I really enjoyed this tour! The scenery was absolutely stunning, and the entire experience was well worth it. My guide, Konti, was friendly, helpful, and attentive throughout the day. I also appreciated his responsible driving, especially given the distances and terrain involved. Charyn Canyon was absolutely breathtaking but also incredibly cold, so I would definitely recommend dressing warmly and coming prepared. Kolsai Lake was another highlight, with beautiful scenery and excellent food at the restaurant overlooking the lake. The traditional Kazakh tea was especially welcome and a wonderful way to warm up on such a chilly day. As for Kaindy Lake, I had intentionally avoided looking at pictures beforehand because I wanted to be surprised. And wow, was I surprised! I was absolutely blown away by what I saw. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I'm so glad I got to see it without knowing what to expect. Definitely a place worth visiting! Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kazakhstan!

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Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes and Charyn Canyon Small Group Tour

200juergeng, Oct 2026

Great experience!

It was a great tour where we saw and experienced a lot. The hikes were adapted to the participants so that everyone could join in. The Kazakh lunch with a friendly family was delicious and very hearty. Jibek is a very likable young guide who led us competently and caringly. The early wake-up call was worth it!

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Big Trip in 1 Day Kolsai, Kaindy Lake, Black, Charyn, Canyon

sarahfH2199QL, Oct 2026

Huge recommendation

Wow! Fantastic! You really have a lot of time at the stops to explore and also walk around so that you don't have the feeling that you just sat in the car all day, even though it is a lot of driving. Our guide Akser was great! She explained everything very well and the atmosphere was top-notch! All in all a great experience

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1-2 Days Singing dunes & Aktau mountains grouptour to Altyn Emel

Anindita_B, Sep 2026

It was a small group of...

It was a small group of just five, which made the experience feel even more special. Our tour guide, Roman, was very friendly and guided us through the best routes to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the mountains and the magical singing dunes. The homestay was cozy and welcoming, with delicious home cooked meals that added so much warmth to our stay. Overall, it was a wonderful way to experience the beauty, culture, and charm of Baashi Village.

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Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons Day Trip

Kenshu_N, Aug 2026

Amazing Experience, Beautiful Nature

Absolutely fantastic, it was an amazing experience. Below is some information for those considering booking, including some things I was wondering about before booking. First, you depart from the parking lot in front of the circus at 5:00 AM. City buses and the metro aren't running yet, so it's best to get to the meeting point on foot or by using Yandex Go. In my case, boarding started at 5:00 AM and departure was around 5:10 AM, but I think it's better to be there by 4:30 AM just in case. You can't charge your devices on the bus, so I recommend bringing a portable charger. Also, you'll often have to pay in cash for toilet breaks, meals, and activities like horseback riding, so it's good to have some cash on hand. Additionally, it will possibly rain, so I recommend you to bring jacket and umbrella. As for Lake Kaindy, the bus will take you as far as you can walk to. Lunch is free if you bring it yourself, but you can also use the restaurants and cafes there. The tour ended around 10:30 PM, but apparently it can be as late as 11:00 PM depending on traffic.

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Assy Plateau and Issyk lake and Bear Turgen Waterfall Jeep Tour

Giovanni_B, Aug 2026

Wonderful places and service

Assy Plateau is a unique place, with a wonderful view on the immense grasslands without any presence of mass tourism. There were only some shepherd with yurts and grazing horses and cows. This place cannot be missed for an authentic experience of Kazakhstan. The other places we visited, Lake Issyk and Turgen waterfall were very nice too. We especially appreciated how the guide managed the timing to let us avoid the crowds of tourists in these places. Our guide, Zhanna, was very kind and explained us many interesting facts. The vehicle was big and comfortable and the driver was experienced and fast.

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One Day Private Kolsay Lake, Kaindy Lake, Charyn and Black canyon

Alfiya_P, Aug 2026

Pope Family trip to Almaty Kazakhstan

Absolutely fantastic experience! Everything was very well organized from start to finish. Our driver Yernar made the long trip comfortable and enjoyable, and the scenery at Kolsai Lake, Kaindy Lake, and Black Canyon was incredible. A truly memorable day and one of the best experiences of our trip.

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1 Day trip Charyn Canyon Kolsay and Kaindy lakes VIP car

Ashley_W, Jun 2026

Very comprehensive tour,...

Very comprehensive tour of canyon and lakes, a full day. Be prepared for long drives between Almaty and the attractions, plus some fairly strenuous walks, especially if the weather is hot. Tour guide was very friendly and gave commentary at each attraction, plus some adhoc singalongs (not compulsory!) Highlights were the Charyn Canyon and Kaindy Lake. One thing to note; our driver was quite aggressive in driving style (this might be a general Kazakh thing), so do buckle up.

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Treasures of Almaty lakes Kaindy and Kolsai,Charyn Canyon

Giulio_G, Mar 2026

Meeting is at 04:30 but...

Meeting is at 04:30 but bus doesn’t really leave until 05:00+, then gas station stop, so 05:30 by the time you really get going. The bus isn’t that comfortable. Besides this, probably one of the better day trips I’ve done. Super busy, fun, I met a lot of people, cool spots, the horse riding was really good, too. The old bus ride up to the lake was cool, in general it’s quite a well thought out day trip, Luba was lovely and knowledgeable.

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Small-Group Tour: Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes with Charyn Canyons

Robert_H, Mar 2026

An absolute must-do - fantastic tour

This tour was incredible! The canyons and lakes are stunning, and a must-see for anyone visiting Kazakhstan. The tour itself is brilliant - perfectly timed to fit everything in, with an amazing meal in a guest house and a very fun off-road ride in a Soviet UAZ truck that I’ll never forget. Our tour guide Serzh was informative and funny, giving us lots of interesting information about the region and Kazakhstan’s history. If you are travelling to Almaty, you should absolutely do this tour. It’s a long day (5:30am pickup, usually back by 8-10pm depending on the size of the group), but it is absolutely worth the early start. Thank you Serzh!

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