More details about the Kolsai, Kayidy Sharyn

trekking tour in Almaty mountains, Kazakhstan
COMPLEXITY
Average
accessible to a physically active person
DISTANCE
Transportation: 285 km one way
Day 1: 5 km
Day 2: 10 km
LANGUAGE
English
BACKPACK
Light,
take only basic things and snacks
DURATION
2 days
OVERNIGHT
1 night in guesthouse or hotel

Timeline of Kolsai-Kaindy-Sharyn canyon tour

Day 1
06:00 – 06:30
Day 1
06:00 – 06:30
Meeting point
We will meet in the city center or near your hotel. We usualy have a bus for the tour or a car for small groups.
12:00 – 17:00
12:00 – 17:00
Kolsai Lower lake
We will arrive at the Lower Kolsai Lake and can have lunch right on the shore at a café. After lunch, we’ll take a walk around the lake along the shore to see it from different angles. After the walk, it will be possible to take a boat ride on the lake (not included).
After enjoying the lake, we’ll head to the village of Saty, where we’ll check into a guest house. It’s also possible to stay at a hotel right on the lake shore, but this option requires booking a room in advance.
Day 2
06:00 – 12:00
Day 2
06:00 – 12:00
Kaiyndy lake
After breakfast, we will take a separate vehicle to Lake Kaindy. The road to Kaindy is difficult to pass, so we will hire a separate car to reach the lake.
We will walk to the lake and go around it to descend right to the water and see the sunken trees rising from the water up close. The walking distance is about 5–6 km round trip.
14:30 – 18:00
14:30 – 18:00
Sharyn canyon
After returning to the village, we will have lunch at the guest house, pack our things, and head to the Charyn Canyon. The canyon is about an hour's drive from the village. We will arrive directly at the viewpoint, and from there we will descend into the canyon.
As we move through the canyon gorge, we will see the most beautiful towers rising above us — this part of the gorge is called the Valley of Castles. We will walk 2.5 km to the Charyn River and return either on foot or by taxi through the gorge (optional).
18:00 – 21:30
18:00 – 21:30
Back to the city
After all the adventures of the day, we will leave Charyn Canyon and head to Almaty, the trip will take about 3.5 hours. We will arrive in Almaty late in the evening.

List of essentials for hiking to the Kolsai-Kaindy-Sharyn?

Essentials
  • Passport (border document check)
  • Some cash
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Hygiene supplies
Food
  • Water 1l-2l
  • Thermos with tea
  • Snacks (nutritious bar, fruits for the road)
Clothes (summer)
  • Trekking shirt
  • Fleece jacket\Hoodie
  • Raincoat\Hardshell jacket
  • Trekking trousers
  • Sun hat and buff
  • Trekking shoes
Clothes
(winter)
  • Long sleeve (thermal)
  • Fleece jacket\hoodie
  • Snow pants
  • Demi-season/winter boots
  • Jacket
  • Woolen beanie and gloves
  • Warm socks
What is included in the price of a trip to Kolsai?
Included
Guide service
National park fees
Basic first aid kit
Photo report
Consultation
Not included
Necessary transportation ~ $170 /1 car-3 persons
Lunch - 2 times in a cafe ~ $30
Accomodation in guesthouse (dinner, breakfast) ~ $50
Accomodation in hotel (+breakfast) ~ $100 - $120

Price for individual two-day tour

does not include transportaion or other extra-expenses.
1 person
140 000 tenge
$265
2 persons
180 000 tenge
$340
$170/pp
3 persons
207 000 tenge
$395
$132/pp
4 people
248 000 tenge
$468
$117/pp
5 people
292 000 tenge
$550
$110/pp
6 people
333 000 tenge
$630
$105/pp

Request a call

Where are the Kolsai lakes located?

The Kolsai lakes are located in the Kulsay (Kolsai) gorge between the Trans-Ili Alatau and Kungei Alatau ridges. Kolsay lakes are located on the territory of the Raiymbek district of the Almaty region and are located 10 km north of the border with Kyrgyzstan, 300 km from Almaty.There are 3 lakes in total, they are located at an altitude of about 1000 m, 2500 m, 2700 m above sea level. The Kolsai lakes are surrounded by a picturesque forest of Tien Shan spruce . The depth of the lakes reaches 50 m in which you can find splashing rainbow trout .Our path will run from the first (lower) Kolsai lake to the middle and upper, wilder and less crowded.

Where is Sharyn Canyon located?

Sharyn Canyon is a picturesque, deep gorge in Kazakhstan, stretching 154 km along the Sharyn River valley, near the borders with China and Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the Earth's places that takes your breath away with its beauty and grandeur. Given its size and geological features, Sharyn Canyon is often referred to as the "younger brother" of the Grand Canyon in the United States. Its reddish cliffs, reminiscent of fortress towers, and abysses reaching depths of 150 to 300 meters impress all who visit.
The river carved out the extensive valley in the mountainous rocks, while wind sculpted the fanciful shapes of the cliffs. To preserve the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and the richness of local nature, the Sharyn National Park was established around the canyon in 2004. Travelers visiting here contribute to conservation efforts through an ecological fee. The park is well-maintained, with trash bins placed along the trails.
Flowing through the canyon floor is the Sharyn River, which originates from the southern slopes of the Ketmen Range and carries turquoise waters into the Ili River. This rugged, fast-flowing river stretches for 427 km. The canyon can be observed from the river valley as well as from equipped observation platforms located above the sheer cliffs.

Refund policy for trekking tours

1-2 day tours: If the cancellation is made at least 72 hours in advance, a full refund (100%) will be provided. If the cancellation is made less than 72 hours in advance, a 70% refund will be provided. If the cancellation is made less than 48 hours in advance, a 50% refund will be provided. No refund will be given for cancellations made on the day of the service.
Multiday tours: If the cancellation is made at least 15 calendar days in advance, a full refund (100%) will be provided. If the cancellation is made less than 15 calendar days in advance, the refund will be issued minus actual expenses incurred (such as advance payments for transfers, hotel reservations, food purchases, tickets, etc.), but not exceeding 70% of the tour price. If the cancellation is made less than 7 calendar days in advance, a 50% refund of the tour price will be provided.
Accomodation: When booking a hotel or guest house, the conditions are stricter and the amount is usually non-refundable as early as 7 days before the tour date. Please take this into account when booking the tour.

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