Where are the Kolsai Lakes

The Kolsai Lakes National Park is nestled in the northern slope of the Tian Shan Mountain Range in southeast Kazakhstan, roughly 300 kilometres from Almaty.

The gateway to the national park is Saty, a small rural village situated just a short distance away from both the Kolsai Lakes National Park and the border with Kyrgyzstan.

Where to stay near the Kolsai Lakes

As mentioned before, the gateway to the Kolsai Lakes is Saty, a small rural village with no shortage of traditional Kazakh homestays. 

Though you will not find the most luxurious of stays in this neck of the woods, I can assure you that you will have one of the most authentic local experiences instead – which to me, made my trip to the Kolsai Lakes so much more memorable. 

Also, it is worth mentioning that the Kolsai Lakes are extremely popular during the weekends, so if you’re planning to make it there at the weekend, make sure you book your accommodation in advance.

If you’re looking to book your accommodation in advance, make sure you explore the available options in Saty on Booking.com.

Kolsai Lakes tickets | Entrance fee 2024

At the moment of writing – September 2024, the entrance fee to the Kolsai Lakes National Park was 845 KZT (€1,60) per person. 

As with many places in this region, I was offered to pay the entrance fee directly and unofficially to the guard, which saved me some money at 500 KZT (€1,-).

After the payment, it is normal that you receive a receipt, which you’ll need upon leaving the park. To avoid paying the entrance twice, make sure you ask for a receipt at the entrance.

Take a walk around the first lake

Whether you’re visiting in the morning or at noon, a walk around the clear blue waters of the first Kolsai Lake is an absolute must.

Start the hike by following the dusty path that runs over the slope on the right-hand side of the lake, and find yourself among lush alpine forests while being welcomed by several stunning vantage points along the way.

Though it’s totally possible to return via the other side of the lake, I wouldn’t recommend it as it’s significantly more challenging, since the trail on the left side is overgrown with all kinds of greenery.

All in all, you should note that the hike takes around 3 to 4 hours out and back.

Head out on the water

If you’re looking for a unique perspective of both the first Kolsai Lake and the surrounding peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range, make sure you rent yourself a boat and head out on the water.

For boat rental, simply walk down to the waterfront, where you’ll stumble upon a few vendors that will rent out boats by the hour at 10.000 KZT (roughly €20,-).   

The boats themselves are easy to navigate and a paddle around the lake is done in about one to two hours if you take it easy, which I highly recommend you to do. 

Do note that if you visit the Kolsai Lakes during the weekend, there might be a chance that you have to wait until there’s a boat available.

Spent the night at the Kolsai Lakes

Whether you’re pitching out your tent next to one of the lakes, having a local experience in a traditional yurt overlooking the first Kolsai Lake, or staying in the Jibek Jolly Guesthouse, spending a night within the Kolsai Lakes National Park is in many ways an incredible adventure.

Off all of the above options, camping is by far the most popular option, especially among locals.

If you’re keen to go camping, your best option is to hike to the second lake, where you’ll find plenty of space to set up your camp. Alternatively, there are a few grassy areas around the first lake too.

It is worth mentioning that you have to pay a small additional fee at the entrance if you’re planning to go camping within the national park.

Alternatively, you will also find several private yurts on the hillside of the first lake, with prices ranging from 7.000 – 10.000 KZT (€14,60 – 20,90) per yurt per night. Do keep in mind that these yurts are most likely only available for rent during the summer months.

Those after some more comfort can also opt for the slightly more pricey Jibek Jolly Guesthouse, a cosy guest house nestled in the hills of the first Kolsai Lake.

Hike to the second and third lake

While the first lake is usually spectacular enough for most of the visitors to the Kolsai Lakes National Park, there’s actually also a great hiking trail that brings you to lakes two and three. 

Running straight through lush alpine forests and hillsides covered with wildflowers and berries, this trail is truly a pleasure to follow.

However, hiking this gorgeous trail comes with a few side notes.

First, there is the time that you have within the park, given it takes at least three to four hours to get to the second lake.

Then there is the fact that this area is close to the border of Kyrgyzstan, which means you’ll have to obtain a special permit before making your way any further – so make sure you have one before starting the hike.

Don’t consider that you can easily hike the area without a permit, as there are guards that patrol the area between the second and third lakes.

All in all, the hike between the first and the second lake is extremely beautiful and a round trip should take around six to seven hours to complete.

Unfortunately, during my trip here, I had to discontinue the hike to the second lake midway due to the wintry weather conditions that approached from the mountains.

The best time of year to visit the Kolsai Lakes

Given the Almaty region experiences fiery heat during the summer and freezing colds during the winter, I believe the best time to visit the Kolsai Lakes is during the shoulder months of April – June, and September – October.

