Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake – A Day Trip from Almaty
Why I Chose a Tour of Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake
After a day of exploring Almaty, it was time to get out of the city and see the countryside. Ever since I chose Kazakhstan as a destination, I had wanted to visit Charyn Canyon and Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes.
I decided to take a tour, as driving in Kazakhstan is not for the faint of heart. With speed limits up to 140 km/h, tailgating, and roads that suddenly change from pavement to dirt, I thought it would be best to be driven by an expert.
Day Trip from Almaty to Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake (with Panda Travel) - Table of Contents
- Why I Chose a Tour of Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake
- Start and Pickup
- Charyn Canyon
- Panda Travel
- Black Canyon
- Lunch
- Kolsay Lake
- Kaindy Lake
- Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake Tips
- Final Thoughts on Panda Travel
- Video Highlights – Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake and Kaindy Lake
- Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake Tours
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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Start & Pickup Near Almaty Hotel - 4:00 AM
My day began with a 4:00 a.m. wake-up for our marathon tour. By 4:30 a.m., I was on a Yandex scooter—easy to rent by the minute through the app—and on my way to the pickup location near the Almaty Hotel (Baitursynov 104).
Despite a trial run the day before, I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of buses and signs in Russian. I eventually found the tour bus for Panda Travel. Unfortunately, our tour guide had called in sick and the company contacted another guide 20 minutes before departure. We would pick him up on the way. By 5:30 a.m., we were on the road toward our first stop, Charyn Canyon.
First Stop: Charyn Canyon (2–3.5 Hours on Site)
It was about 3 hours from Almaty to Charyn Canyon. Our group was split into two small buses, and we didn’t benefit from having the guide on ours—I had no idea what the day’s itinerary was until we arrived.It was about 3 hours from Almaty to Charyn Canyon. Our group was split into two small buses, and we didn’t benefit from having the guide on ours—I had no idea what the day’s itinerary was until we arrived.
Exploring the Upper Rim at Charyn Canyon
Once there, our guide explained we’d have two hours to explore the upper and lower areas of the canyon. The upper area is best from the observation platform or by hiking the canyon’s rim. The hike is fairly easy and flat, but be careful—there are no fences or protective barriers.
The day of my tour, the temperature was 99°F and extremely sunny. I wished I had brought a long-sleeved sun shirt and a better hat. After 30 minutes along the rim, we met back at the observation platform to walk as a group down the steps into Charyn Canyon.
Hiking Charyn Canyon
There are about 150 steps leading down. The steps were sturdy and it was an easy hike, though I did worry a little about the climb back up.
Once in the canyon, we hiked about 2.5 km to the Charyn River. The walk was spectacular, with changing colors across the canyon walls. It reminded me of the American Southwest—Utah and the Badlands of South Dakota.
Our guide did not keep us together, so we explored at our own pace. I hung toward the rear to get unobstructed photos. Two favorites: a lonely tree and a rock that seemed to defy gravity.
One gripe: a group doing a photoshoot near a rock “tunnel” refused to step aside and acted like they owned the whole canyon.
Reaching the Charyn River
It took about 30–45 minutes to reach the oasis at the Charyn River, where everything turned green. After a few minutes enjoying the serenity, I faced a choice: walk back (mostly uphill) to the steps, or pay ₸500 to ride in a Soviet Era Cruiser. I opted for the cruiser and, 10 minutes later, I was at the canyon steps. The climb up took some effort—I was definitely huffing and puffing during the last 20 steps.
Where the Panda Travel's Logistics Slipped
This is where I have a complaint about Panda Travel. Our guide didn’t communicate when and where to meet. Some took the cruiser; others walked back. I ended up waiting over an hour, making the stop closer to 3.5 hours instead of the 2 hours we were told. I would have loved to use that extra time to explore more of the upper rim, but I didn’t want to hold the group up.
A Quick Stop at Black Canyon
After leaving Charyn Canyon, we stopped for 15 minutes at Black Canyon. Black Canyon is supposed to look like the surface of the moon and the observation area provided quite a view. Once again, without the guide in our van, we never learned any information about Black Canyon other than what I read in the tour brochure.
Lunch & Lakes: Kolsay Lake (Crowded but Scenic)
Eventually, we were back in transit on our way to Kolsay Lake, which was also our lunch stop. We were offered about five restaurants. I chose one with traditional Kazakh cuisine and ordered Kuurdak. After a hearty meal, it was time to explore Kolsay Lake.
