A complete guide to Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan

Part of Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Triangle, the time-worn Charyn Canyon is deeply engraved in the dusty soil of the Kazakh steppe.

Situated at roughly a 3 hour’s drive from Almaty, this impressive national park is without question among the absolute best things to see and do within the country, with the extraordinary Valley of Castles at the heart of it all. 

For roughly 12 million years, wind and water eroded several valleys out of the dry desert terrain, shaping it into the otherworldly deep red-coloured sandstone landscape we admire today.

Walking the scenic Valley of Castles has become a popular point of call to both locals and travellers alike, and hence it was something that topped my bucket list for Kazakhstan.

In this in-depth guide, I’ll share all the key information on how to visit the Charyn Canyon National Park, both independently or as part of a guided tour – plus all the essentials to make the most out of your time here.

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 2022

At the moment of writing – August 2022, the entrance fee to Charyn Canyon National Park is 727 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, air-conditioned transport and grants enough time to explore the canyon – plus it offers pickup and dropoff service at your hotel in Almaty.

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.

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 of renting a car yourself, make sure you check out Rentalcars.com, 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.

What to see and do in Charyn Canyon National Park

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

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.

Best time of day to hike Charyn Canyon

Given that Charyn Canyon is around 3 hour’s drive away from Almaty, it is best to depart from Almaty early in the morning, with the goal to arrive 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 look 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 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 one of my best investments to date. 

HIKING BOOTS OR A GOOD 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.

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.

Stay safe in Kazakhstan | Travel insurance

Since travelling in Kazakhstan is all about hiking and off-the-beaten path adventures, I recommend everyone to sort out adequate travel insurance before setting out on their own adventure.

Where we prefer that everything runs smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s a hiking injury, stolen goods or an accident on the road. 

For travel insurance, I use Heymondo, as they offer full covid-19 coverage, as well as a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Make sure you check it out – readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy too. Additionally, I also recommend World Nomads.