Besides the comfortable weather during these time frames, you will also have an easier time getting there by car or as part of a guided tour from Almaty.

I visited the Kolsai Lakes early in November and was fortunate enough to spend two days here, which granted me the opportunity to see it both on a sunny and a snowy day.

Best time of day to the Kolsai Lakes

As with most natural sceneries in the world, the Kolsai Lakes are stunningly beautiful at sunrise, meaning you might want to set off on an early morning adventure.

However, since the Kolsai Lakes are pretty far from Almaty, it is essential to visit the lakes as part of a multiple-day trip to reap the benefits of an early visit.

While it’s absolutely possible to visit the Kolsai Lakes at any time of day, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting at noon – especially if you’re into serious photography, as the harsh light and reflections on the lake will make shooting here a tad challenging.

Also, given the Kolsai Lakes are part of Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Triangle, the lakes do become quite crowded during the weekends.

How to get to the Kolsai Lakes

Given its remote location in the southeast corner of Kazakhstan, the Kolsai Lakes National Park can be quite challenging to get to.

While I was fortunate enough to travel in a car with a local friend, I totally realize that this option isn’t available to everyone.

For that reason, I’ve listed down some of the best options to get to the Kolsai Lakes National Park.

Join a day tour | Sure, it’s quite an adventure figuring out how to travel to one of the most remote places in the country, but if you’re looking for a hassle-free option, joining a private day trip from Almaty is by far your safest bet.

Though guided tours are somewhat expensive by Kazakh standards, I sincerely believe that it’s one of the most comfortable ways to experience the Kolsai Lakes and Kazakhstan’s Golden Triangle.

While it’s totally possible to book a tour from one of the tourist companies in Almaty, I’d highly recommend sorting out a tour online and in advance.

For those interested, this 2-day tour brings you to the Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy and Charyn Canyon and includes accommodation, air-conditioned transport, meals and entrance fees.

By car | The Kolsai Lakes National Park is located in Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Triangle, where you will also find some of the country’s other major highlights, including Kaindy Lake, Charyn Canyon and the Altyn-Emel National Park. 

Since public transportation is limited and tours are often on the higher price end, renting a car is by far the most convenient option – plus you have all the freedom to craft your hand-tailored Almaty region itinerary and travel at your own pace.

It is for this exact reason that I highly recommend renting a car here.

If you’re looking to visit the Kolsai Lakes National Park by car, I suggest combining your visit with both Kaindy Lake and the Charyn Canyon National Park.

If you’re planning to rent a car yourself, make sure you check out DiscoverCars, as they have a broad range of cars on offer, additional insurance options, and brilliant overall service.

Upon arrival at the Kolsai Lakes National Park, you’ll have parking facilities free of use.

By bus | Getting to the Kolsai Lakes National Park from Almaty by public transport isn’t by any means a trouble-free experience.

Though it is said that a marshrutka (a local bus) leaves from Almaty’s Sayakhat bus station for Saty at 6 in the morning, there is only little information circulating in terms of the departure place, time schedule and reliability of this journey.

If you do manage to catch this bus (please let me know if it exists), you’ll need to continue the journey to Kolsai Lake by either taking a taxi or using your hitchhiking skills to get a ride from Saty. 

The return to Almaty is slightly easier, as most homestays have close contact with the marshrutka driver that travels back to Almaty.

All in all, I believe this option is quite a challenge, yet it will be quite rewarding for those who manage to complete the exhausting, yet adventurous journey.

What to pack for the Kolsai Lakes

As with any adventure in this neck of the woods, I believe it’s essential that you travel with the right type of kit.

To avoid surprises when travelling to this remote corner of the country, I’d highly suggest packing the following items:

Reusable Water Bottle | One travel essential that I carry with me at all times is the Grayl Geopress. This reusable water purification bottle allows me to fill up water from nearly every water source, making it super convenient and one of my absolute best investments to date.

Hiking boots or pair of sturdy sneakers | The terrain at the Kolsai Lakes National Park can be a tad slippery and muddy. While you don’t necessarily need hiking boots, I’d highly recommend wearing a sturdy pair of sneakers. For the last 3 years, I have been using the New Balance Hierro v7, a trail runner that offers all the features of a hiking boot, while still providing the looks of a trendy sneaker.

Wear layers | Although it may be warm in Almaty, the weather out here in the mountains is a totally different experience. For that reason, make sure you wear layers just in case.

Your passport | From what I’ve heard, there is now a checkpoint at Saty where they will ask you for your documents before entering the village.

Snacks | Since there are not many facilities within the national park, I suggest bringing lunch and a few snacks to fuel your adventures around the lakes.

Cash | Even though there’s only one restaurant in the area, it’s always good to carry enough money with you just to be sure.

