Name: Grand Canyon & Mysterious Lakes | Weekend in Kazakhstan
Start: 2025-05-16T08:00:00.000Z
Location: Abu Dhabi

Welcome to Kazakhstan! **9th largest world country** is filled with diverse nature, steppes and mountains, which makes it difficult for us to choose its best locations. The most representative to the whole region are Tien Shan Mountains, massive mountain range that runs all throughout stans, all the way to China. What is remarkable here is the gorgeous **Alpine landscape with forest, valleys and snowy peaks.**

We will travel North to **Kolsay Lakes** to experience its tranquility and stretch our knees over some wonderful trails nearby, before we hit the Gorge called **Grand Canyon**, known for its stunning similarity to its bigger brother.

**Let's go!**

**DAY 1 // Friday**
Meeting at Abu Dhabi Airport at 12:00 for a direct flight to Almaty at 14:15. Arrival, immigration clearance, overnight in hotel.

**DAY 2 // Saturday**
Transfer to Kolsay lakes with breakfast on the way, short rest.

**Kolsay Lakes** area is one of the most beautiful examples of Kazakhstan nature, known as the pearl of Northern Tien Shan. The lakes are located 1800, 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. Kolsay is a perfect place for camps, trekking and mountain biking. The lower and the middle lakes are filled with playing trout at sunsets. The Upper Kolsay is located 4 km further and 600 meters higher than the second lake, while Kyrgyzstan border is 6 kilometres away from the lake.

There is a great view here of the Kyrgyz Lake Issyk-Kul from the Sary-Bulak pass (3278 masl). If you visit the place, **you will never forget its beauty, quietness and tranquility surrounding it**. When the water is perfectly calm, it reflects the sky and the fascinating mountainous scenery.

**We will do 2 treks today: along Kolsay (1hr) and Kayindy (2hrs) lakes, enjoying crystal clear, natural beauty at its best.**

After lunch, we move further on to Kaindy. You can optionally do horse riding at the village.

**Lake Kaiyndy** is a mysterious place in a piedmont area 1800 meters above sea level, surrounded by a spruce forest and mountain peaks. Kaiyndy in Kazakh means "birch". The paradox is that the Kaiyndy Lake is surrounded by a magnificent pine forests. The explanation is simple: the biggest birch grove on the entire Tien Shan is in the gorge below the lake, which gave its name to the gorge, river and lake.

The reservoir was created after tectonic collapse as a result of the catastrophic earthquake in early twentieth century.

Overnight at homestay.

**Day 3 // Sunday**

**Charyn Canyon** is an astonishing natural monument comprising of rock, sediments, pillars and towers from around 12 million years ago. It is one of the unique natural objects, where the erosion process played the artist and sculpted the fragile sedimentary rocks in the artwork. The canyon is often compared to the North American Grand Canyon. Gorge is located in the Charyn national park created to preserve its natural and geological objects, a home to a large number of rare and endangered species of animals. We will have a chance to trek inside the Canyon to see it from various angles. Further on we will go back to Almaty, enjoy dinner in local restaurant. Transfer to airport for a a flight back to Abu Dhabi. Back home at 00:25 am.

**Level of difficulty:** easy, available for beginners.

**Activities:** trekking, sightseeing, optional horse riding.

**Cost: AED 3570** all incl. flights, **until MAY 4th.**

**Accommodation. & meals:** included - accommodation in local house and hotel - double sharing, local meals.

**Specifically excluded:** Any costs related to visas, insurance, meals on transfers (Almaty), optional horse riding, entry fees if any.

**Visas:** cost not included in trip budget:

**At the time of writing 60 nationalities are visa free:** **EU,** Argentina, Armenia, **Australia**, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, **Belarus, Brazil**, **Canada**, **Chile,** **China,** **Colombia,** Ecuador, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, **India,** Indonesia, **Iran,** Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, **Malaysia**, **Mexico**, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, **New Zealand, Norway**, Oman, **Philippines**, Qatar, **Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore**, South Korea, **Switzerland**, Tajikistan, Thailand, **Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States**, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

**Other Passports:** Evisa or Consulate visa.

**It is sole responsibility of participant to secure entry to country of destination at the time of travel.**

See yah in Kazakhstan x

Trekkup Crew
[Whatsapp 050 - 4848238](https://wa.me/971504848238) / [linktr.ee/trekkup](https://linktr.ee/trekkup)

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Grand Canyon & Mysterious Lakes | Weekend in Kazakhstan

Abu Dhabi 

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