Kolsai, Kaindy lakes & Charyn canyon with Yurt stay and Campfire
Overview
Available languages
2 days
Mobile ticket
Welcome to Kazakhstan! Over 2 unforgettable days, explore five of the most spectacular natural wonders of the Tian-Shan mountains in one small group adventure.
Day 1: Black Canyon → Moon Canyon → Kolsai Lake. Evening campfire under a sky full of stars in Saty village.
Day 2: Soviet UAZ-452 ride to Kaindy Lake with its famous submerged forest → Charyn Canyon — the Grand Canyon of Central Asia.
Optional boat ride and horseback riding available on-site.
Accommodation in Saty village — choose your comfort:
Standard room (shared bathroom) — included in base price
En-suite room (private bathroom) — available for extra charge
⛺ Yurt experience (shared with group, sleeping on traditional floor mats) — available for extra charge
All meals included: 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast. English-speaking guide.
Hotel pickup from 7 AM. Maximum 18 people.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not allowed for travelers who can not withstand long trips by car, long walks and hikes
Not allowed for travelers with disabilities, injuries, diseases that limit physical abilities
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
What To Expect
Moon Canyon, Black Canyon and Kolsay lake
Accommodations
Accommodation in Saty village: Standard room (shared bathroom), Private room(private bathroom), Yurt experience (shared)
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Hearty lunch of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
DINNER
Dinner
Hearty dinner of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Charyn Canyon National Park
Black Canyon, viewing spot, photographing 13:30 Shortstop at Black Canyon, viewing spot 13:50 Departure from Black Canyon
Charyn Canyon
Moon Canyon, viewing spot, photographing
Kolsai Lake
Walking, visiting several spots, boating
Kaindy lake and Yellow Canyon
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
vegetarian option is available
LUNCH
Lunch
Hearty lunch of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Lake Kaindy
Walking, visiting several spots, photographing 08:00 Breakfast in the guesthouse 08:30 Head to Kaindy lake 11:30 Drive back to the Saty village
Charyn Canyon National Park
Yellow Canyon, viewing spot, photographing 12:00 Head to Yellow Canyon 13:30 Walk around Yellow canyon 15:00 Lunch on the way back to Almaty 18:00 Drop off in Almaty
Options
Guest house shared batroom
Guest house (shared bathroom): We offer you rooms in guest house for 2 people (couple, friends or solo travelers) Pickup included
All Inclusive Private tour
Traditional House (Yurt) All Inclusive Private tour Meals are included: First day: Lunch and Dinner Second day: Breakfast and Lunch Horseback riding included Pickup included
Overnight in Yurt
Overnight in Traditonal House : We offer overnight in shared Yurt stay and not attached bathroom but authentic traditional house Pickup included
Private room with bathroom
Private bathroom attached room: Room for 2-3 people with attached bathroom Pickup included
What‘s Included
National parks entrance fees
English speaking guide
Overnight in the Saty Village
Dinner
Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast
Transfer to Kaindy Lake on the legendary Soviet van UAZ-452
Boating (13$) and horseback-riding (13$)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
64 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing experience, thanks Kazakhstan Very Nice!
johnreye486,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very fun tour guide. I like that Didi played us an instrument and that she’s very knowledgeable about the history of each destination. I would love to go back with her as our tour guide.
Long & fulfilling tour
jarrheyd,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Booked the first tour I ever did in my Central Asia trip with Kazakhstan Very Nice and I felt very grateful we had Didi to welcome us in KAZ, which I felt like made the trip more memorable. We intentionally picked a very packed full day, from Kolsay and Kaindy lakes to the Charyn Canyon Nation Park. It was a very long day but I liked how planned out everything was, and the lunch was great. To top it all with -- Didi made it fun & fulfilling for me and all my friends throughout the entire day.
