Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour
Overview
Available languages
15 hours
Mobile ticket
Welcome to Kazakhstan! Experience five breathtaking natural wonders in one unforgettable day from Almaty.
Start at iconic Charyn Canyon — towering red rock walls carved over millions of years, often called the little brother of the Grand Canyon.
Continue to the mysterious Black Canyon with its dark volcanic cliffs, and the surreal Moon Canyon — pale formations that look like a lunar landscape.
Then hop aboard a legendary Soviet UAZ-452 off-road van for an adventurous ride to Kaindy Lake — a submerged forest where spruce trees rise from crystal-clear turquoise water.
End the day at peaceful Kolsai Lake, surrounded by pine forests and mountain peaks.
In between, enjoy a homemade lunch at a local family's home in Saty village — real Kazakh hospitality our guests call the highlight of the day.
Private Tour: Same epic route for your group only — flexible pace, personalized attention, no strangers.
English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup from 5 AM. All entrance fees included.
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
Not recommended for children under 6
What To Expect
Charyn Canyon National Park
05:00 Pick-up and departure from Almaty 07:00 Shortstop for coffee/WC 8:30Arrival at Charyn Canyon "Valley of the Castles", visiting several spots, walking along canyon 10:00 Departure from Charyn Canyon
Uzunbulak Canyon (Moon Canyon)
Moon Canyon is a unique, pale colored section of Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan, known for its smooth, moon like landscapes that contrast with the canyon’s red cliffs.
Options
Private tour to Lakes & Canyon
Private tour to Lakes & Canyon: Fully private tour with flexible itinerary, perfect for couples, friends and families Pickup included
Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour
Pickup included
What‘s Included
National parks entrance fees
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hearty lunch of local cuisine (vegetarian option is available)
Transfer to Kaindy Lake on the legendary Soviet van UAZ-452
Soft & Hard drinks
Special food & drinks
Horseback-riding 7000kzt (13$)
Taxi van instead of hiking 500KZT (1,5$)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
890 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Adventure!
gabriela h,Jul 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Overall the tour was great. My hotel wasnt on the list but they still coordinated pick-up for me and were on time. The provided lunch experience was fun and family style.
Very nice
OttusRanch,Jun 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nice trip with our guide Saya. The lunch in a family guest house was an highlight of the day. Great landscapes. I had a good time.
Great time!
dakin bacon,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unbelievable value. Such a packed day with great sights.
Full day trip
Saood101,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great experience today with our tour guide, Ms. Sony. We visited some of the most amazing places in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿. The time allocated for each location was perfect, allowing us to fully enjoy every stop without feeling rushed. The roads were in good condition, and traveling between destinations in the van was comfortable. The highlight of the tour was definitely the beautiful mountain lakes, which were absolutely breathtaking. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a long tour with several hours of driving, so be prepared for a full day. However, the incredible scenery and destinations make the journey completely worth it. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kazakhstan.
Superb tour experience
Curtis C,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00All around great tour experience. It was a nice blend of tour guidance and personal freedom to go and explore the beautiful sights. Fantastic communication as well.
Guide was very helpful all facilities was correct as mentioned in the description
Voyager13102739217,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The explanation about the places was amazing by the guide
It was a beautiful day.
332al t,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide, Nurzhan, was very helpful from start to finish. Thank you for making our day so nice with your kind and friendly demeanor. I would also like to thank our friend Nurzhan, who was driving the vehicle, for his kind and friendly demeanor.
Naz🔥🔥
Liam V,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Naz (Nazerke) was wonderful. She was very clear and made the day very enjoyable! She should get a very big pay rise!
Long Day Well Spent
Dhananjay S,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you’re short on days, this would be the tour format to go for. We were a little anxious that the start was too early and the length of the tour was really long but since the stops were well paced, we could get rest in pockets and in the end enjoyed the tour! John was a really chilled out guide and made the entire experience enjoyable.
Great tour to beautiful sceneries with pick-up service
andrewlI6140DE,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a long trip and definitely worth the price! We've searched over different 1-day trips, but most of them requires us heading to the designated gathering point - except this tour! The driver and our nice guide Ayau came to our hotel pick-up directly, which was very convenient for us. The tour was only composed of 15 guests, which was moderate. Despite long driving distance, we could explore the well-known sites, including the 2 lakes and 3 canyons, taking mesmerizing photos. Lunch was also included in a guest house. All in all, this tour is a great and convenient all-in-one package for family travellers like us!
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