Sun protection | Most parts around the lakes are fully exposed to the sun, and for that reason, I’d highly recommend packing yourself some sunscreen and a hat.

A camera | It is safe to say that the Kolsai Lakes are one of the best things to see in Kazakhstan, so you’re going to snap loads of photos while you’re there. Make sure you see what’s in my camera bag.

Leave no footprints | As always, remember to respect and appreciate the location, so keep your trash with you at all times.

Onward travel | What’s next

The Kolsai Lakes National Park is part of Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Triangle, a trio of major natural sights in southeast Kazakhstan.

Besides the Kolsai Lakes, this famous region is also home to the Charyn Canyon National Park, the Altyn-Emel National Park and the Kaindy Lake, which are all clearly worthy of your time too.

Where is Charyn Canyon

Located roughly 220 kilometres east of the capital city Almaty, Charyn Canyon is nestled in the eponymous Charyn Canyon National Park at around 3 hour’s drive from the city centre of Almaty.

Also, the national park itself is located quite deserted in the heart of a large steppe at only a stone’s throw away from the Chinese border.

Charyn Canyon tickets | Entrance fee 2024

At the moment of writing – August 2024, the entrance fee to Charyn Canyon National Park is 806 Tenge per person, which comes to roughly €1,50.

Before entering the valley, you’ll stumble upon a small kiosk and an entrance gate, where an officer will ask for your documents (passport and driving license).

How to get to Charyn Canyon

As with most places in Kazakhstan, it can be quite a challenge to get to the Charyn Canyon National Park.

Fortunately, I was able to drive with a local friend, which made the journey to Charyn pretty straightforward. 

Since I realize that this option isn’t available for everyone, I’ve listed down some of the best options to get to Charyn Canyon.

Join a day tour | By far the easiest way to explore Charyn Canyon is by joining a private day trip from Almaty.

While these guided tours are relatively expensive by Kazakh standards, I believe it is still a great way to see Kazakhstan’s unique canyons, which are often mentioned in the same breath as Arizona’s Grand Canyon.

Though it’s completely possible to book a tour from one of the tourist companies in Almaty, I’d highly recommend sorting out a tour online and in advance.

For those interested, this full-day private tour of Charyn Canyon has great reviews, and air-conditioned transport and grants enough time to explore the canyon – plus it offers pickup and dropoff service at your hotel in Almaty.

By bus | Alternatively, you can also jump aboard a bus tour organized by the Ecotourism Information Resource Center (EIRC).

If you’re keen to visit with them, a visit to Charyn Canyon comes for as little as 6.000 KZT (€12,5) per person. After meeting with the guide, the tour takes around 14 hours to complete, with half of that time spent on the bus.

Having said that, this option is actually pretty good, especially for those travelling on a budget.

However, do keep in mind that these bus tours run only in the weekends, when Charyn Canyon is teeming with local Kazakh tourists and international tourists alike.

By car | Charyn Canyon is located in Almaty’s famous golden triangle, where you will also find some of southeast Kazakhstan’s other major highlights, including Kaindy Lake, Kolsai Lakes and the Altyn-Emel National Park. 

Since public transportation is limited and tours are often on the higher price end, renting a car is by far the most convenient option – plus you have all the freedom to craft your Almaty region itinerary and travel at your own pace.

It is for this exact reason that I highly recommend renting a car here.

If you’re planning to visit Charyn Canyon by car, I suggest combining your visit with both Kaindy Lake and the Kolsai Lakes.

If you’re planning to rent a car yourself, make sure you check out DiscoverCars, as they have a broad range of cars on offer, additional insurance options, and brilliant overall service.

Upon arrival at the Charyn Canyon National Park, you’ll have ​​free parking facilities.

Take a leisurely walk through the Valley of Castles

If you’re anything like me, then I’m pretty confident that you can’t wait to venture into the valley when you see it for the first time from the parking lot.

Trust me, I felt the same.

As soon as you follow the steep path downwards, you’ll be flanked by towering canyon walls that have been shaped slowly over the course of 12 million years – which is pretty damn awesome if you think about it.

The 4-kilometre ‘out-and-back’ trail runs straight through the valley and takes you along countless impressive rock structures before you end up at the river and the Eco park.

While the trail is not officially marked, the Valley of Castle is pretty straightforward to navigate and takes around 3 hours to complete if you take it easy.

Overlook the Valley of Castles

Possibly one of the most iconic sights in the region, the Valley of Castles is a remarkable sight to behold, especially if you see it from the edge of one of the many viewpoints.

Carved deep into the Kazakh steppe, this picturesque valley is often referred to as a scaled-down version of the Grand Canyon, making it by far the most popular point of call within the Charyn Canyon National Park.