A Stressful Experience Filled with Cancellations and Ignored Messages
jocatud,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00If you want a peace of mind and not spending your holidays chasing after a response for a service you paid for, then avoid this agancy (Kazakhstan very nice). They also promised to refund me fully but of course stopped responding when I am trying to follow up, another lie from this agency. Here’s the full story: 1- the original two-day trip I booked was scheduled for the 26th, but it was later changed to the 27th. While I was flexible and agreed to the change, this caused additional inconvenience and expenses, including extending my hotel stay and paying for extra nights. 2- Since the 26th became an empty day due to the schedule change, I tried to book the Ethno Village visit. After initially confirming the booking, the agency canceled it last minute on the night before the trip. 3- When I requested to speak with a manager regarding the repeated disruptions, compensation, and possible solutions, the agency stopped responding entirely for several days. 4- Even for the two-day trip itself, the final details were only confirmed around five hours before departure. Due to the repeated last-minute changes and cancellations, I no longer felt comfortable or confident dealing with the agency. 5- Instead of enjoying my time in Kazakhstan as a tourist, I spent a significant amount of time chasing the agency for updates, responses, and management contact details. 6- I attempted to call multiple times without success. However, when my Kazakh guide called them from his phone , they immediately returned the call. This made it appear that my messages and calls were being intentionally ignored, which I found highly unprofessional. 7- After finally speaking with Kassim (the manager) additional time was spent going back and forth discussing solutions, despite the issue requiring immediate handling. The only compensation initially offered was a free airport drop-off, which I did not consider acceptable given the multiple disruptions and inconvenience caused. 8- Kassim later mentioned that I would receive a refund, this agreement was never honoured, yet another lie, and I am still waiting for my refund . 8- I was also offered another free group tour, but due to the repeated issues, lack of communication, and overall experience, I no longer felt comfortable joining another group trip organized by the agency.
Amazing tour in nature
5nansy,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really had an amazing 2 day tour with Assem as our guide. She was very kind, helpful and knowledgeable. I totally recommend this tour! We saw the Charyn canyon and hiked a total of 1h30-2h. We also saw the black canyon from the top at the view point. We then had lunch in Saty and went to Kolsai Lakes where we had over 2h to walk and do activities around the lake. The next morning we went to Kaindy Lake and it was probably my favorite part as it looks spectacular to see the sunken forest with the sun shinning over it. We were among the first tours to arrive there so we had the lake to ourselves which was also very nice. Lunch and dinner was included in our stay in Saty village for the 1st day and breakfast and lunch was also included on our 2nd day. We stayed overnight in the guest rooms which was nice. We didn’t do the yurt stay as you’d need to share the yurt with 3-4 more people and it is also separated for male/female. The communication with the company was great. They contact you on WhatsApp the day before your tour to arrange pickup and food preferences. We really had an amazing 2 days exploring the Kazakhstan nature and culture.
THE BEST EXPERIENCE!
Çağatay Ö,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are so lucky to be able to discover Kazakhstan with this company. Everything was perfectly planned and we had the most authentic tour we can ever have. Thank you “Kazakhstan Very Nice” for this adventure and being with us all the time. Special thanks to our amazing tour guide Didi who made everything possible for us. She made everything easy and comfortable. Also it was so joyful to travel with you and your jokes😁 We travelled, we discovered but also we had a lot of fun thanks to Didi! Hope to see you guys again as soon as possible! I recommend everyone to discover Kazakhstan with “Kazakhstan Very Nice”! Until next time; Thanks for everything!❤️
Amazing Experience with Kazakhstan Very Nice
Wei W,May 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00From the start, everything was well organized and smooth. We didn’t have to worry about anything — just enjoy the journey. Our tour guide Zhandos was kind, professional, and very knowledgeable. Seeing Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon in person was breathtaking. Thank you to the whole team for such a wonderful experience. We highly recommend Kazakhstan Very Nice to anyone visiting Kazakhstan. We would definitely book again and recommended Zhandos tour guide!!
Very enjoyable 2 day tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes
Sunderland2,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed our 2 day tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes. The sights were stunning. The tour was well organised with an overnight at a cosy guesthouse with good food. Our friendly guide Didi kept us well informed and even played the dombra for us in the evening. We would definitely recommend this tour as it gave us more time at all of the sights.
Great experience overall
190joakims,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Overall just a great experience. Plenty of activities and sightseeing without feeling too hectic. The car was comfortable and modern. Our guide, Didi, also did an excellent job of catering the tour to each individuals preferences.
Thumbs up! 👍🏻
Damiën S,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I loved the tour we had and the guide Didi has done an amazing job, she really took care of us and made sure we learn everything there is to know about the wonderful places she showed us! 100% would recommend!
Long but wonderful day
515erwinm,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very long day trip because of the distance but very much worth the spectacular sights Didi was an experienced and knowledgeable guide who offered all flexibility to our diverse group. Thank you Didi and the whole group for a great day
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