Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour

Overall, this was an excellent trip. They kept us right on time, the views were great, and it was nice meeting other people also on the trip. There were about 30 people altogether. The guide brought a drone and we were able to get some personalized drone clips for an extra fee. There was the opportunity to jump in the river in the morning before breakfast, I wish I had known to bring my swimsuit- but also we didn’t end up going because it rained. The yurts were cozy and comfortable, I got to sleep early and slept great. Moon Canyon and Black Canyon were both quick stops- with Moon there was the option for a half mile walk along the top of the canyon, and Black Canyon was just an overlook. Kolsai Lake was really nice, you can walk down to the water and get in a pedal boat if you have time. Kaindy Lake is beautiful but also overcrowded with tourists, we get there in the morning but then as the people arrive it gets steadily more crowded. Charyn Canyon was a beautiful hike, if you’re into hiking, it’s very hot so bring water and sun covering. It reminded me of Utah and Arizona. The one thing that I wasn’t a fan of, and reason for one star off, was the price for the horseback riding at Kaindy Lake. Before the trip, we received an email saying “ PLEASE NOTE: for tourists of our travel company, horseback riding (optional activity) to Kaindy Lake has a fixed price of 6,000 KZT/horse for the round trip. Please keep this in mind to avoid scams or price-gouging attempts.” However, once we got there, suddenly it was 6,000 for one way, and 8,000 for a round trip on the horse. TBH, the walk back looked great, but I felt that it was a bait and switch, not telling us the price was actually 8,000. When we asked the guide, he said the price had changed a year ago, and the information was old. That didn’t sound right, but what can you do when you’ve already paid. More than the money though, it’s the principal.

This tour was great! We covered a lot of the area and saw many great sites along the way. The guides and driver were excellent and very knowledgeable about what we were seeing. Food provided was excellent and plentiful. Can not recommend this tour enough!

This was a fantastic tour. The first day is moon canyon, black canyon, and Kolsay lake. The next day is charyn canyon and Kaindy lake. Our guide and driver (Julie and Alex) were friendly and provided us with lots of useful information and details about Kazakhstan. All the meals provided were delicious and plentiful. The yurt accommodation was a highlight. It’s a family run business and they have showers and toilets. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in the diverse landscapes of Kazakhstan outside of Almaty.

Great experience, enhanced with amazing tour guide Axultan, 100% recommend.

The Kolsai Kaindy Lakes & Charyn Canyon overnight tour is a must-do while you’re in Almaty! The stops are well-spaced with rest stops every 60-90 minutes for the long portions of the drive. Day 1 we had short stops at Moon Canyon and Black Canyon, then lunch, then a couple of hours at Kolsai lake. Day 2 we had the morning at Kaindy Lake and afternoon at Charyn Canyon which was the highlight for me. At each stop there were options for every fitness level so you could ride/walk/hike as far as you liked. Zhuldyz (tour guide) and Alex (driver) were absolutely terrific. There’s a lot of driving in these two days, and Alex handled the roads very well and safely. Zhuldyz (who also went by Julie or Jule) was informative, funny, and made sure everyone had a good experience. She was very clear about the activities and what we could expect, which helped everyone get the most out of each stop. She shared lots of interesting information without overloading us with facts. And she always answered our questions with a smile.

great guide, a bargain for this price.

Beautiful nature and scenery; our guide Jon was incredibly helpful and showed us the best parts of each location, was fluent in English, and super fun. Stops were well selected and well timed.

I loved the tour to Kolsai and Kaindy Lake and Charyn Canyon. I went as a solo traveller and was able to make lots of friends. Our guide Jan was amazing, friendly and informative. And we had a very safe driver. Our yurt stay was amazing, very comfortable beds. Bonus points for there being cute kittens running around. Thank you!

The tour was amazing: fantastic landscapes, great Kazakh hospitality, yurt accommodation was perfect and the food so good and hearty. Serzhan is a precise guide and timing and organization were perfectly on point.

I really couldn’t recommend this tour enough! Our guide Ax was perfect- he clearly loves his job and was so considerate, informative and funny- keeping a good energy on the tour and making it really special. It hard to believe you can fit so many amazing experiences into just one trip, but this tour manages it. If you’re coming to Almaty, give yourself a couple of days to do this tour, you won’t regret it!