Panda Travel · Charyn Canyon, Kolsay + Kaindy
Panda Travel's long day east of Almaty takes in the red walls of Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lake in its spruce valley and the drowned forest of Kaindy. Pick it as your second day out: it is the other famous trip from the city, and the most-reviewed tour on this site.
Big Almaty Lake is a morning. This is a whole day, and a long one. Panda Travel boards its vans between 4:30 and 5:00 am at Baitursynov 104, opposite the Astana International Hotel at the big bus stop; look for the Panda stickers. A Mercedes Sprinter drives east across the steppe to Charyn Canyon and its red rock walls, then on into the mountains for Kolsay Lake, a long blue lake in a spruce valley, and Kaindy, where the trunks of drowned spruce stand up out of the water. A Soviet-era UAZ minibus covers the rough last stretch.
It has 2,398 reviews at 4.7, more than any other tour here, and the price covers transport, the guide, tickets for Charyn, Kaindy and Kolsay, raincoats and a photo. In summer the route can add Moon Canyon. Food, boats and the optional short horse ride to Kaindy are paid on site, so take cash in tenge.
Be ready for 17 hours. Most of it is road, and guests call it tiring but worth it. The listing rules out pregnant travellers, people with back problems and wheelchair users, mostly because of the bumpy UAZ ride. Do not try to pair it with Big Almaty Lake on the same day: book the lake on another morning, for example with Panda's no-hiking tour, which starts and ends early.
Find the van with Panda stickers at the big bus stop opposite the Astana International Hotel.
The drive east and a walk among the red canyon walls.
The UAZ for the rough road, then the drowned forest. Horse rides optional, paid on site.
Time by the first Kolsay lake in its spruce valley. Boats paid on site.
The long drive back to the city, about 17 hours after you left.
★★★★★Amina is an amazing tour guide. The places we have visited were so magical.
★★★★★Best tour we had. It was tiring but worth it.
★★★★★The canyons, lakes, and the scenery are awe- inspiring.
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About 17 hours. Boarding is 4:30 to 5:00 am at Baitursynov 104, and you return to Almaty late in the evening.
Transport by Mercedes Sprinter (and a UAZ for the last stretch), a guide, tickets to Charyn Canyon, Kaindy and Kolsay, raincoats and a photo. Food, boats and horse rides are paid on site.
Not on the same day. Both start early and go in opposite directions. Do Big Almaty Lake on a morning tour like the no-hiking tour and Charyn on another day.
Different. Kolsay is a long lake in a spruce valley that you can walk along, while Big Almaty Lake is higher, more turquoise in summer and seen from viewpoints only. Our comparison guide covers both.
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Charyn Canyon, Kolsay and Kaindy lakes in one long day from Almaty, transport and entry tickets included.
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