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Kazakhstan · Kazakhstan: Almaty, Charyn Canyon & Kolsai Lakes

Name: Kazakhstan tour package — 5N/6D
Brand: FONIX WORLD Travels
SKU: kazakhstan
Price: 99 INR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (312 reviews)

Almaty, Charyn Canyon and the turquoise Kolsai lakes

4.7312 reviews
5 Nights / 6 Days(5N/6D)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
moderate pace
Great for couples, friends, family

Destinations: Almaty → Charyn Canyon → Kolsai Lakes → Big Almaty Lake

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Overview

About this Kazakhstan trip

Almaty sits right at the foot of the snow-capped Tian Shan, so in one week you get a leafy, café-filled city and some of Central Asia's best scenery. You ride the Medeu–Shymbulak cable car to 3,200 m, then head east to Charyn Canyon, whose red rock walls are often compared to a smaller Grand Canyon. After a night in the village of Saty, you reach the forest-ringed Kolsai lakes and Kaindy Lake, where a sunken spruce forest pokes out of the turquoise water. Back in Almaty, the glacier-fed Big Almaty Lake at 2,500 m gives a last view of the mountains before you fly home.

Almaty's mountain city life, the red walls of Charyn Canyon and the turquoise Kolsai and Big Almaty lakes.

Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Stay: 4-star & village guesthouse
Transport: Private car or van in Almaty and a 4x4 for the canyon and lakes; flights via Delhi
Best time: May to September for lakes and canyons; December to March for snow at Shymbulak
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why Choose Kazakhstan?

Mountain scenery comparable to Switzerland at a fraction of the price
Short flight from India via Delhi, with no long-haul jet lag
Overnight in Saty, so Kolsai and Kaindy are not a 12-hour day trip
4x4 vehicles for the gravel tracks to Kaindy and the canyon
Indian restaurants in Almaty, plus vegetarian meals arranged in Saty
Snow in Shymbulak from December to March and wildflowers in summer

Trip highlights

Medeu–Shymbulak cable car to 3,200 m
Charyn Canyon's Valley of Castles
Kolsai Lake 1 boat ride
Kaindy Lake's sunken forest
Big Almaty Lake
Kok Tobe hill at sunset

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Kazakhstan

6 days, planned end to end

D1
- Arrive at Almaty International Airport, meet-and-greet and hotel transfer
- Afternoon walk in Panfilov Park and around the wooden Ascension Cathedral
- Kok Tobe cable car for sunset views over the city
- Overnight in Almaty
D2
- Drive to Medeu, the world's highest-altitude outdoor skating rink
- Gondola up to Shymbulak ski resort and on to Talgar Pass (3,200 m)
- Snow play in winter or alpine walks in summer
- Evening at the Green Bazaar for dried fruits, nuts and local bread
- Overnight in Almaty
D3
- Drive east (approx. 3.5 hrs) across the steppe to Charyn Canyon
- Walk the Valley of Castles trail down to the Charyn River
- Picnic lunch by the river, then continue to Saty village
- Home-cooked dinner and overnight at a guesthouse in Saty
D4
- Short drive to Kolsai Lake 1; optional boat ride or horse ride along the shore
- 4x4 transfer and short hike to Kaindy Lake and its sunken spruce forest
- Drive back to Almaty (approx. 5 hrs) through the Kungei Alatau foothills
- Overnight in Almaty
D5
- Morning drive up the mountain road to Big Almaty Lake (2,500 m)
- Time for photos of the glacier-fed lake and Soviet Peak
- Afternoon at leisure, or shopping on Arbat pedestrian street
- Farewell dinner, overnight in Almaty
D6
- Breakfast and check-out
- Transfer to Almaty International Airport
- Flight back to Hyderabad

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

Return economy flights Hyderabad–Almaty (via Delhi)
4 nights in a 4-star hotel in Almaty with breakfast
1 night in a guesthouse in Saty village with dinner and breakfast
Private vehicle for city sightseeing and 4x4 vehicle for the Charyn–Kolsai–Kaindy circuit
English-speaking guide for all sightseeing days
Medeu–Shymbulak gondola and Kok Tobe cable car tickets
Charyn Canyon and Kolsai national park entry fees
Picnic lunch at Charyn Canyon
Airport transfers

Not included

Lunches and dinners not mentioned
Boat and horse rides at Kolsai
Ski equipment and ski passes
Tips for driver and guide
Travel insurance
Personal expenses

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

4-star & village guesthouse

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private car or van in Almaty and a 4x4 for the canyon and lakes; flights via Delhi

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Arrive Almaty · Medeu & Shymbulak · Charyn Canyon to Saty · Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes · Big Almaty Lake · Depart Almaty

Route

Route map

9 stops from start to finish

AlmatyStart
2MedeuStop 2
3ShymbulakStop 3
4Charyn CanyonStop 4
5SatyStop 5
6Kolsai LakesStop 6
7Kaindy LakeStop 7
8Big Almaty LakeStop 8
AlmatyFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

May to September for lakes and canyons; December to March for snow at Shymbulak

Things to carry

Warm layers and a windproof jacket (mountain weather changes fast)
Sturdy walking shoes for the canyon and Kaindy trails
Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen for altitude
Small daypack and refillable water bottle
Cash in tenge for Saty (cards are not always accepted)
Basic medicines, including for motion sickness on mountain roads
Universal adapter (Type C/F)

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa for Kazakhstan?

Indian passport holders currently get visa-free entry for up to 14 days per visit. Rules can change, so we re-confirm entry requirements before you fly and help with anything new.

Is altitude a concern?

The highest point is Talgar Pass at about 3,200 m, and you spend only a short time there. Most travellers feel fine; walk slowly and drink plenty of water.

Can I swim in Big Almaty Lake?

No. It is a protected drinking-water reservoir, so swimming is not allowed. Access is sometimes restricted, and our guide checks the day before.

What is the guesthouse in Saty like?

Simple, clean rooms with attached bathrooms and home-cooked Kazakh meals. It is basic compared to the city hotel, but staying there saves a punishing 12-hour return drive.

Is vegetarian food available?

Kazakh cuisine is meat-heavy, but Almaty has Indian and international restaurants and we pre-arrange vegetarian meals in Saty.

Reviews

What travellers say

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4.7

312 traveller ratings

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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