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Sydney to Kazakhstan: Almaty, Charyn Canyon and the Kolsai Lakes

Sydney → Almaty → Charyn Canyon → Kolsai Lakes

Almaty
"Almaty_Kök_Töbe.jpg" by Dauren Nabijan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Almaty Kök Töbe (Almaty)
Foto: Dauren Nabijan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tian Shan nature Best season (general guide): Jun–Sep

Almaty sits at the foot of the Tian Shan, and within a day's drive you can reach a desert canyon and alpine lakes. This route spends three nights in the city and three in the mountains to the east. From Sydney you'll connect through an Asian or Gulf hub.

The city has wide, leafy streets and a relaxed feel. Panfilov Park surrounds the wooden Ascension Cathedral, built by Andrei Zenkov. The Green Bazaar is good for dried fruit, nuts and horse-meat sausage, and a cable car rises to Kok-Tobe for a view of the city. Medeu and Shymbulak, just above Almaty, offer an easy taste of the mountains.

The road east to Charyn Canyon crosses the steppe. The Valley of Castles is the most visited section, with red rock walls carved into towers. Walk it early, as there is little shade. From there it is a slow road to Saty, the village near the Kolsai Lakes. The lower lake is easy to reach, and the path to the middle lake is a longer hike. Lake Kaindy has a drowned forest of spruce trunks standing in clear water.

June to September is the season for the lakes. Mountain roads and trails can close after storms, so ask locally before setting out.

Pacing: hire a driver or join a small tour for Charyn and Kolsai, as the roads are long and the turn-offs are poorly signed. Carry cash for park entry and guesthouses near the lakes, and keep a spare day in case of bad weather in the mountains.

Getting there and around: fly into Almaty, go on to Charyn Canyon overland, go on to Kolsai Lakes overland, and return overland to Almaty for the flight home.

Suggested outline

  1. Sydney

    Start

  2. Almaty

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Leafy city with the wooden Zenkov cathedral, the Green Bazaar and Kok-Tobe.

  3. Charyn Canyon

    Overland · 1 night suggested

    A night near the canyon to walk the Valley of Castles early in the day.

    Charyn Canyon
    "Charyn_Canyon,_Kazakhstan_03.jpg" by Bgag, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Kolsai Lakes

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Village base at Saty for the lower and middle Kolsai lakes and Lake Kaindy.

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Almaty — Arrive; Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral· Sydney → Almaty (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Almaty — Green Bazaar; Kok-Tobe
  3. Day 3 · Almaty — Medeu and Shymbulak
  4. Day 4 · Charyn Canyon — Drive east; Valley of Castles trail in the cool hours· Almaty → Charyn Canyon (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Kolsai Lakes — To Saty; Lower Kolsai· Charyn Canyon → Kolsai Lakes (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Kolsai Lakes — Lake Kaindy or a hike toward Middle Kolsai (if open)
  7. Day 7 · Kolsai Lakes — Travel home from Kolsai Lakes· Kolsai Lakes → Almaty (overland), then Almaty → Sydney (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

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Almaty

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Charyn Canyon

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