other cars in sight. They're chill so my stomach didn't complain and oh my God!!! The scenery... you would want to look out the window and absorb the majestic views. But please don't take my word to heart. If you know you have a severe case, take your medication as needed. I took my meds at the start but I don't think I needed it at all during the trip. Because YOU WILL GET TIRED from walking/hiking and naturally doze off during the ride. My favorite part was the Yurt stay. I wish we could've stayed there longer. I loved the slow-paced life, just doing mundane things like waking up in the middle of nowhere, breathing the fresh air, random walks near the river. I feel like people are always in a hurry nowadays and this is just the reset you badly need after working hard in the city. I miss that place already. And guys, they have cats!!!  and puppies!!! and horses!!! and... cows!?!. Just in case there are cow people reading this.  😂 I also commend our tourguide, Axultan. It's hard to keep an eye on a large group (there were more than 20 of us). He was able to lead us, accomodate our needs, and make sure we're on schedule 😆😅. You can also participate in his special itineraries I was not aware we had like evening dip in the ice cold river and mini yoga session before breakfast. There was also karaoke and bonfire after dinner. I wish we did this tour at the start of our trip. For those who're still planning to go to Kazakhstan, do this tour at the start of your trip. Ax recommended a lot of things and I can't even do them because I packed and flew the next day and now I'm back to reality (work!!!). And of course you will meet new friends, who you could've totally meet up after the tour. Overall, this is a 10 out of 10. Spectacular landscapes, stunning lakes, incredible canyons, great food, lovely people and best of all, learning the central asian culture. P.S. If you're introverted, don't be intimidated with the number of people. The group will naturally disperse during each stopover. You can group up with someone who you vibe with. Or you can take pictures by yourself and that's also totally okay. Just make sure to be back on time at the bus.

This was an amazing tour. The scenery was absolutely stunning and breathtaking. The star of the show was our guide Axultan. He was humorous, spoke perfect English and always ready to answer questions or help in any way. He kept us very well informed about the history and nature of each venue with practical tips and how to best experience each location. He clearly has a passion for nature and this shines through.

I had a great time on this tour! Everything was well organized, the bus was comfortable, and our driver made us feel safe throughout the trip. Our tour guide, Elnara, was lovely, friendly and helpful, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Charyn Canyon was definitely my favorite part of the tour, but I also really enjoyed the beautiful nature and scenery around the lakes. Staying in the yurt was such a nice experience as well. It was super cozy, the beds were very comfortable, and I honestly slept like a baby! I also met a lot of lovely people along the way, which made the trip even more special. Overall, it was a really fun and memorable experience and I would definitely recommend it!

The tour was very well organised, great value for money and extremely interesting. I went on a short horse ride up in the mountains, saw amazing views from the rim of the canyon and stayed in a yurt. Our guide, Ax, was professional, entertaining and knowledgeable. These types of tours depend on having a great guide and with Ax we couldn't have been happier.

We had such a wonderful time on the tour, the places we visited looks all so magical and relaxing. Our tour guide Ax was amazing—very entertaining, friendly, and engaging throughout the entire experience. He really made an effort to involve everyone in the activities, which made the tour even more fun and enjoyable. You could tell that he genuinely wanted everyone to have a great time. I really enjoyed the tour and would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a fun and memorable experience.

We did the 2-day Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake and Charyn Canyon with overnight stay in a traditional Yurta. The tour is not easy with lots of hiking and time on the bus, but oh so rewarding. We were grateful to be surrounded by such beautiful nature and the hospitality provided by everyone was fabulous. We really appreciated how efficient the tour was run. A special thank you to our guide Ax who truly and enthusiasticly went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience during our time with him. He organized special hikes, side trips to see “hidden gem” spots, arranged coffee for us caffeine addicts. Ax was a god send when my son developed tummy problems and gave us all the required meds. Ax also put in extra effort to entertain all of us with many team-building activities to bring the group of about 35 together. Thank you, Ax !!

Our tour guide, Ax, was fantastic! He was very well informed, organized, and professional throughout the entire trip. He took us to Kolsai Lakes, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon, making sure we had a wonderful experience at every stop. His English is perfect, so we had no problems understanding him. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the tour enjoyable from beginning to end. I highly recommend Ax to anyone visiting these beautiful places!

I enjoyed the magnificent views of Sharin Valley and the Central Asian cuisine! The guide not only explained the overview of Kazakhstan and the itinerary in detail, but also made arrangements to help participants get to know each other by setting up introductions time and running games at the campfire. I didn't have confidence in my English skills, but I was able to become friends with people from various countries and exchange Instagrams. I was worried about the weather, but miraculously, it recovered at Lake Kaindi, and I was able to enjoy the beautiful emerald green surface of the lake.