Kolsay Lakes Off-Road Tour

Embark on a 3-day off-road tour to the mesmerizing Lake Kaindy, stunningly beautiful Kolsay Lakes, and the extraordinary Charyn Canyon.

  • Starting Point: Almaty
  • Tour Duration: 3 Days
  • Available: Year-round
  • Best Period: from July to August
Highly qualified staff
We invest over 300 hours each year in training our staff and guides to ensure top-notch service.
Charity
Our company contributes up to 1% of your service cost to support charitable causes and create a positive impact.
Guarantee
We guarantee the quality of our services. If we do not meet your expectations, we will refund your money.
Experience
With over 26,000 satisfied guests from 67 countries and 10,000+ tours completed, our experience speaks for itself.

Cost Estimate and Online Booking

prices and reservations
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On request
  • Tour Date:
  • Departure Time:
  • Adults:
  • Children (aged 4-11):
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Key Details
Included Features
Booking Procedure
Clothing Recommendations
Tariffs and service levels
Purchase Instructions
Why Choose Us?
Cancellation Policy

3 Days

Distance

701 km

680 km

21 km
Kolsay Lakes Off-Road Tour
Private Tour
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Age restriction: 4+
Ensure that you have a current and valid passport with you on the day of travel
If you have any specific dietary requirements, please inform us at the time of booking so that we can make appropriate arrangements. Local cuisine typically includes lamb or beef, dough, and milk products

Group Size: 1-16 people

What's Included in the Price?

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off; private transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
  • Accommodation in a tent camp (1 night) and in a guesthouse (1 night)
  • Services of a professional English-speaking guide
  • Environmental and entry fees
  • Lunch and dinner on Day 1, full meals on Day 2, breakfast and lunch on Day 3
  • A bottle of drinking water per person per day

Not Included:

  • Personal expenses of tour participants
  • Any additional transfers
  • Visa services and registration in Kazakhstan (if required)
  • Additional services not specified in the itinerary

Booking Procedure

  • Select the tour you want to book.
  • On the tour page, use the calendar to choose your desired date and the number of participants. Fill in your personal information and click the Buy Online button.
  • To secure your booking, you need to pay the full cost of the tour. For details on the online payment process, refer to the Purchase Instructions tab.
  • After payment, save your voucher and the electronic receipt containing your order details and payment information.

Alternative booking options:

You can also book a tour by contacting our managers and paying in cash or via bank transfer. To reach our managers, click the round button in the lower right corner of the screen or message us on WhatsApp at +7 (700) 348-00-00 (responses available in English).

Alternatively, you can call us at:

+7 (727) 326-96-16, +7 (702) 006-57-87 (Almaty)

+7 (7172) 76-00-56 (Astana)

Essential items for your tour:

  • Comfortable clothing (such as shorts, pants, leggings, a T-shirt, or a light long-sleeved sweater). In colder weather, wear an insulated jacket or down jacket, along with a hat, scarf, and gloves.
  • A cap or hat for sun protection.
  • Comfortable closed-toe shoes with a sturdy sole and high lacing.
  • Change of shoes for camp (light sneakers).
  • Sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen to protect your skin.
  • Trekking poles (optional).
  • Personal backpack to carry water and lunch.
  • Personal first aid kit.

Tour Pricing Options

The prices for this tour are based on the Standard tariff, which includes reliable tourist transport in good condition, the services of an experienced guide and driver, guesthouse stay, and meals.

In addition to the Standard tariff, we offer the following options:

  • Economy: We provide lower-class vehicles for transfers, and accommodations consist of more budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses. This option is ideal for tourists looking to minimize costs.

Note: Be cautious of companies that misrepresent their Economy tariff as Standard. These companies may offer lower-priced tours with poor service quality, such as outdated vehicles and inexperienced guides. They might also operate illegally and neglect essential safety standards.

  • Comfort: This option features high-comfort vehicles in excellent condition, with the most experienced guides accompanying tourists. Tourists stay in high-class hotels.
  • VIP: Luxury transport is provided, and guests stay in upscale hotels. Premium services are offered throughout the entire trip.

If you wish to adjust your tariff, please inform your manager before booking the tour.

