DETAILS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TOUR

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BOOKING TERMS:
Tour Rates Include: Twin or Single (if this option is selected) accommodation in the hotel or guest house in Saty Settlement (2 nights); roundtrip transportation from the Meeting Point in comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan; professional English-speaking guide service; environmental and entry fees; lunch and dinner in Day 1, full board in Day 2, breakfast and lunch in Day 3, bottled water 1L per day; return hotel transfer to the Meeting Point (if this option is selected).
Tour Rates Exclude: Single accommodation in the hotel or guest house (if this option is not selected); return hotel transfer to the Meeting Point (if this option is not selected); additional services not indicated in the program.
Meeting Point: Astana International Hotel (in front of the main entrance) Map
Children Policy: Discount 20% available for children aged 4-11 accompanied by an adult.
Booking Terms: Full payment is required for tour reservation. Accepted methods of payment: cash in local currency, wire transfer, bank card.
Cancellation Terms: 50% of the tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation 7 or less days before tour departure date. Tour price is not refundable in case of tour cancellation 3 day or less before tour departure date, as well as in case of no-show or lateness.
Group Size: Minimum - 1 person, maximum - 15 persons.

See all information and terms

Itinerary:

1 Day

Almaty - Saty - Kaindy Lake - Saty

2 Day

Saty - Charyn Canyon - Almaty

Having met your guide at the meeting point at 08:00, you will board a comfortable minivan to start your unforgettable journey to Kolsai Lakes. This day you will cross over 300 km from Almaty to Saty settlement (5-6 hours). On the way, you will have an opportunity to stop in a village to feel the atmosphere of a local market. Upon arrival to Saty, you will check in at the guest house, where you will spend the next two nights. After lunch, you will change the vehicle to one of AWD local cars, such as "UAZ" or "PAZ" (Russian car models), as they are fully capable of covering uneven mountain roads (12 km) to Kaindy Lake. After walking around the lake, you will return to Saty settlement to take a shower, have dinner, and rest.

Kaindy Lake (Birch Lake) is situated among magnificent pine forests at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to the powerful earthquake that triggered the landslide blocked the valley by the natural dam, and the water flooded the valley. The water of the lake is very cold, which is why the needles of the flooded trees are well preserved and visible through the transparent surface of the water, and dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface, like the masts of the submarine squadron. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake – it is necessary to go there and see everything with your own eyes.

After breakfast you will leave a hospitable family and depart to Charyn Canyon at 08:00. It will take about 2 hours to reach the canyon. Upon arrival, you will admire the grand panorama and go down to the bottom of the canyon to walk around 2 km through the maze of the Castles Valley. The bottom of the Canyon has a slight descent to the end of the walk, where you will get to the fresh oasis on the bank of the icy cold Charyn River, where also located eco-park with several yurts (traditional dwellings) and a small open-air café, working in the summer time. After some rest, you will walk back the same path to the stairs and drive to one of the observation points for another breathtaking panoramic view. After 3-4 hours spent in the canyon, you will depart to Almaty. The lunch will be served in a local café in a village in 1-hour driving distance after the canyon. Arrival at the original Meeting Point in Almaty is approx. at 19:00.

Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. It was formed during the Paleogene and reminds the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in North America, although inferior to it in size. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is up to 150-300 meters. The extraordinary dissection of the terrain is striking: the numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you are always surrounded by fancy towers composed of sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley - more than 2 km, width - 20-80 meters. For millions of years, nature has been creating a unique architecture, erecting magnificent castles carefully and slowly. You can spend hours walking among the strange towers and columns, being surprised by the wild imagination of nature.

Day 1 — Having met your guide at the meeting point at 08:00, you will board a comfortable minivan to start your unforgettable journey to Kolsai Lakes. This day you will cross over 300 km from Almaty to Saty settlement (5-6 hours). On the way, you will have an opportunity to stop in a village to feel the atmosphere of a local market. Upon arrival to Saty, you will check in at the guest house, where you will spend the next two nights. After lunch, you will change the vehicle to one of AWD local cars, such as "UAZ" or "PAZ" (Russian car models), as they are fully capable of covering uneven mountain roads (12 km) to Kaindy Lake. After walking around the lake, you will return to Saty settlement to take a shower, have dinner, and rest.

Day 2 — After breakfast, you will leave a hospitable family and depart to Charyn Canyon at 08:00. It will take about 2 hours to reach the canyon. Upon arrival, you will admire the grand panorama and go down to the bottom of the canyon to walk around 2 km through the maze of the Castles Valley. The bottom of the Canyon has a slight descent to the end of the walk, where you will get to the fresh oasis on the bank of the icy cold Charyn River, where also located eco-park with several yurts (traditional dwellings) and a small open-air café, working in the summer time. After some rest, you will walk back the same path to the stairs and drive to one of the observation points for another breathtaking panoramic view. After 3-4 hours spent in the canyon, you will depart to Almaty. The lunch will be served in a local café in a village in 1-hour driving distance after the canyon. Arrival at the original Meeting Point in Almaty is approx. at 19:00.

Important Information and Recommendations:

The tour involves long hikes

This tour requires comfortable, sporty clothing for the weather, windproof and waterproof jacket in a cold weather season; closed, walking-friendly shoes: boots in the cold season, sneakers or similar - in a warm; sunglasses and sunscreen, headdress; personal backpack to carry water and lunch during trekking

Any other questions?

You can discuss any questions you have with our manager directly on WhatsApp!

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