Charyn National Park is in Almaty Region, about 195–200 km east of the city. The canyon walls rise up to 370 m, and the park protects a relict grove of Sogdian ash that has survived since the Ice Age.
The park has four trails with a total length of 30.5 km. The best known is "Charyn Canyon – Valley of Castles": 3 km from the checkpoint to the Charyn River, about 1 h 45 min one way. The trails are easy and suitable for children and older visitors. You can stay overnight in guesthouses by the Charyn ash grove and in Chundzha (Shonzhy) village.
195 km along the Almaty – Narynkol highway: after the turn-off to Chundzha (Shonzhy), continue 16 km towards Narynkol, then turn left at the sign and drive 10 km on asphalt to the checkpoint. Since 2019 private cars may not drive down into the canyon — the park shuttle takes you down. The easiest option is a day tour from Almaty.
A drive across the steppe to the canyon, a walk down the Valley of Castles to the Charyn River and lunch by the water.
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.
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.
Five canyons in two days: the Valley of Castles, Bestamak, Temirlik with a night in tents, Moon Canyon and Aktogay.
A week of camping in little-known places: Temirlik Gorge, a waterfall in the Tekes Valley, Komirshi Gorge, Lake Tuzkol, Ketmen Pass and Charyn.
Checked against official sources on 5 November 2026. [1] [2] [3] [4]