For more information about our rates and transport options, refer to this section.

Purchase Instructions

  • Choose your desired date and fill in all required information. The total order amount will be displayed based on your selections.
  • Click the Buy Online button to be redirected to a secure payment page. Here, enter your bank card details to complete your payment.

We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard, and other electronic payment systems. The total amount will be charged in the national currency of Kazakhstan – tenge. The conversion to Kazakhstani tenge will occur at the official exchange rate set by the National Bank of Kazakhstan on the day of payment. You can view the current exchange rates for the Kazakhstani tenge against other currencies on this page.

  • Once your payment is successful, an electronic receipt with your order details and payment information will be sent to the email address you provided. Additionally, you can download and print a voucher for the paid service during your browser session. Please ensure you save this voucher.

For details about the payment service and the security measures for electronic transactions, refer to this page.

Why Choose Us?

Highly Qualified Staff
We invest over 300 hours each year in training our staff and guides to ensure top-notch service.

Charity
Our company contributes up to 1% of your service cost to support charitable causes and create a positive impact. 

Guarantee
We guarantee the quality of our services. If we do not meet your expectations, we will refund your money.

Experience
With over 26,000 satisfied guests from 67 countries and 10,000+ tours completed, our experience speaks for itself. 

Cancellation Policy:

  • If you cancel the tour less than 3 days* before its start, 50% of the total cost will be retained.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours* before the tour or do not show up, 100% of the total cost will be retained.

*Please note that if a cancellation notice is received outside of our working hours (evening, night, or weekends) and our managers have not confirmed receipt of your cancellation or change request in writing, the company reserves the right to consider the request when business hours resume. Therefore, we encourage you to notify us of any changes or cancellations as early as possible.

During non-working hours, you can try to reach us through our duty phone, corporate email, or corporate messengers. Duty managers monitor these channels and can respond promptly. If you have the contact information for your guide, driver, or other responsible parties (often listed in your voucher), we recommend reaching out to them directly as well.

Tour Schedule

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

At 07:00, you will meet your guide at your hotel, board a comfortable off-road vehicle, and depart from Almaty to Lake Kaindy. You will arrive around 1:00 PM, set up camp, and enjoy a walk along the lake's shore. Afterward, you'll return to the camp for a delicious dinner by the fire and relax.

Driving distance for the day – 300 km (186 mi)
Overnight stay in a tent camp at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level (or in a guesthouse in Saty village during winter).

After breakfast, we will drive to Lower Kolsay Lake. Upon arrival, you’ll begin a trek to Middle Kolsay Lake, following a scenic trail through pine forests and alpine meadows, alongside a pristine mountain river. The total distance between the two lakes is about 7 km (4 mi) and typically takes 3 to 3.5 hours one way. The elevation gain is over 400 meters, from 1818 meters (5965 ft) above sea level at the lower lake to 2250 meters (7382 ft) at the middle lake. After lunch by the lake, you’ll hike back to Lower Kolsay Lake and then drive to Saty village where you’ll have dinner and stay for the night.

Driving distance for the day – 50 km (31 mi)
Walking distance for the day – 15 km (9 mi)

After breakfast, you will leave Saty and head towards Lunar Canyon. After exploring the canyon, you’ll continue with a short drive to Charyn Canyon, where you'll take a 2 km walk through its most scenic section – the Valley of Castles. Following lunch by the Charyn River, we will begin our journey back to Almaty. Expect to arrive back at your hotel by 7:00 pm.

Driving distance for the day  330 km (205 mi)
Walking distance for the day
– 6 km (4 mi)

Copy
Day 1

At 07:00, you will meet your guide at your hotel, board a comfortable off-road vehicle, and depart from Almaty to Lake Kaindy. You will arrive around 1:00 PM, set up camp, and enjoy a walk along the lake's shore. Afterward, you'll return to the camp for a delicious dinner by the fire and relax.

Driving distance for the day – 300 km (186 mi)
Overnight stay in a tent camp at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level (or in a guesthouse in Saty village during winter).

