Private Tour
Charyn canyon and Kolsai lake One day tour
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
If you want to see the diversity of the landscape in a desert canyon, hike along a beautiful mountain lake, or take boat and relax; enjoy local cuisine in a hospitable guest house,then this tour is for you!
Charyn Canyon is a 12-million-year-old natural monument, consisting of complex sedimentary rocks. Kolsay Lake is a natural mirror, reflecting the beauty of the Tien Shan mountains.
• 7:00 - Departure from the hotel to Charyn canyon.
• 9:30 – Lunch in Baiseit village’s cafe.
• 10:00 – Arriving Charyn canyon First, we will admire the panoramic view of the canyon from the observation deck. take amazing photos. And then we go down to the canyon and walk along a wide path to the river (3 km, 40 min). Rest at the riverside.
• 12:00 - Departure to Kolsay lake.
• 14:00 -16:00 Arriving Kolsay. Hiking, taking pictures,
• 15: 00 Departure to Almaty
• 19:00 Arrival at hotel
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Lunch
Parking Fees
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Hotel Kazakhstan
Dostyk Ave., 52/2, Almaty Kazakhstan
The Ritz-carlton, Almaty
Esentai Tower, 77/7 Al Farabi Avenue, 77/7 Al Farabi Avenue Almaty Kazakhstan
Almaty Hotel
85 Kabanbai Batyr Street Almaty Kazakhstan
Rixos Almaty
506 99 Saken Seifullin Avenue, Almaty Kazakhstan
Mercure Almaty City Center
Abylai Khan Avenue,53 Almaty Kazakhstan
Astana International Hotel
Baitursynov Str. 113 Almaty Kazakhstan
What To Expect
Charyn Canyon
During the tour you will: • see some of the most beautiful places in our region • have an opportunity to see life in a village, and visit an open air market with local organic food. • be escorted by our professional guide. They will tell you about all the sights, answer all your questions about the cultural and historical facts, and take photos or videos if you like. The guide will be responsible for your safety. Itinerary: • 7:00 - Departure from the hotel to Charyn canyon. • 9:30 – Lunch in Baiseit village’s cafe. • 10:00 – Arriving Charyn canyon First, we will admire the panoramic view of the canyon from the observation deck. take amazing photos. And then we go down to the canyon and walk along a wide path to the river (3 km, 40 min). Rest at the riverside. • 12:00 - Departure to Kolsay lake. • 14:00 -16:00 Arriving Kolsay. Hiking, taking pictures, • 15: 00 Departure to Almaty • 19:00 Arrival at hotel The price includes: Transport, lunch in a Kazakh village, a visit to beautiful Charyn canyon, hiking along beautiful Kolsay lake and a professional guide that will tell you all about the history and sites you are enjoying Additional Info ***If you are vegetarian or have food allergies, please let us know so we can make allowances for this.
Kolsai Lake
Kolsay Lake is a natural mirror, reflecting the beauty of the Tien Shan mountains.
Options
Charyn canyon and Kolsai lake One day tour
Pickup included
Reviews
43 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Day
sarabjiet2012,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was a great tour, a private tour just the two of us and the tour guide was good as well, went early before the crowd, enjoyed it
Great experience - many thanks
alexbD3780CS,
Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour and an amazing way to see the beauty of rural Kazakhstan just outside Almaty! Driver was good and safe and the tour guide was very informative.
Amazing experience
264aaliyaa,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour! Our guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable. Black Canyon and Kolsai Lake were breathtaking. The car was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Everything was smooth and the hospitality was outstanding. 10/10 recommend!
Highly recommended
Nomad46252379062,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Long tour with many beautiful impressions and experiences. You can’t explore the stations extensively, as with a multi-day tour, but there was always plenty of time. With the heat in August, you don't want to be out much longer. Our guide Jenis has organized this relaxed and perfectly, gave a lot of information and provided a good atmosphere. The lunch looked great and was also delicious. Thank you Jenis for the lovely day!
とてもすばらしい景色と美味しい食事Very nice view and delicious food
Trail63116249869,
Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00チャリン渓谷とコルサイ湖というアルマトイ郊外の見所が1日で回れるツアーでした。 かなり駆け足にはなりましたが観光ポイントでの時間は充分に取られていました。 日本では見られない景色を楽しむことができました。 また途中のカザフ料理の昼食も大変美味しかったです。 This tour took us to two of Almaty's most popular sights, Charyn Caniyon and Lake Kolsai, in one day. Although the tour was quite rushed, we still had plenty of time to visit the sightseeing spots. We were able to enjoy scenery that you can't see in Japan. The Kazakh lunch we had along the way was also delicious.
Beautiful place !! Excellent guide !!
ANIKET B,
Jun 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a brilliant tour for people with families . Our guide Dias excellent and helped make the day better . You should specially ask for him while booking the tour . Kolsai lake is stunning with beautiful turquoise waters . Charyn canyon are big and beautiful , since we were with a baby they gave us a golf cart tour of the canyon from top which was a wonderful gesture and the views were stunning . Thanks a lot for making our trip wonderful .
Great Day
michaeltP9520HC,
Jun 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time! As others have said, it's a long day. That having been said, there isn't much "fluff" that you get with other day tours–you are either traveling to the natural beauty of the canyon/lake or having lunch. Stops along the way are well planned rest breaks. The destinations themselves are must-see and absolutely gorgeous. The company is thoughtful, responsive, and kind. Our guide and driver were both fantastic. We got enough information about places we were passing through or stopped, but we were also given space to enjoy ourselves as a couple. The driver was safe and professional. Overall, highly recommend!
Once in a lifetime experience!
466gitae,
May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you’re considering just one tour in Kazakhstan, make it this one with Kazia Tours — it’s the perfect way to experience the country’s stunning diversity in a single day. We visited Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake, and everything was flawlessly organized by Gulzat, the incredible manager behind the scenes. From the very start, we were impressed: our guide Zaure and the driver arrived early to pick us up at our hotel, setting the tone for a seamless and memorable day. Zaure was truly exceptional — warm, engaging, and deeply knowledgeable. She conducted the entire tour in English, sharing rich insights into Kazakhstan’s history, traditions, and food culture, all with genuine passion. Beyond her guiding skills, Zaure also turned out to be an amazing photographer — she captured so many beautiful moments for us that even the pickiest photo selector would find a favorite shot among hers! We stopped at a local guest house for lunch, where we were welcomed with a generously filled table of delicious treats. The standout? The plov — hands down the best I’ve ever had. At Kolsai Lake, the weather gave us a soft drizzle, but rather than spoiling the moment, it added a mystical, serene ambiance that made the landscape feel like something out of a dream. Our driver was equally wonderful — careful and composed, yet managed to skillfully avoid traffic on the way back, which was a blessing after a long day of exploring. I cannot recommend Kazia Tours and Zaure enough. This tour was the highlight of our trip and a beautiful, immersive way to experience Kazakhstan’s natural beauty, warm hospitality, and cultural richness.
Mesmerising
Alokmili77,
Oct 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Both sites are amazing & must visit,while in Almaty great UNESCO canyons & mesmerising view of Kolsai Lakes,snow peaks in background,lively atmosphere fantastic view
Amazing
Gregory H,
Oct 8, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Enlar and our driver were the best! We loved this immersive tour and ever changing nature! It’s really hard to describe how clear and beautiful Kolsai lake. The lunch provided was so delicious! Ending the day at Charyn canyon was a perfect way to close out exploring this beautiful part of the world. Definitely one of the best tours we have ever done!
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Operated by Kazia Tour