3 days 2 nights tour of Charyn canyon, Kaindy lake and Kolsai lake

Itinerary

• 2 nights guest house accommodation with breakfast
• vehicle
• guide
• tickets
• shuttle service by off-road vehicle from Saty village to the parking lot of Kaindy lake
• water

• lunch and dinner
• personal expenses

• tour is subject to change
• weather must be taken into account

• Kaindy lake is 280+ km away from Almaty city center
• Kaindy lake is 12+ km away from Saty village
• road from Saty village to the parking lot of Kaindy lake is bumpy and requires 30-40 min of off-road driving (subject to motion sickness): its condition depends on weather and can be dry, dusty, muddy, icy, snowy, etc. 
• regular local shuttle service operates along this road using off-road vehicles (old Soviet-Russian Uazik, old Mitsubishi Delica or similar): usually they are dirty and have problems with AC/heater
• from the parking lot, a trail leads to the lake: its condition also depends on weather and can be dry, dusty, muddy, icy, snowy, etc.
• there are 3 main ways to get from the parking lot to the lake: 

1. hiking (30-40 min): the most reliable option
2. horse riding (20-30 min): feasible but risky
3. (extra) off-road driving (10-20 min): off-road vehicles are available on-and-off and often crowded 

• in winter, Kaindy lake may be inaccessible due to heavy snowfall

• Kolsai (Lower) lake is 285+ km away from Almaty city center
• Kolsai lake is 14+ km away from Saty village
• on-and-off shuttle service operates between the parking lot and the lake
• depending on weather and season, horse riding and boating are possible

• Kolsai lake consists of 3 lakes: lower lake, middle lake and upper lake
• distance between the lower lake and the middle lake (Kolsai 2) is around 8 km
• Kolsai 2 is risky for hiking: the trail is narrow and off the main area
• trail is like a zigzag, up and down, full of tall trees; small rivers, stones, dust, mud, etc. are also present
• travelers must be fit and strong: no children, no elders, no sick people
• travelers must be prepared to face such outcomes as fatigue, stonefall, treefall, insect bite, etc.
• Kolsai 2 is not accessible for vehicles: only on foot or on a horse
• in case of some urgent issue, a helicopter is not likely to land there
• when there is snow, the trail is almost blocked: no need to risk to reach
• not every guide is able to serve a tour of Kolsai 2, so there will be additional charge to hire an experienced guide
• travelers can skip Kolsai 2 and hike around the lower lake, visit a small cave located a few kilometers away, enjoy easy walking around the lake, etc.
• local cowboys rent out horses to travelers: they are not 100% reliable

Charyn canyon (roughly 154 km in length) lies partly along the route between Almaty and the lake(s)

• Black canyon is 210+ km away from Almaty city center
• there will be a stopover to explore the site

• Moon canyon is 208+ km away from Almaty city center
• there will be a stopover to explore the site

• Charyn canyon's Valley of Castles is 200+ km away from Almaty city center
• on-and-off shuttle service (often crowded) operates within the site

• there is no guarantee that the vehicle will not break down
• provincial infrastructure is less developed compared to the city
• do not expect mobile internet, Wi-Fi, F&B in the province to be as good as in city
• exploring natural sites carries a risk of insect bites
• halal, vegetarian food is available

• Saty village is very touristy
• many comfortable guest houses are available
• several cafes serve meals a la carte
• lunch is approx 5-10 USD per person, dinner is approx 10-15 USD per person

• ID/passport
• rain ponchos or waterproof clothing if rain is expected
• suitable clothes and shoes
• personal hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• cash (notes and coins)
• personal medical supplies

• USD KZT exchange rate is volatile
• do not bring local currency from home country: carry USD or EUR instead

• you will see the world famous Charyn canyon - more info
• you will see lake Kaindy - more info
• you will see lake Kolsai - more info
• you will see so called Black canyon 
• you will see the typical Kazakh province and the Kazakh steppe
• you can taste authentic local cuisine
• you can ride a horse
• it is possible to organize a small picnic

Usually, travelers take a shuttle, but with a Jeep tour, you can go straight from Almaty to the parking lot of Kaindy lake.