Canyons & steppe Top pick
Charyn Canyon
The Valley of Castles, red canyon walls and a walk down to the rushing Charyn river.
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- Duration
- 4–5 h
- Distance
- 30 km from Almaty
- Altitude
- 2 511 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Season
- May – Oct
- Price
- Price on request
BAO is the easiest way to see real mountains when you are short on time. The road climbs the Big Almaty gorge, and within an hour you are standing above a turquoise lake ringed by peaks over four thousand metres high.
The colour of the water changes with the seasons: brightest in summer, deep emerald in autumn. Swimming is not allowed — it supplies the city’s drinking water — but the viewpoints are worth every minute.
Highlights
- Viewpoints above the lake
- Sovetov and Ozyorny peaks
- Big Almaty gorge
- Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory (on the way, outside)
Itinerary
- Pick-up at your hotel
- Drive up the gorge with photo stops
- The lake: viewpoints and a short walk
- Drive back down to the city
- Back at your hotel
Times are approximate and depend on the road and your stops.
Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Comfortable car and fuel
- Driver-guide in your language
- Bottled water in the car
- Environmental fee
Not included
- Lunch and personal expenses
What to bring
- Passport or ID
- Comfortable shoes
- A warm layer or windbreaker
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
Season
Other tours
Lakes Top pick
Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes
Kazakhstan’s two most famous mountain lakes in one day: spruce-lined shores and a sunken forest.
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Lakes
Issyk Lake & Turgen Gorge
A mountain lake with a dramatic past and waterfalls in a spruce-filled gorge.
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