Day 2

After breakfast, we will drive to Lower Kolsay Lake. Upon arrival, you’ll begin a trek to Middle Kolsay Lake, following a scenic trail through pine forests and alpine meadows, alongside a pristine mountain river. The total distance between the two lakes is about 7 km (4 mi) and typically takes 3 to 3.5 hours one way. The elevation gain is over 400 meters, from 1818 meters (5965 ft) above sea level at the lower lake to 2250 meters (7382 ft) at the middle lake. After lunch by the lake, you’ll hike back to Lower Kolsay Lake and then drive to Saty village where you’ll have dinner and stay for the night.

Driving distance for the day – 50 km (31 mi)
Walking distance for the day – 15 km (9 mi)

Day 3

After breakfast, you will leave Saty and head towards Lunar Canyon. After exploring the canyon, you’ll continue with a short drive to Charyn Canyon, where you'll take a 2 km walk through its most scenic section – the Valley of Castles. Following lunch by the Charyn River, we will begin our journey back to Almaty. Expect to arrive back at your hotel by 7:00 pm.

Driving distance for the day  330 km (205 mi)
Walking distance for the day
– 6 km (4 mi)

Lake Kaindy
Kolsay Lakes
Charyn Canyon
Bestamak Canyon
Lake Kaindy

Lake Kaindy was formed by a powerful earthquake more than a century ago. The seismic activity triggered a landslide, forming a natural dam that blocked a valley. The water submerged the surrounding trees, resulting in the picturesque underwater forest that graces the lake's depths today. Despite the passage of time, the lake has remarkably preserved its submerged forest. The cold water in Lake Kaindy slows down the decomposition process, preventing the decay of the trees. As a result, the submerged forest remains remarkably well-preserved.

Kolsay Lakes

The Kolsay Lakes form a series of mountain lakes, each positioned at varying altitudes. The Lower Kolsay Lake resides at an altitude of 1818 meters (5965 ft) and stands out for its easy accessibility by car, making it the most frequented lake. The Middle Kolsay Lake, the largest among the three, is nestled at 2250 meters (7382 ft). A natural dam of fir trees blocks its waters, and the shores boast the rare sight of blooming white edelweiss. At an elevation of 2850 meters (9350 ft), the Upper Kolsay Lake is the smallest and coldest of the trio. Remarkably pristine and seldom visited by tourists, it remains the cleanest and most untouched among the three lakes.

Charyn Canyon

Charyn Canyon bears a resemblance to the Grand Canyon in the USA, albeit on a smaller scale. The steep canyon slopes reach heights of 150-300 meters (500-1000 ft), and what truly stands out is the remarkable dissection of the terrain – a dense, chaotic network of numerous ravines. Particularly captivating is the Valley of Castles, where the wind and water have sculpted walls resembling castles and towers. This valley showcases nature's unique architectural prowess, crafting magnificent structures over millions of years. Walking amid these towers and columns, you can marvel at the wild imagination of nature for hours.

Bestamak Canyon

Bestamak Canyon, often seen as a smaller counterpart to Charyn Canyon, stands out with its uniquely rounded landscapes, entirely free of sharp angles. This gives it an otherworldly resemblance to the moon's surface, with its beautifully smooth, streamlined forms.

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Oli, Many
26 june 2017, 15:15

9

A very happy trip and many good memories! Dasha knows many information about history and culture. Thanks for organization tour!

    Thank you for the request!

    Request for:

    After submitting the request, our manager will contact you to clarify the details of the order

    After selecting the date and entering the data, you will see the total amount of the order. When you click the "Buy Online" button, you will be redirected to a secure payment service page where you need to enter your bank card details to make a payment. Payment is possible using Visa, MasterCard and other electronic payment systems. According to the requirements of the legislation, the final payment amount will be made in the national currency of Kazakhstan - Tenge (TENGE - KZT). The conversion into Tenge is made at the official exchange rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the day of payment. You can get acquainted with the exchange rate of the national currency of Kazakhstan, in relation to other currencies, on the page

    After successful payment, an electronic receipt with information about the order and data on the payment made will be sent to the e-mail you specified. Also, during the session of your browser on the site, you will have access to download and print a voucher for the paid service. Save it. Information about the payment service and guarantees of the security of electronic payments can be found on this page