An accessible 4-day circuit that skips the Kolsay-2 trek, making it a perfect choice for families or travelers seeking a more relaxed pace.
1,500 km of open-road scenery balanced with roughly 8 km on foot: short viewpoint walks.
Evenings in village guesthouses with home-style meals, early starts and sunset finishes for soft light, quieter trails, and unhurried photo time.
Our signature route in the Almaty region blends gentle trekking with a string of standout natural sites. From canyon country to alpine lakes, the shifting landscapes offer an accessible, unhurried way to experience the area’s wild beauty.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: AKTAU MOUNTAINS, ALTYN-EMEL
07:00 - Departure from Almaty
08:00 - Scenic drive to Basshi village, the headquarters of Altyn-Emel National Park (255 km)
11:30 - Check-in at the reception office of the national park, visit the Altyn-Emel National Park Visitor Center
12:30 - Lunch at a guest house
13:30 - Departure to Aktau Mountains (70 km)
15:00 - Trek 7 km inside Aktau Mountains, exploring the main canyon, visiting a small canyon, and reaching the top of one of the mountains
18:00 - Visit a 700-year-old willow tree for a photo opportunity (40 km)
19:00 - Accommodation at the guesthouse
20:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
08:00 - Scenic drive to Basshi village, the headquarters of Altyn-Emel National Park (255 km)
11:30 - Check-in at the reception office of the national park, visit the Altyn-Emel National Park Visitor Center
12:30 - Lunch at a guest house
13:30 - Departure to Aktau Mountains (70 km)
15:00 - Trek 7 km inside Aktau Mountains, exploring the main canyon, visiting a small canyon, and reaching the top of one of the mountains
18:00 - Visit a 700-year-old willow tree for a photo opportunity (40 km)
19:00 - Accommodation at the guesthouse
20:00 - Dinner. Overnight stay
DAY 3: CHARYN CANYON
08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 - Departure to Charyn Canyon
11:30 - Arrive at Charyn Canyon Panoramic Sites #1 and #2 - Valley of Castles. A short trek (2 km each way)
13:00 - Lunch break (packed lunch) before continuing the journey
13:30 - Drive to Panoramic Site #3 - Lunar Canyon View
14:15 - Continue to Panoramic Site #4 – Stone Shelf viewpoint
15:00 - Drive to Panoramic Sites #5 and #6 - Napoleon and the Austrian Viewpoint
17:00 - Depart from Charyn Canyon to Saty village
18:00 - Visit the Black Canyon, part of the main canyon of the Charyn River
19:00 - Check in at the guest house and have dinner
20:00 - Overnight stay at the guest house
09:00 - Departure to Charyn Canyon
11:30 - Arrive at Charyn Canyon Panoramic Sites #1 and #2 - Valley of Castles. A short trek (2 km each way)
13:00 - Lunch break (packed lunch) before continuing the journey
13:30 - Drive to Panoramic Site #3 - Lunar Canyon View
14:15 - Continue to Panoramic Site #4 – Stone Shelf viewpoint
15:00 - Drive to Panoramic Sites #5 and #6 - Napoleon and the Austrian Viewpoint
17:00 - Depart from Charyn Canyon to Saty village
18:00 - Visit the Black Canyon, part of the main canyon of the Charyn River
19:00 - Check in at the guest house and have dinner
20:00 - Overnight stay at the guest house
DAY 2: SINGING DUNE, ALTYN-EMEL
08:00 - Breakfast at the guesthouse. Departure to Singing Dune (Aygaykum, 55 km)
12:00 - Return to the guest house (55 km)
13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - Departure to Sculpture Valley (90 km)
15:30 - Trekking inside the Valley (2 km), taking photos
17:00 - Departure to Zharkent town (30 km)
17:30 - Visit The Jarkent Oriental Mosque (1 of 3 Oriental Mosques in the World)
18:00 - Dinner at a cafe
19:00 - Overnight at the hotel
12:00 - Return to the guest house (55 km)
13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - Departure to Sculpture Valley (90 km)
15:30 - Trekking inside the Valley (2 km), taking photos
17:00 - Departure to Zharkent town (30 km)
17:30 - Visit The Jarkent Oriental Mosque (1 of 3 Oriental Mosques in the World)
18:00 - Dinner at a cafe
19:00 - Overnight at the hotel
DAY 4: KOLSAY & KAINDY LAKES
08:00 - Breakfast at the guest house
09:00 - Depart for Kaindy Lake (15 km)
09:30 - Arrive at the parking area and trek to the lake (2 km)
10:30 - Visit three locations at the lake: the shore, the panoramic viewpoint, and the inflow of the Kaindy River into the lake
13:00 - Depart for the guest house, stopping at a panoramic site with views of the Chilik River valley
13:30 - Lunch at the guest house
14:30 - Depart for Kolsay lower lake (15 km)
15:00 - Take a short walk along the shore of Kolsay lake
16:30 - Depart from the lake and head back to Almaty (300 km)
20:30 - Arrive in Almaty
09:00 - Depart for Kaindy Lake (15 km)
09:30 - Arrive at the parking area and trek to the lake (2 km)
10:30 - Visit three locations at the lake: the shore, the panoramic viewpoint, and the inflow of the Kaindy River into the lake
13:00 - Depart for the guest house, stopping at a panoramic site with views of the Chilik River valley
13:30 - Lunch at the guest house
14:30 - Depart for Kolsay lower lake (15 km)
15:00 - Take a short walk along the shore of Kolsay lake
16:30 - Depart from the lake and head back to Almaty (300 km)
20:30 - Arrive in Almaty
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Price List
Included in the tour price
Prices vary depending on the number of people in your group.
6 People
- Comfortable SUV transportation
- Services of an English/Chinese/Russian-speaking guide
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in a guest house in Altyn-Emel
- 1 Nights’ accommodation in a guest house in the Kolsay Lakes
- Three meals a day, excluding breakfast on the first day, dinner on the last day
- National Park Permits & Entrance Fees
- 1.5 liters of drinking water per guest per day
- Personal expenses
- Pet-Friendly Travel: Bringing your furry friends (dogs and cats) along is welcome! A fee of $10 per day applies.
Not included in the tour price
$550 per person ($3 300 total)
$580 per person ($2 900 total)
5 People
4 People
$625 per person ($2 500 total)
$740 per person ($2 220 total)
3 People
Solo Tour
$1 700 total
$950 per person ($1 900 total)
2 People
Photogallery
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