Kolsay

Things to see and do in Kolsay

Kolsay & Kaindy – The Most Beautiful Lakes You’ve Never Heard Of

Three hundred kilometres east of Almaty, the Tian Shan mountains tear open to reveal a staircase of three emerald lakes so pure you can drink straight from them. Lower Kolsay sits at 1,800 m, framed by spruce forests and snow peaks that reflect perfectly on windless mornings. Six kilometres higher, Middle Kolsay hides in a narrow canyon like a secret. And then there’s Kaindy — the sunken forest lake where a 1911 earthquake birthed a turquoise graveyard of drowned spruce trees that still stand upright a century later, their skeletal branches piercing the surface like masts of ghost ships. This is Kazakhstan’s most jaw-dropping day trip — raw, silent, and so beautiful it feels illegal.

Top Activities and Experiences in Kolsay & Kaindy

These are the moments that make you forget how to speak.

First View of Kaindy Lake

Walk the final ridge and watch a turquoise rectangle appear between pine-covered mountains — dead spruce trunks rising from the water like nature’s own Stonehenge.

Boat Ride on Lower Kolsay at Sunrise

Row across mirror-still water while the first light ignites 4,000-metre peaks and steam rises from the surface like dragon breath.

Horse Trek from Lower to Middle Kolsay

Ride Kazakh horses along a narrow trail through wildflower meadows and spruce forests while the canyon walls close in and the lake suddenly opens below you.

Snorkelling Among the Sunken Trees at Kaindy

Put on a wetsuit in summer and swim between 30-metre drowned trunks — the water is so clear you can see every needle on the bottom 10 metres down.

Picnic at Upper Kolsay (3,000 m)

Hike or ride to the highest lake where snow stays year-round and only ibex and golden eagles share the silence with you.

Campfire Under a Billion Stars

Fall asleep in a yurt or tent to the sound of the river while the Milky Way arches so bright it casts shadows on the mountains.

Ready for Turquoise Lakes and Sunken Forests?

Kolsay and Kaindy don’t just show you beauty — they reset your entire understanding of the word. Salem — welcome to Kazakhstan’s secret paradise!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Kolsay & Kaindy

What are the absolute must-do experiences here?

The must-do experiences are the first view of Kaindy’s sunken forest, a sunrise boat ride on Lower Kolsay, horse trekking between the lakes, and camping under the clearest night sky you’ll ever see.

How do I get to Kolsay and Kaindy from Almaty?

The easiest way is to join a guided day tour (4–5 hours each way) or hire a 4×4 with driver. Public transport exists to Saty village but is slow and complicated. Most people visit as a long day trip or overnight.

Can I visit both Kolsay and Kaindy in one day?

Yes, it is possible on a long day trip (depart 6 a.m., return 10 p.m.). You’ll have 1–2 hours at Kaindy and 2–3 hours at Lower Kolsay — enough for photos and short walks, but staying overnight is far more relaxing.

When is the best time to visit?

The best time is June–September when roads are open, wildflowers explode, and water is warm enough for swimming. October brings golden larch forests; winter is only for hardcore snow trekkers.

Is swimming allowed?

Swimming and snorkelling are allowed and encouraged at Kaindy in summer (water ~6–10 °C — wetsuit recommended). Lower Kolsay is colder and usually only for quick dips.

Where should I stay overnight?

Stay in Saty village guesthouses or yurts right on Lower Kolsay lakeshore — Jibek Joly and Kolsay Kulikov are the most popular and beautiful.

Do I need a permit or entrance fee?

Yes — Kolsay National Park charges 750–1,000 tenge per person + car fee. Kaindy is separate (around 500 tenge). Pay at the gates.

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Places to Visit

Lower Kolsay Lake (Mynzhylky)

The most accessible and most photographed — a 1-km-long emerald mirror framed by dense Tian Shan spruce forests and 4,000-metre granite walls. In calm weather the reflection is so perfect you can’t tell which way is up.

Charyn Canyon

Two hours further east, a red-rock canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon in places — the “Valley of Castles” section looks like Mars had a baby with Utah.

Kaindy Lake

A 400-metre-long turquoise rectangle created by the 1911 Kebin earthquake. Perfectly preserved spruce trees stand upright in the water like drowned sentinels, their branches now home to rainbow trout visible 10 metres below the surface.

Middle Kolsay Lake

Six kilometres upstream, reachable only by foot or horse, this narrower lake sits in a dramatic canyon with steep grassy slopes and almost no tourists — pure silence broken only by the river and occasional eagle cries.

Upper Kolsay Lake

At almost 3,000 m and another 7 km further, this is the wildest of the three — snowfields reach the water even in August, and the only inhabitants are ibex and the ghosts of ancient nomads.

Saty Village & Kaiyndy Gorge

A tiny settlement of wooden houses and apple orchards where Kazakh grandmas sell kymyz and honey, and every garden has a view of snow peaks that make you question reality.

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