Getting to Kolsay Lake
There’s an upper observation point near the entrance with a decent view, but the best views require hiking ~500 meters down to the lake. For those who don’t want to hike, you can ride in a Soviet Era Cruiser or even rent a horse. I chose to hike, stopping for photos along the way.
Beautiful But Crowded
Kolsay Lake is popular with tourists and locals, and I was surprised by how many people were visiting. At times there were traffic jams on the path and crowded viewpoints.
Kolsay Lake Walking Path
At the shore, I decided to hike around. While you can’t circle the entire lake, there are paths that go about halfway in each direction. I chose the right-hand path, which was opposite the boat-rental docks.
If you want to rent a boat and explore by catamaran, go left. If you want a quieter walk away from the crowds, go right.
Banff, Jasper, and Lake Bled Vibes
Kolsay Lake is beautiful and reminded me of mountain lakes like Lake Bled and those in Banff and Jasper National Parks.
Kolsay Lake Shortcut
When it was time to head back up, I took the shortcut—much steeper but shorter—and there’s a great viewpoint at the top.
This was another moment of disorganization: several group members were late, and there was debate over whether our guide said 3:00 or 3:30. Apparently, he told different people different times.
Final Push: The Road to Kaindy Lake
Back on the van, it was about an hour to Kaindy Lake. To reach the lake, we switched buses to a Soviet Era UAZ minibus. The road is extremely rough and it takes almost an hour to go 12 km. Three times, the UAZ had to drive through the river.
If you get motion sickness, bring medication—the vehicle bounces all over and there’s no air conditioning. It didn’t help that the driver blasted loud music the entire ride.
Getting to Kaindy Lake
Despite the rough ride, Kaindy Lake is spectacular. From the parking area you have three options: walk uphill (~2 km), rent a horse (₸7,000), or ride a Soviet Era Cruiser (₸500).
I was worn out, so I paid ₸1,000 (₸500 each way) for the cruiser. Even after the ride, it was still a steep ~300-meter walk to Kaindy Lake.
Kaindy Lake is Spectacular
Kaindy Lake is like nothing I’ve seen. It was caused by an earthquake that created a natural dam flooding a valley of spruce trees. Today, the lifeless trees still stick out of the water like a phantom forest frozen in time.
Multiple Voice Points and Kaindy Lake
There are multiple viewpoints, and I recommend seeing it from several angles. The walk back up to the cruiser was tough—I was pretty wiped by then.
By this time, it was around 7:30 p.m. and getting dark. Once again, a few group members were late, pushing us further behind schedule.
Back on the UAZ Minibus
It took about an hour to retrace our steps on the Soviet Era UAZ Minibus. Once we were back on the buses, it was another 3.5 hours to Almaty.
We arrived back at 11:15 p.m., 2 hours 15 minutes later than expected. This was disappointing because I had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning for my Altyn-Emel National Park tour. By the time I got to my hotel, it was midnight and I didn’t fall asleep until almost 1:00 a.m.—which made for a very tiring next day.
Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake Tips
It’s hot and sunny—bring sunscreen, a hat, and long sleeves.
Bathrooms get more primitive as you go. Expect squat toilets and bring ₸100 coins for the fee.
Bring plenty of water; there’s a lot of hiking.
Bring snacks or buy snacks along the way.
Wear sturdy footwear—lots of rocky paths.
Do not buy fermented horse milk in a cup without a lid and then try to drink it on the bus. (Yes, someone did this.)
Final Thoughts on Panda Travel
I have mixed reviews. First, through no fault of their own, our original guide got sick; the replacement had 20 minutes to get ready.
Two buses and one guide made for a frustrating setup—our bus didn’t have the guide, and our driver didn’t speak English, so we got little information until we stepped off. The schedule was disorganized. Meeting points and times weren’t clear, and late returns pushed the tour behind.
The sights themselves are stunning. Charyn Canyon and Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes are some of the most amazing places I’ve been—but they’re popular, so don’t expect solitude.
Finally, our driver kept turning off the air conditioning; when it was off, it became unbearably hot, and we had to keep asking him to turn it back on. So yes, I do recommend Panda Travel, but with a few reservations. Know that this is a discount tour and the service will reflect the price.
Join me for a 4 AM–to–late-night push from Almaty: Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, Kolsay Lake, and Kaindy Lake in one go. Expect honest moments, some travel chaos, and the practical tips you need to make this marathon day actually work—plus a straight-up review of Panda Tours.
Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake and Kaindy Lake Tours
I paid for my tour like every other passenger. I never told Panda Travel that I was a blogger or vlogger and did not receive special treatment. If you’d like to book this tour, you can use the link below. I’m a Viator affiliate; if you purchase through my link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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