Almaty Tour Review: Experiencing Kolsay, Kaindy & Charyn Canyon in 2 Days

Alright, so you’re maybe thinking of escaping Almaty’s urban hustle for a couple of days? Possibly hitting up some of Kazakhstan’s most stunning spots? The two-day tour to Kolsay Lakes, Kaindy Lake, and Charyn Canyon might just be something that sounds good to you. I mean, this is very much the trip that throws a good sample of natural beauty right at you. Anyway, I went on it, too, and wanted to lay out what I felt worked, what didn’t quite sparkle, that, and all those bits that might aid your planning. Ready? Let’s check it out!

First Stop: Kolsay Lakes – Glimpses of Alpine Serenity

Okay, so first thing on the trip? That’d be the Kolsay Lakes. These are actually a chain of three lakes, and the tour generally focuses on the first one, Lower Kolsay. It’s, in a way, really lovely. Think of those postcard scenes of bright blue water, hugged by super-steep pine trees, alright? We, too, arrived in the morning, and that light made every color seem almost ridiculously bright. Now, the lower lake, too, is easily approachable – you can walk around a chunk of it without much struggle. But the other two? They, too, require some serious hiking time, and unless your group is basically geared up for that, those second and third Kolsay remain kinda distant viewpoints. Anyway, horse riding around the lake is quite the norm if that’s for you, which seemed fun, I guess? If you are imagining something really adventurous, this might come across just a little tame, possibly? Yet the setting? Seriously is striking.

Now, here are very quick pros and cons, so that you know. The pros, like your classic good views and fairly accessible trails are easy to enjoy, also horse-riding. Cons? So, a fairly touristy spot and limited ability to see all three lakes fully on the kind of rushed tour. Keep those things in mind.

Next Up: Lake Kaindy – The Sunken Forest Wonder

Lake Kaindy? Maybe that’s the real visual banger on this tour, and is something unique. It’s known for those super-eerie, bare tree trunks jutting out straight from the water. So, that lake was created by an earthquake back in the day, and flooded the forest; is that something you would have known? Anyway, the water tends to be cold, yet crystal clear, that allows you glimpses of the submerged forest. Like your typical picture stop. Keep in mind, though, that, too, the road that leads to Kaindy is just that, a road. It’s bumpy and can be kind of a pain. When it is raining, a 4×4 becomes seriously valuable, or even pretty important.

Also, too, getting down to the lakeside is fairly easy enough, like you’ve got a bit of a downhill walk. Now, there are optional short hikes around that can be done, too. This location is often, possibly, fairly packed with folk wanting that winning selfie. I, in some respects, found that it pays to wait just a little for quieter moments, because, at that point, you will grab better, less-person-filled shots. It is that unique landscape which made this, anyway, my favorite stop. So, bring good walking shoes for the sloping paths, like your old trainers!

Kaindy’s good sides? A stunning and unusual lake scenery is right here, and is an easy access for views. The not-so-good parts? Crowds can sometimes be a bother, the trip down is rough, plus you may have some bother getting around when it rains.

Day 2: Charyn Canyon – Kazakhstan’s Grand Canyon Impression

Alright, so moving right along to Day Two takes us to Charyn Canyon, sometimes called the “little brother” of the Grand Canyon. Frankly, that’s a solid intro! The landscape gives the impression of walking around an American national park, but guess what? That’s Kazakhstan, as a matter of fact! The canyon walls, by the way, rise high and can sport a really nice range of shades, as well as shapes, depending on where the sun hits. So, most tours go to the Valley of Castles, arguably that canyon’s most famed segment. You can trek down into that canyon, which is so that you get up close and personal with those formations.

Okay, two cents time: so, summers in Almaty? Might just be super toasty. And Charyn? In that heat, hiking through there feels like your own personal desert challenge, right? Get some head covering, seriously, and bring water, yet, water! In spring, it’s almost more gorgeous, when those flowers spring to life. The canyon doesn’t just offer viewing, too. I mean, bird-watchers get pretty thrilled spotting the different species nesting and cruising about that area, so keep eyes open, maybe?

Also, so you can say this. The perks? That it is a spectacular scale of canyon landscape. And there are many cool walking and spotting activities here! Drawbacks? It is possibly, really hot here, particularly in that summer. And not a lot of shady spots!

Tour Logistics: What to Expect, Too

I think that how the trip goes kinda matters, so check this. Most “Kolsay-Kaindy-Charyn” tours get you, as a matter of fact, doing all of that by bus, jeep, or some blend of vehicles. Now, it isn’t uncommon for there to be tons of driving. Like a serious number of kilometers covered in those two days! The kinds of guides who join you, they tend to chat about local tales, that history stuff, that culture vibe, yet mostly, they have something arranged in Russian. Confirm what the languages provided might be. Food-wise? Usually that’s a mix of places in towns or pre-ordered meals – mostly that is decent standard but by no means fine restaurant-style fare.

Anyway, places for sleeping are often, too, in guesthouses nearby the Kolsay region. Simple things and tidy places! Really do check what exactly is included on your tour package. Does your tour offer stuff like park-entrance prices, eco-charges, plus permits, right? Getting blindsided on the fees kind of stinks!

Making the Most of the Trip: Tips and Pointers

Alright, now here are some tips I can help with. So, wearing sensible boots will aid, like you know. Tracks are sometimes slick! Packing for every kind of weather, in some respects, because those mountains tend to see quickly shifts in conditions, that is another bright concept. Layers, layers, and more layers. The usual drill!

Here, maybe? Take the usual travel basics: bug dope, sunscreen stuff, small med supplies, yet, yeah, that. Maybe throw your smartphone onto offline map setting. It isn’t rare getting little or even zero signal in these parks and valleys! A portable charging brick? Can assist! And seriously, so consider travel insurance! Like an oops-proof blanket, possibly.

Being adaptable counts massively as a traveler! Schedules go wobbly every so often, especially concerning Kazak roads, so possibly embrace the unexpected! Learn just several key phrases in either Kazakh or Russian; showing a bit of initiative to talk the tongue kind of does help for the relationships.

• Gear Up Smartly: Comfortable walking footwear are so that you can get good terrain action, also always have something handy just in case for warmth!
• Charge it up! Think of holding battery charging blocks handy to possibly handle a few Instagram minutes amid limited energy entryways.
• Stay open-minded: Stay patient during travels because adjustments to that timetable just happen sometimes.
• Be ecologically responsible: Respect mother nature always- no one cherishes rubbish discarded anywhere at such spectacular locations.