National park
Charyn Canyon
A canyon up to 370 m deep and the Valley of Castles, 195 km from Almaty — the classic day trip.
Nature near Almaty
Canyons, mountain lakes and a desert with a singing dune — a few hours from the city. For each place: how to get there, park entry fees, rules and tours from the catalogue.
Where to go
National park
Kolsai Lakes
Three mountain lakes among Tian Shan spruces: a boat ride on the Lower lake and a trail to the Middle one.
National park
Kaindy Lake
A lake at 1867 m with trunks of drowned spruces sticking out of the water — a trace of the 1911 earthquake.
National park
Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise lake at about 2500 m, 30 km from the city, in Ile-Alatau National Park.
National park
Altyn-Emel National Park
The Singing Dune, the white Aktau Mountains and the volcanic Katutau — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Related tours
Nature
group
Charyn Canyon and the Valley of Castles in One Day
A drive across the steppe to the canyon, a walk down the Valley of Castles to the Charyn River and lunch by the water.
Mon, 9 NovTue, 10 NovWed, 11 NovThu, 12 Nov
from 18,000 ₸per person≈ $40
demo
Nature
group
Kolsai and Kaindy: Two Mountain Lakes
A lake with a sunken spruce forest, its trunks rising out of the water, and the quiet shore of Kolsai.
Tue, 10 NovThu, 12 NovSat, 14 NovSun, 15 Nov
from 22,000 ₸per person≈ $48
demo
Nature
private
Big Almaty Lake at Sunset
A short drive into the mountains with a guide: turquoise water, Tian Shan peaks and tea from a thermos.
Mon, 9 NovTue, 10 NovWed, 11 NovThu, 12 Nov
from 45,000 ₸per group≈ $99
demo
Multi-day
group
Altyn-Emel: Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains
Two days in the national park: the Singing Dune, the multicoloured Aktau Mountains and a night at a guesthouse.
Fri, 13 NovFri, 20 NovFri, 27 NovFri, 4 Dec
from 95,000 ₸per person≈ $210
demo
Jeep tours
private
Golden Ring of Zhetysu: Altyn-Emel, Charyn and Kolsai
Five days through Zhetysu's top sights: Tamgaly-Tas petroglyphs, the Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains, Chundzha hot springs, Charyn, and lakes Kaindy and Kolsai.
Mon, 9 NovTue, 10 NovWed, 11 NovThu, 12 Nov
from $2,083per car
Din-JeepTrip
Jeep tours
private
Kolsai and Kaindy by Jeep in 2 Days
Over the Kokpek and Alasa passes to Lake Kaindy and its sunken forest, a night by Kolsai, and on the way back the Valley of Castles and Charyn's Black Canyon.
Mon, 9 NovTue, 10 NovWed, 11 NovThu, 12 Nov
from $685per car
Din-JeepTrip
Before you go
National park entry is paid and set in MCI (in 2026, 1 MCI = 4,325 ₸). It’s easiest to pay in advance in Kaspi — keep the ticket until you leave.
Swimming in mountain lakes, fires and camping outside designated areas are not allowed. A tour is the easiest option: transport, guide and tickets are included or arranged by the organiser.