place
The Kolsai lakes lie in a spruce-filled gorge in the northern Tian Shan, and nearby Kaindy hides the trunks of a drowned forest. Together they make the most scenic short trip from Almaty.
best time
June–September; May and October with cooler weather
highlights
The Kolsai lakes are a chain of three lakes stepping up a gorge in the Kungey Alatau range, part of a national park close to the Kyrgyz border. Dark spruce forests reach the water, and on calm mornings the lakes reflect the slopes like mirrors. It is one of the best places in Kazakhstan for walking without technical mountaineering.
Kaindy lake, in a neighbouring valley, formed after an earthquake in the early 20th century blocked a gorge. Spruce trees that stood there were flooded, and their bare trunks still rise from the clear, cold water.
The lowest lake is easily reached by road. A path runs along its shore through the forest, and there are boat rentals and guesthouses nearby. It is a good first stop after a long drive.
A marked trail climbs from the first lake through forest and meadows to the second lake, the most photogenic of the three. The third lake lies higher, close to the border zone, and is a long hike; access rules for this section can change, so we check them for your dates. Read our guide to trekking in Central Asia for equipment and fitness tips.
From the main road, a rough track leads up to the Kaindy valley. Local drivers with 4x4 vehicles take visitors to the top, from where a short, steep path goes down to the lake. Come early to see the trunks in calm water and soft light.
Saty is a small village between the two lake areas. Family guesthouses here serve home-cooked meals, and staying overnight gives you an evening and morning in the mountains rather than a long drive back to Almaty.
June to September is the main season, when trails are dry and the weather is warm. Late spring brings green meadows but some snow on higher trails, and early October has autumn colours with cold mornings. In winter the lakes freeze, and access is possible but more limited.
The lakes are reached by road from Almaty, about five hours or more with stops. Most travellers combine the trip with Charyn Canyon, which lies on the way. Public transport is limited, so a private car or minibus with a driver is the practical choice. Our Almaty and the Tian Shan program covers this route.
Kolsai and Kaindy form the core of a short trip to south-east Kazakhstan. Afterwards, travellers usually return to Almaty and continue by road to Bishkek and Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, or fly onwards to Uzbekistan.
Layers for cool mornings and evenings, rain jacket, hiking shoes, sunscreen and water. Cash is useful in the village, where card payment may not be accepted.
Send us your dates and the amount of walking you want to do. We build a program with drivers, guesthouses and optional guides, and send you a quote.
Updated: 2026-10
Two days from Almaty is the minimum, with a night in Saty village. Three days allow a longer hike to the second or third Kolsai lake.
It is a moderate trail through forest, climbing a few hundred metres over several kilometres. Most reasonably fit walkers can do the return trip in a day.
The last section of road is a rough track. Visitors usually take a local 4x4 and then walk down to the lake.
There are guesthouses near the first Kolsai lake and in Saty village. Camping is possible in designated places within the national park.
Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city and the best base in Central Asia for mountain day trips. In the morning you walk through leafy avenues, in the afternoon you can be at 3,000 metres.
Charyn Canyon is the most dramatic landscape within reach of Almaty: red sandstone walls and towers carved by wind and water. It works as a long day trip or as the first stop of a lakes loop.
The Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay ranges offer some of the most rewarding and least crowded trekking in Asia. Here are the main areas, what they suit and how to plan safely.
A modern city at the foot of the mountains, an alpine lake and the canyons of the steppe.
South-east Kazakhstan packs high mountains, canyons and alpine lakes within a few hours of Almaty. We plan private trips and group programs that often continue into Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan.
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Tell us your dates, group and interests — we reply with a program and a quote.
To: Global Destination
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