Kolsai lake private tour at a glance
- Countries
- Length
- 2 days / 1 night
- Group size
- Private tour, up to 6 travellers
- Season
- Spring to autumn (not in winter)
- Style
- Canyons & mountain lakes
- Price
- from $468 per person (4–6 travellers)
From Charyn Canyon National Park to Kaindy Lake, day by day
Day 1
Almaty – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lake – Saty
We pick you up in Almaty early in the morning and drive about 200 km east to the main entrance of Charyn Canyon National Park. After the park formalities we walk through the Valley of Castles, where walls 150–300 m high have weathered into towers, natural bridges and shapes that look like fossil dinosaurs and wizards' heads. Lunch is a picnic on the bank of the Charyn river, in the shade of relict Sogdian ash trees. We then drive towards the Kungei Alatau mountains to Kolsai Lakes National Park, a cascade of three glacial lakes. At sunset we walk around the first and largest, Kolsai-1 (also called Saty), about 2 km long and 80 m deep at 1,800 m. The night is in a guest house in Saty village. Walking: about 1 hour, 2.5 km, no climbs. Driving: about 5 hours, 315 km.
Meals: lunch, dinner
Day 2
Kaindy Lake and its sunken forest – Almaty
After breakfast we drive up the Kaindy gorge, 15 km east of Saty on a dirt road; where needed, the last stretch is in a local 4x4 taxi. Kaindy Lake lies at about 1,800 m in dense spruce forest. It formed in 1911, when an earthquake set off a landslide that dammed the valley; the white trunks of the drowned spruces still stand out of the water, and below the surface their branches are covered in algae. We walk around the lake, return to the cars for lunch and drive back to Almaty. Walking: about 2 hours, 5 km, 100 m up and down. Driving: about 5 hours, 310 km.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Kolsai lake tour prices, season 2026
| Hotels | 1 traveller | 2 travellers | 3 travellers | 4–6 travellers | Single supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private tour | $1092 | $689 | $488 | $468 | On request |
Prices are per person in USD for a private tour, by group size, sharing a double room. A room of your own is on request.
More tours in this region
Combine this trip with another private Almaty route or a longer Silk Road journey through Central Asia.
3 Stans Discovery: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan
14 days / 13 nights
from $2643 per person (10–11 travellers, 3*)
What the trip includes
- Private tour with our English-speaking guide on both days, including the guided visits to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes
- Pick-up and drop-off in Almaty and all transfers in the itinerary
- 4x4 taxi to Kaindy Lake where needed
- 1 night in a guest house in Saty, sharing a double room with its own shower and WC
- Meals: 2 lunches, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast, plus drinking water
- Entry fees and permits for Charyn Canyon National Park, Kolsai Lakes National Park and the Kaindy reserve
- Group first-aid kit, radio for larger groups and inspected vehicles
Not included
- International flights to and from Almaty
- Airport, railway and bus station transfers
- Hotels, meals and activities in Almaty before and after the trip
- Visa and migration fees or support
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Rental of clothing, footwear and gear
- Porters for luggage and backpacks
- Soft and alcoholic drinks and snacks
- A room of your own (single supplement on request)
Kolsai & Kaindy lakes: questions
How much does the Kolsai lake tour cost?
For the 2026 season it costs $468 per person for 4–6 travellers, $488 for 3, $689 for 2 and $1092 for one traveller, in USD. The price assumes a shared double room; a room of your own is on request.
Can I visit Kolsai Lake in winter?
Not on this trip. It runs from spring to autumn and is not offered in winter.
How far is Kaindy Lake from Kolsai Lake?
The Kaindy gorge is about 15 km east of Saty village, the base for the first Kolsai lake, on a dirt road. Where needed, the last stretch is in a local 4x4 taxi, which is included.
What is the guest house in Saty like?
Simple but comfortable: double rooms, each with its own shower and WC. There is no wi-fi. Breakfast and dinner are served there, and special diets are possible if you ask in advance.
What should I pack?
In summer: hiking shoes or trainers, sandals, long trekking trousers and shorts, a T-shirt, a fleece, a wind and rain jacket, a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. In spring and autumn add a long-sleeve top, thermal underwear, a light down jacket, a hat and gloves. Bring one duffel bag and one small backpack per person; wheeled suitcases do not fit the vehicles. Ticks are active in late May and June, so bring repellent, and carry some cash in tenge for the villages.