Kazakhstan · CHARYN CANYON TOURS

The 15 Best Charyn Canyon Tours from Almaty

58 tours  ·  from $40

The canyon is roughly three hours east on a good road, and every version of this day is a long one. The 15 below differ on whether Kolsai and Kaindy come too, how much walking happens in the valley floor, and what lunch costs you.

Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Kolsay, and Kaindy Lakes Day Trip - Kaindy Lake and the Soviet UAZ ride
1-Day Tours, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews

Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Kolsay, and Kaindy Lakes Day Trip

1.Charyn Canyon, Kolsay, and Kaindy Lakes Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,522 reviews · 17 hours · from $58Our pick

Spend a long but rewarding day from Almaty visiting Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake. You’ll ride a Mercedes Sprinter, switch to a Soviet UAZ for Kaindy, and may meet energetic guides such as Karina, Rustam, Amina, or Nurtas.

“We had an exceptional tour to Charyn and Black Canyon, Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes with Panda Travel. Rustam was our guide and he managed the entire tour on his own with great energy, professionalism, and attention to detail. My favorite part was the UAV bus ride to Kaindy Lake where he sang Kazakh rap music on the way. The driver was also really nice and he ensured we stayed on schedule at every stop. The scenery was breathtaking, and the day was seamlessly organized. Highly recommended! Thank you Rustam and Panda Travel!”

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Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour - Charyn Canyon and the Valley of the Castles
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Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour

2.Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small-Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 642 reviews · from $58Top rated

Leave Almaty before sunrise for Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, Kaindy Lake, and Lower Kolsai Lake. An English-speaking guide such as Amina, Sabina, Didi, or Nurjan leads the day, with a local lunch and a bumpy Soviet UAZ ride to Kaindy. Expect long drives and walking.

“We had a wonderful time at the lakes and canyons, and Amina was a fantastic guide. It was a long day, but everything was well paced. Lunch was very nice, and the views were stunning - thoroughly recommended!”

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Almaty: Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyons Day Trip - Choosing among the three routes
1-Day Tours, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews

Almaty: Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyons Day Trip

3.Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyons Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 505 reviews · 16 hours · from $43Best value

Join a guided 16-hour journey from central Almaty to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and optional Kaindy Lake. Guides such as Sayana, Altynai, and Zhanna are praised for clear timing and friendly help. Choose a route, ride a UAZ to Kaindy, and add boating or horse riding for about $10.

“It was such an amazing tour. The tour guide and driver were kind and professional. Kudos”

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From Almaty: Kolsay, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Day Trip - Charyn Canyon and its red rock walls
1-Day Tours, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews

From Almaty: Kolsay, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Day Trip

4.Kolsay, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 452 reviews · from $43

Join Panda Travel for a very full day from Almaty to Kolsai and Kaindy lakes, Charyn and Black Canyons, and Moon Canyon in summer. Guides such as Karina, Nurtas, Ice, and Adam lead in English or Russian. Expect an early start, long drives, a bumpy UAZ ride, optional horses, and excellent value.

“It was such an excellent experiences, the lake and the view are amazing and our tour guide Karina is absolutely fantastic person bring so much joy through this trip. I’m surely I’ll be still will be remember the bumpy road with our incredible our DJ Karina when I turn to 60 🤣”

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Almaty: Kolsai Kaindy Lakes & Charyn Canyons 2-Day Tour - Charyn Canyon: red rock and a big first impression
2-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Almaty: Kolsai Kaindy Lakes & Charyn Canyons 2-Day Tour

5.Kolsai Kaindy Lakes & Charyn Canyons 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 432 reviews · 2 days · from $130

Spend two days exploring Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, Charyn, Black, and Moon Canyons from Almaty. Guides such as Luba, Naz, Aidar, and Zhenis lead the route in English or Russian, with Kazakh meals, a yurt stay, bonfire games, and an off-road Soviet van ride to Kaindy.

“Very enjoyable tour with more than enough time to enjoy every stop. Naz was amazing and made the journey very straightforward. She also gave us a good introduction about the culture and life in the country. Highly recommended.”

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Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour - Day 1: Moon Canyon, Black Canyon, and Lower Kolsai
2-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour

6.Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons 2-day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 392 reviews · from $130

Travel from Almaty to Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon and Moon Canyon in two busy days. You get park fees, meals, transport, a yurt stay and an off-road Soviet van ride. Guides have included Nazerke, Zhenis, Dana and Aigerim, with guide quality varying by departure.

“The tour was very well organized. I had a great time visiting each of the sites, we got ample time to enjoy and take in the scenery. Food was great and so was the yurt accommodation. Now coming to one of the best parts of the tour - our tour guide Aigerim!!! She is the best. A great guide as well as a fun person. We had a lot of fun at the bonfire and the multiple rounds of Uno games that we played after. Lovedd her playlist too hehe :D Also, shoutout to our wonderful driver - Ruslan!! - Yours truly, Masuma (Manisa, Manusa, Minisa etc., etc.) 😆”

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Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Tour (lunch included) - Moon Canyon and Black Canyon add welcome variety
Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Tour (lunch included)

7.Kolsai Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Tour (lunch included)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 292 reviews · from $57

From a 6am pickup in Almaty, you visit Charyn Canyon, Moon Canyon, Black Canyon, Lower Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake in one packed day. Guides such as Luba, Kuanysh, Azamat, Aika, and Serzhan lead the route, with local lunch and a memorable Soviet van ride included.

