Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Tour (lunch included)
Overview
Available languages
17 hours
Mobile ticket
This tour is the best way to visit the most popular natural sites of Almaty region in 1 day if you do not have time to go on a full 2-day tour. Within a day you will visit the 5 natural landmarks of Almaty - Charyn Canyon, Black and Moon Canyons, Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes. In this regard, this tour is long and has a tight schedule.
The tour itinerary is designed in such a way that you have time to visit all the tour sights, and so that you have enough time to take stunning photos. A small tour group will allow you not to get lost in the crowd and be part of one team. Our comfortable minibus will create such comfortable conditions for you that you will not get tired during long trips. And finally, our English-speaking tour guide will take you through all points of both the driving and walking parts of the route, show you the tour sights from the best angle and provide you with comprehensive information about them.
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
Important note: Children under 5 y.o. are not allowed on the tour
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
National parks entrance fees
Comfortable minibus with A/C
Home-cooked lunch of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Bottled water
Off-road transfer to Lake Kaindy on legendary Soviet van
Boating and horseback-riding (optional from 6000 KZT/person)
Special dietary food and soft drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Charyn Canyon
Walking along the canyon, visiting different photo spots, photographing
Uzunbulak Canyon (Moon Canyon)
Shortstop at Moon Canyon, viewing spot
Options
Private tour option
Individual tour: only you travel, without other people.
Vehicle type: 2-5 pax - SUV;
6-7 pax - Toyota Hiace;
8-15 pax - Mercedes Sprinter.
Pick-up/drop-off: any custom location in Almaty city.
Pickup included
Group tour (shared basis)
Small-group tour: small groups of up to 15 travelers
Lunch included
Comfortable minibus with A/C: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Pickup included
Reviews
234 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Nature and adventure in one tour
Lawrence H,
Aug 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00Elle was a great tour guide, working tirelessly for 17 hours from our pre-6am pickup to final drop offs at 11pm. She took us to see so many attractions outside of Almaty City, including Charyn Canyon (the so-called little brother of the Grand Canyon) in the national park, two other canyons that were also very pretty (black and red), a local lunch at a Kazakh woman's own home, then finally Kolsai Lake and Kandy Lake, which was one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen. The trip to Kandy Lake itself was an adventure, riding two separate Soviet era buses over coarse rocks and lively streams and mini rivers (of course with option to take a horse or walk if you so wish to). Photo ops were aplenty. A long but tiring day but super worth it and we got to see so much nature.
Canoe trip but recommended
Enza B,
Aug 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00We really liked this excursion, it allowed us to see a lot of sites in one day. Both the Canyon and other areas, as well as the lakes were beautiful. And the food was delicious. Although it is a very piping excursion, I recommend doing it at the beginning of the trip because it is a good beating. In our case we returned later than planned, so do not foresee anything the same day as the excursion. It is an excursion with a lot of walking. At first it is not difficult, the day starts with simple walks. But in the lakes it gets complicated. Lake Kolsai has a good walk to reach, very steep, there is possibility of taxi but the guide "insite" / "convinces you" not to use it. It's a cool adventure to get to Lake Kaindy. Note that there is NO option to go on foot (there is but it is not comfortable and the guide "insite" / "convinces you" not to use it). YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS ON HORSEBACK. Although I certainly recommend it. It was a very cool experience and it was very worth it
Extraordinary
Nazma S,
Aug 5, 2025
- Viator
5.00It was amazing.. guide was superb.we enjoyed lot .. lunch was really unbelievable good.. see you soon.
A great adventure
FERNANDO S,
Jul 23, 2025
- Viator
4.00The visit to the DE Chilyn Canyon and the Lakes was really worth it, NO more visits to the DE la Luna y Negro canyons, which have prolonged the activity without the slightest interest. A special review for the guide, g ENial at all times, very close and helpful, while superprofessional
Guide tour canyon and lakes
Fabrizia M,
Jul 8, 2025
- Viator
4.00Very Good organization and lunch food, recommended experience even if it is a long journey (from 5.30am to 10pm)
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Operated by Kazakhstan Guided Tours