Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes: A Complete Guide

These are the two lakes that put the Almaty region on travel wish lists. They sit close together near the village of Saty, about five hours east of the city, but they feel nothing alike — Kolsai is a deep green alpine lake in spruce forest, while Kaindy is a flooded valley with dead trees standing upright in turquoise water.

Kolsai: three lakes, not one

Most visitors see Kolsai-1, the lower lake at around 1,800 m. It is the one reachable by car, with a shoreline path, boat and catamaran rental, and guesthouses nearby. It is also the only one that fits comfortably into a day trip.

Kolsai-2 lies about 5 km further up a forest trail, roughly 3–4 hours of walking each way with real elevation gain. Kolsai-3 is higher still and close to the Kyrgyz border. If you want the upper lakes, plan an overnight in Saty — trying to squeeze them into a day trip does not work.

Kaindy: the sunken forest

Kaindy was created by an earthquake in 1911, which triggered a landslide that dammed the valley. The spruce forest drowned, but the cold water preserved the trunks — so bare grey spires still rise straight out of a lake that shifts between turquoise and deep blue depending on the light.

It sits at about 2,000 m, and it is smaller than people expect. Give yourself an hour to walk around, take photos and go down to the water.

The last few kilometres to Kaindy are rough off-road. Regular cars cannot do it: you switch to a UAZ 4x4, then walk 20–30 minutes uphill from the parking area. Horses can be rented on site if the walk is a problem. On our tours the UAZ transfer is included in the price.

How long the trip really takes

Be realistic about the distances. Almaty to Saty is roughly 300 km and about five hours of driving. A one-day trip to both lakes means leaving around 05:00 and returning near 22:00 — it is done constantly and it works, but it is a long day in a vehicle.

• One day, both lakes — departure around 05:00, back around 21:30–22:00.
• One day, lakes plus Charyn canyons — very early start, strict timing at each stop.
• Two days with a night in Saty — far more relaxed, and the only way to also hike to Kolsai-2.

Best time to go

June to September. This is not flexible — outside that window the mountain roads become unreliable and Kaindy in particular can be unreachable. Early autumn is beautiful, with fewer people and golden larch colour, but nights get cold fast.

The lakes sit high enough to be 8–12°C cooler than the city, so a warm layer is worth packing even in July. Swimming is possible in Kolsai but the water is genuinely cold year-round.

Documents and checkpoints

The route passes close to the Kyrgyz border and there are checkpoints on the way. Every traveler needs an original ID document — a passport for foreign citizens, a birth certificate for children. Digital ID through Kaspi or eGov is accepted for Kazakhstani citizens. This is not optional; people are turned back for missing documents.

What to bring

• ID document — required, no exceptions.
• A warm layer and a windproof jacket, even in summer.
• Comfortable walking shoes for the Kaindy trail.
• Snacks and water — options along the route are limited.
• Cash for horse or boat rental on site.

Tour options and prices

Group departures covering Kolsai, Kaindy and the Black Canyon viewpoint start at 13,990 ₸ per person, including the UAZ transfer and park fees. A six-location express version adding the Charyn canyons runs 17,990 ₸. Private tours are priced per vehicle instead, which makes sense for families or anyone who wants to control the departure time and pace.

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates — we will tell you which departures are running and whether the one-day or two-day version fits what you want to see.