6-Day Classic Kazakhstan: Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes

Tour Overview

Data source: asiaodysseytravel.com/central-asia-tours/ — Classic Kazakhstan Route

Day 1: Arrive Almaty — Apple City

• Almaty Airport (ALA) Pickup — Welcome to Kazakhstan’s cultural capital. Almaty means “Father of Apples” — wild apple forests still grow in the surrounding mountains
• Panfilov Park & Zenkov Cathedral — The Ascension Cathedral (1907), one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, built entirely without nails. Its candy-colored exterior survived the 1911 earthquake that leveled nearly everything else
• Green Bazaar (Zelyony Bazaar) — Almaty’s vibrant central market: mountains of dried fruits, nuts, fresh horsemeat, Kazakh dairy products (kurt — salty dried cheese balls, shubat — fermented camel milk), and Korean-Kazakh salads (a legacy of Stalin-era deportations)
• Kok-Tobe Hill — Cable car ride to 1,100m. Panoramic city views with the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains as backdrop. See the 372m TV tower and the Beatles monument

Overnight in Almaty.

Day 2: Shymbulak & Big Almaty Lake

• Medeu Skating Rink — World’s highest Olympic-sized ice rink (1,691m), set in a stunning mountain valley. 12,500 seats, the dam protecting Almaty from mudslides towers above
• Shymbulak Ski Resort — Gondola to 2,260m, then chairlift to 3,200m Talgar Pass. In summer, hike through alpine meadows ablaze with wildflowers — edelweiss, rhododendrons, and the rare Tian Shan tulip (Kazakhstan’s floral emblem). Panoramic views of the Trans-Ili Alatau range and the 4,979m Talgar Peak
• Big Almaty Lake (BAO) — 2,511m altitude, a stunning turquoise alpine reservoir fed by glacial meltwater. The color shifts from emerald to sapphire depending on the light. Snow peaks reflect perfectly in calm water. Border zone — bring your passport

Overnight in Almaty.

Day 3: Charyn Canyon — Kazakhstan’s Grand Canyon

• Drive 200km east to Charyn Canyon (3 hours)
• Charyn Canyon “Valley of Castles” — Walk 2km through the canyon floor between 150-300m red sandstone cliffs sculpted by wind and water over 12 million years. The “Valley of Castles” section has formations resembling towers, fortresses, and mythical beasts. At the canyon’s end, the turquoise Charyn River offers a refreshing swim. This rivals Arizona’s Antelope Canyon — with about 1% of the visitors
• Eco-Park Lunch — Riverside picnic with views of the canyon. Try Kazakh baursak (fried dough puffs) with honey
• Continue to Saty Village (2 hours) — a traditional Kazakh village at the gateway to the Kolsai Lakes
• Homestay dinner: Beshbarmak (Kazakhstan’s national dish — boiled horse meat or lamb with wide noodles and onion broth, eaten with hands)

Overnight in Saty village guesthouse.

Day 4: Kaindy Lake — The Sunken Forest

• Kaindy Lake — One of Kazakhstan’s most surreal sights. Created in 1911 when an earthquake triggered a massive landslide that dammed a valley. The spruce forest was submerged, but the cold water preserved the tree trunks. Now, bleached-white spruce trunks rise 15m from the brilliant turquoise water like ghostly sentinels. The lake changes color with the seasons — emerald in spring, azure in summer. Kayak between the submerged trees (the underwater trunks, still with needles, are hauntingly visible through 10m visibility water)
• Kolsai Lake 1 (Lower Kolsai) — Often called the “Pearl of the Northern Tian Shan.” A 1km-long mountain lake at 1,818m, surrounded by spruce forest. Gentle 3km walk around the lake. Mirror-smooth water reflects the mountains, 2,000m granite peaks framing the scene. Swimming possible in summer (water ~10°C)
• Evening: Russian banya (sauna) at the guesthouse, birch branch venik massage, plunge into cold water — a revitalizing Kazakh tradition

Overnight in Saty village guesthouse.

Day 5: Kolsai Lake 2 & Return to Almaty

• Kolsai Lake 2 (Middle Kolsai) — 3-hour round trip hike (or horse ride, US$15) to the second lake at 2,252m. Wilder, more remote, surrounded by pristine spruce forest. The trail follows a rushing mountain stream with small waterfalls. Far fewer visitors reach this lake — you may have it to yourself. The third lake (2,850m) requires a full day hike for experienced trekkers
• Return to Almaty (4 hours)
• Farewell Dinner — Traditional Kazakh restaurant: kazy (horse meat sausage), kumis (fermented mare’s milk — slightly alcoholic, surprisingly refreshing), plov (Central Asian rice pilaf with lamb and carrots), and baursak for dessert

Overnight in Almaty.

Day 6: Departure

• Central State Museum — Kazakhstan’s largest museum. The “Golden Man” replica (4th century BC Saka warrior discovered in 1969, buried in 4,000 gold ornaments), yurts, ancient petroglyphs, and an excellent overview of Kazakh history from nomads to space launch site (Baikonur Cosmodrome)
• Transfer to Almaty Airport (ALA) for departure

Kazakhstan surprises everyone. The scale of the mountains, the color of the lakes, the warmth of the people — this is Central Asia at its most accessible and spectacular.

What’s Included

• 5 nights (3★/4★ Almaty + village guesthouse with banya), private 4WD transport, English-speaking guide, all meals in Saty (3 dinners, 2 breakfasts), entrance fees, Shymbulak gondola