Recently Viewed
Almaty Highlights: Kolsai Lake & Charyn Canyon
4.9
26 Ratings
Saty
This special tour will cover the four most frequently visited places: Kolsai Lake, Charyn Canyon, Monn, and Black. If you haven’t visited these places, you are not qualified to say that you have traveled to Almaty as a tourist.
This special tour will cover the four most frequently visited places: Kolsai Lake, Charyn Canyon, Monn, and Black. If you haven’t visited these places, you are not qualified to say that you have traveled to Almaty as a tourist.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Kolsai Lake - The journey begins in Almaty City, where the operator will pick up guests from their accommodation and head to Kolsai Lake. Visitors will enjoy the stunning scenery of Kolsai Lake with a tour guide for nearly two hours. Optional boat or catamaran rides around the lake are available (not included).
- Uzunbulak Canyon - This segment…
- Kolsai Lake - The journey begins in Almaty City, where the operator will pick up guests from their accommodation and head to Kolsai Lake. Visitors will enjoy the stunning scenery of Kolsai Lake with a tour guide for nearly two hours. Optional boat or catamaran rides around the lake are available (not included).
- Uzunbulak Canyon - This segment of the tour offers breathtaking views of the Moon and Black Canyon for about an hour, allowing guests to witness the Canyon River flowing through the deep, black-rocked valley.
- Charyn Canyon - Following the visit to the Black and Moon Canyon, the tour proceeds to Charyn Canyon, also known as the Valley of Castles. Guests will marvel at the unique rock formations and enjoy the canyon views for approximately two hours. The tour includes several photo opportunities and an echo taxi ride along the canyon for nearly 2 km to reach the Charyn River, which is the highlight of the tour.
- Lake Kaindy - Situated at an altitude of 2000m, Lake Kaindy is geologically young. This 400m long lake was formed in 1911 when an earthquake caused a massive limestone landslide, creating a natural dam in the gorge covered by spruce trees. Visitors have seen forests and lakes, but witnessing one within the other creates an eerie atmosphere. This is the essence of Kaindy Lake in Saty, Kazakhstan, where a century-old landslide formed a lake atop a spruce forest, resulting in a surreal landscape.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- National Park fees
- Bottled water
- Parking fees
- Professional guide/driver
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- National Park fees
- Bottled water
- Parking fees
- Professional guide/driver
What's Not Included
- Boating and horseback-riding (from 6000 KZT/person depending on route/duration)
- Lunch
- Boating and horseback-riding (from 6000 KZT/person depending on route/duration)
- Lunch
Additional Information
- Remaining time is allocated for transportation.
- Remaining time is allocated for transportation.
Location
Kolsai Lake
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(26 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
397janinag
Nov 6, 2025
one of the best tour guides ive met - Mr. Erasyl is an excellent guide. he speaks fluent english and is very intelligent. it was a 6 hour roundtrip car ride and we had great conversations about a lot of things. he is very caring and always attended to our needs despite him being just a day after having his tooth extraction! so professional. doing a private tour is worth the money bec you can go at your own pace and make stops whenever necessary (for snacks and restroom breaks). The canyon is stunning. bring sunblock and some snacks bec it entails a lot of walking and climbing stairs. it was worth all the effort! the lakes are pretty to but i prefer the big almaty lake more. for me the best part is the canyons.. we even saw a wild fox. we enjoyed this trip as well as the conversations along the way. highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathreen_s
Nov 6, 2025
Amazing Almaty - We were very fortunate to have Erasyl as our private guide in Almaty. From early morning pickup to our return to the hotel, he took excellent care of us with his professional approach and advanced English. Erasyl impressed us with his deep knowledge of Kazakhstan's history, science, business, culture, and even politics. He shared fascinating information throughout our journey while always being respectful and mindful of cultural boundaries during our conversations.
Erasyl went above and beyond during our visits to Lake Kaindy and Lake Kolsay. When I struggled with walking in these areas, he provided helpful assistance that made me feel comfortable and supported. His hard work, helpful nature, and genuine care made our experience truly special. Erasyl is a wonderful ambassador for his beautiful country Kazakhstan, and we hope he continues to share his knowledge and passion with more visitors in the future.
Review provided by Viator
Kanil_r
Oct 11, 2025
A day well spent -
Fantastic experience
Good guide
Good weather
Good food
A memorable day
Family bonding and ...... ...
Review provided by Viator
Gavinmx1091mz
Sep 25, 2025
A++ Awesome Experience - My girlfriend and I had a fantastic time. We highly recommend the private tour. It is a long day, however our guide was amazing. He was friendly, polite and extremely knowledgeable.
All 3 sites are beautiful, and the private tour was perfect for taking the stress out of the day.
If your in Almaty this is the best tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbied_l
Aug 26, 2025
Loved it for a flexible, customized experience - Tour review
This is a great option if you’re looking for a flexible and personalized tour/itinerary. My flight was delayed coming into Almaty and they were able to accommodate that by adjusting the start time of the tour. (I would never have made it if I’d done a group tour!) I most wanted to see Kaindy Lake and we were able to do that first, followed by a lunch break and Charyn Canyon. It was a bit of a long day but Erasyl made it fun with lots of facts about the destinations as well as Kazakh life and culture as we rode. I learned so much! Bonus - Erasyl was a great personal photographer. Overall, given my short time in Almaty, it was great to have this flexible option and have everything completely customized to your priorities. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Ryan_d
Aug 20, 2025
Driver was great. Spoke... - Driver was great. Spoke English very well. Tour was a long day but was well-organized and a great way to see different bits of landscape. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sehejs2019
Aug 16, 2025
Amazing Tour - The tour was amazing. Thanks to our guide.
Everything shown with utmost patience and kindness.
Loved this experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explore47401077171
Aug 11, 2025
Exceptional tour - Choosing this private tour was the best decision. Erasyl took me to three amazing destinations, and the transportation was incredibly comfortable, even in challenging locations. What I appreciated most was his flexibility; he was always willing to adjust the plan based on my needs.
Our day was filled with great conversations about Kazakhstan's culture, business, and daily life, making the journey feel personal and engaging. He organized a fantastic horseback ride at Kolsay Lake and even turned out to be an excellent photographer, capturing some truly great memories.
His professionalism and kindness shone through when I realized I had left my sunglasses in his car. He went above and beyond by finding them and dropping them off at my hotel's front desk. Erasyl is more than a guide—he's a true host and I can't recommend him enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alec_s
May 28, 2025
Great tour! Seamless and... - Great tour! Seamless and easy way to see sights outside of Almaty. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Kara_h
May 4, 2025
A long but excellent... - A long but excellent day/tour to see many interesting sights in the area. Was able to choose the pace and was given options for taxis if needed (vs only walking/hiking) at each stop. Also we stopped for lunch at a delicious local place that I was glad to have tried. Good tour for solo travels or those traveling in pairs or groups.
Review provided by Viator