“This is a solid one-day activity to experience the Kazakh outdoors. We went to 5 sites, including a ride on an old Soviet bus and a pony, with a delicious lunch at a local home. If you have more time, stretching it to a two-day trip with an overnRead more”

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Almaty: Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyon Day Tour - The early pickup and the long road east
Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Almaty: Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyon Day Tour

8.Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyon Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 198 reviews · 17 hours · from $57

Pack five major Almaty-region sights into one demanding day. You’ll ride a comfortable bus, switch to a Soviet van for Kaindy, hike to two alpine lakes, and eat home-cooked Kazakh food in Saty. English-speaking guides such as Aika, Serzh, and Kuanysh add useful context and keep the schedule moving.

“Our tour guide Aider is knowledgeable and explains everything in detail. Time management was perfect. The car came late. Hence we reached home at 11.0 pm. But the experience was nice. I shall recommend this tour to all.”

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Almaty: 2-Day Tour to Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon - The long road from Almaty to Saty Village
2-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Almaty: 2-Day Tour to Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon

9.2-Day Tour to Kolsai-Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 196 reviews · 2 days · from $105

Join an English or Russian-speaking guide such as Zhanna, Daniel, Aya, or Rollan for lakes, canyons, a Soviet UAZ ride, village homestay meals, and a bonfire near Saty. Choose a one-night morning departure or a two-night evening departure from Almaty.

“One of the best tours I’ve done! If you’re wanting to see the best parts of Kazakhstan, 100% book this tour. Danny our tour guide was amazing and couldn’t have been better, always bringing the good vibes & making sure everyone was happy! Everything was seamless and we had an awesome group of people.”

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Treasures of Almaty lakes Kaindy and Kolsai,Charyn Canyon VIP car - Kolsai Lake: the calm first major stop
Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, VIP

Treasures of Almaty lakes Kaindy and Kolsai,Charyn Canyon VIP car

10.Treasures of Almaty lakes Kaindy and Kolsai,Charyn Canyon VIP car

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 165 reviews · from $49

Leave Almaty at 4:30 am for Kolsai Lake, the sunken forest at Kaindy, and Charyn Canyon. You’ll ride a UAZ to Kaindy, with horse transport optional. Guides such as Karina, Rustam, Adam, and Ice Sultan keep the long day organized and lively.

“The Charyn Canyon, Kaindy and Kolsay Lakes tour was unforgettable adventure and a must see whenever you are visiting Kazakhstan, featuring beautiful landscapes like the Sunken Forest at Kaindy, Valley of Castles in Charyn, made seRead more”

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Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon Day Trip - The 5:00 am departure from Almaty
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Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon Day Trip

11.Kolsai Lake and Charyn Canyon Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 102 reviews · from $43

Leave Almaty at 5:00 am for Charyn Canyon’s Valley of Castles, Black Canyon, Lunar Canyon, and Kolsai Lake. A guide such as Dimash, Aizee, or Alina may lead the day. Expect long road time, walking, optional horse rides and boating, and a 20-person maximum.

“It was an express tour but didn't feel like it. The trip was fun and informative. Special mention to our tour guides Dimash and Aizee who made it so much fun. Would recommend them instantly”

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Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Trip - Walking below the red walls of Charyn Canyon
1-Day Tours, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews

Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Trip

12.Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · from $57

Leave Almaty at 5:00 am for a full day at Charyn Canyon, Kaindy Lake, and Kolsai Lake. You will walk to the Charyn River, hike about 2.5 kilometers to Kaindy, and explore Kolsai with guides such as Jana or Sayana. Park fees and transport are included.

“Good tour. With natural beauty. With some buts: very infantile guide, partly felt like in a kindergarten. The UAZ drive is not suitable for people with frequent back pain. Thanks for this…”

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2-Day Private Tour - The Kolsai Lake & Kaindy (Sunken forest) via Charyn canyon - Zhalanash shows a different side of Kazakhstan
2-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours

2-Day Private Tour – The Kolsai Lake & Kaindy (Sunken forest) via Charyn canyon

13.2-Day Private Tour – The Kolsai Lake & Kaindy (Sunken forest) via Charyn canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $390

Travel from Almaty in a private SUV with an English-speaking guide, stopping at Charyn Canyon and Zhalanash before an overnight stay near Kolsai. Day two brings a forest walk at Kolsai Lake and the famous submerged fir trees of Kaindy Lake. The group is limited to five people.

“I recently attended a two-day tour guided by a professional and kind driver, Victor (apologies if I've misspelled the name), and an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable guide, Margu. We are grateful for their hard work and excellent Read more”

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3 Day Tour to Kolsai Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon - Saty village and a simple local stay
3-Day Experiences, Almaty Tours, Charyn Canyon Tours, Kaindy Lake Tours, Kolsai Lakes Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

3 Day Tour to Kolsai Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon

14.3 Day Tour to Kolsai Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 59 reviews · from $105

Travel from Almaty to Saty village, Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn National Park on a three-day small-to-mid-size group trip. Expect English, Russian, and Kazakh-speaking guides, a UAZ ride to Kaindy, guesthouse lodging, local meals, and long scenic days.

“Despite starting at the odd time of 8pm, everything was orderly planned with guesthouses owners out to receive us at 2 or 3 am in Saty village.The quest house rooms were simple but clean, adequate and okay. The hostess prepared simple Read more”

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Charyn canyon and Kolsai lake One day tour - Charyn Canyon: wide views, red rock, and a short walk
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Charyn canyon and Kolsai lake One day tour

15.Charyn canyon and Kolsai lake One day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $196

Leave Almaty at 7:00 for Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lake on a private, customizable day trip. Your guide can explain local culture, help with photos, and adjust the pace. A village lunch is included, and you can add a boat ride at Kolsai Lake. Guides include Dias, Diana, and Enlar.

“Enlar 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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New in Charyn Canyon Tours

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★ 5.0Almaty 1-Day Tour: Kolsay, Kaindy & Charyn Black CanyonFrom $403 reviews
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