Go rafting on the Charyn River

Those with the time and flexibility to explore the national park a bit more thoroughly will be thrilled to read that it’s also possible to go rafting on the Charyn River.

Starting at the Valley of Castles, the Charyn River runs between enormous time-worn canyon walls and will lead you all the way to the Kerbulak Gorge.

While I didn’t go rafting myself, I can imagine that it’s quite an adventure as well as a great way to experience the Charyn Canyon from an alternative perspective.

It’s good to note that you should arrange your rafting tour prior to your visit to the national park. 

Should you choose to join a rafting tour, make sure you check out Silk Road Explore.

Spent the night at Chary Canyon

Likely more of an option for the more adventurous souls, but it’s completely possible to spend the night within the Charyn National Park.

At the end of the Valley of Castles and right next to the Charyn River, you will stumble upon a small Eco park offering several yurts (45.000 KZT for groups of up to 10 people) and a handful of wooden bungalows (14.000 KZT for 2 people) that you can rent for the night. 

Additionally, you can also set up camp at the designated camping spots near the river if you pay an additional 350 KZT at the entrance of the park.

While it is said that there’s a small restaurant at the site, I didn’t see it during my visit, so I’d recommend bringing your own food just to be sure.

Take a short detour to the Black Valley

If you simply can’t get enough of all the dramatic landscapes found in this region, I’m sure that you’ll be pretty happy with this additional stop.

While it’s slightly off the route and not officially part of the Charyn Canyon National Park, the Black Valley is a remarkable natural spectacle of its own accord and definitely worthy of your time.

Standing at the edge of the valley, it will become pretty clear that it’s an otherworldly place; to me, it even displays similarities to landscapes that are commonly found in Iceland.

Unfortunately, visiting the Black Valley isn’t included in most of the tours, so you might want to grab yourself a rental if you’re heading to this neck of the woods.

Where | The Black Valley

The best time of year to visit Charyn Canyon

The Almaty region is known to experience scorching heat during the summer and freezing colds during the winter, and for that exact reason, I highly recommend visiting Charyn Canyon during the shoulder months of April – June, and September – October. 

Not only is the temperature far more convenient during these periods, but the region is also far more accessible by car or as part of a guided tour from Almaty.

I personally visited Charyn Canyon early in November and was blessed with excellent circumstances during my visit, as well as the luxury to have this amazing place completely to myself.

The best time of day to hike Charyn Canyon

Given that Charyn Canyon is around 3-hour drive away from Almaty, it is best to depart from Almaty early in the morning, with the goal of arriving at the national park before noon.

Also, since Charyn Canyon is deemed one of Kazakhstan’s most famous landmarks, it becomes pretty busy during the weekends, especially throughout the local holidays.

Therefore, I believe it’s best to visit Charyn Canyon on a weekday when it’s far less overrun by local visitors and foreigners alike.

However, if you don’t have access to a car or are looking to visit Charyn Canyon on a budget, the cheapest way to visit the canyon is by joining a day tour from Almaty that runs on Saturday and Sunday.

What to pack for Charyn Canyon

As with any adventure in this neck of the woods, it’s vital that you travel with the right type of kit.

To avoid surprises when travelling to this remote corner of the country, I’d highly suggest packing the following items:

Reusable Water Bottle | One travel essential that I carry with me at all times is the Grayl Geopress. This reusable water purification bottle allows me to fill up water from nearly every water source, making it super convenient and one of my absolute best investments to date.

Hiking boots or a sturdy pair of sneakers | The terrain at Charyn Canyon can be a bit rough and dodgy. While you don’t necessarily need hiking boots, I’d highly recommend wearing a sturdy pair of sneakers. For the last 3 years, I have been using the New Balance Hierro v7, a trail runner that offers all the features of a hiking boot, while still providing the looks of a trendy sneaker.

Snacks | Since there are not many facilities at Charyn Canyon, I suggest bringing lunch and a few snacks to fuel your adventures within the national park.

Cash | Even though it’s difficult to find stores and restaurants in this area, it’s always good to carry enough cash with you just to be sure.

Sun protection | Charyn Canyon is fully exposed to the sun, and for that reason, I’d strongly recommend packing sunscreen and a hat.

A camera | It is safe to say that Charyn Canyon is one of Kazakhstan’s finest natural sceneries, so you’re going to snap loads of photos while you’re there. Make sure you see what’s in my camera bag.

Leave no footprints | Always remember to respect and appreciate the location, so keep your trash with you at all times.

Onward travel | What’s next

Charyn Canyon is part of Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Triangle, which also includes the Altyn-Emel National Park and the Kolsai Lakes.

Additionally, you should also not overlook the incredibly scenic Kaindy Lake just a few kilometres away from Saty.