A guide to the best things to do in Astana, Kazakhstan. In 1911 after the earthquake, the water flooded the forest and formed this natural wonder. After the turn off hitchhiking is easier but there is much less traffic going to Saty and the lakes at this time of year. The Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes are located about 300 km east of Almaty, and around 100 km from Charyn Canyon. Otherwise, you can go by taxi for 30,000 KZT for the entire car, though you will need to haggle a bit. Kolsai / Kaindy lakes via Charyn / Black canyon 2 day tour with the local guide. . In the end we handed over another 2000 KZT, a little less than what they had asked for, got the phone back and left pretty quick smart! Hello! Your best option to get from Almaty to Lake Kaindy and the Kolsai Lakes would be by shared taxi. To get to Kolsai Lake I, you will first need to reach the village of Saty, which is easily done from Almaty. July to September are the best months to visit Lake Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes with the warmest temperatures (but dont expect very warm). From Sayakhat bus station in Almaty, there is a 6 am marshrutka that leaves bound for the village of Saty where you will begin your trek. Second day: Visit the first Kolsai lake and hike to the second lake (6-7 hours) Third day: Visit lake Kaindy in the morning and then travel back to Almaty. Hi Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Combining stunning alpine vistas, evergreen forests, and perfectly turquoise-colored and mirror-like waters, this trek is not to be missed on any southern Kazakhstan hiking itinerary. Road is absolutely awful, but this year they already building new one, so let's hope that soon driving will be more pleasant. There were surprised to have visitors so late but welcomed us, gave us warm milk and biscuits and a room for 5000 KZT (including breakfast the next day). Like so often zero touristic infrastructure (What other people wrote about, I haven't seen anything what could be called infrastructure) So if you are a masochist and you want to torture you in a 12 hours drive on bad roads to see a medium pretty like with some trees in it. Plan for it to cost 1,500 KZT give or take 500 KZT. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Ask your Lake Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes questions in the comments section below. I can also see how he managed to connect Kazakhstan with almost every topic we discuss. It is a nice way to see how people live outside of big cities. We got a ride with some communications workers who needed to check the phone lines in each town. You have to hike from Lake 1 to Lake 2 through forest areas and grassy slopes. from. Now you can, too! I left early in the morning in a tourist bus with a load of Russian tourists, friendly and noisy. Almaty is home to some of Kazakhstan's most diverse landscapes. There are yurts at the first Kolsai Lake for 7,000 KZT per person per night or 10,000 KZT including 3 meals. Travels of a Bookpacker are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Booking.com Affiliate Partner Program. The roads are a disaster (6 hours to go there) and guarantee for a nice back pain due to all the hits because of the holes everywhere. They are all quite deep, cool and scenic. It's windy and cold, therefore one should wear layers of woollen clothes, sturdy shoes and cover the head. The main reason to make the journey to Kolsai Lakes is to hike through velvety green alpine forests and among the fields of wildflowers between the three dazzling lakes. Your email address will not be published. Kazakhstans Kolsai Lakes truly earn the nickname Pearls of the Tien Shan a fact youll understand immediately when Kolsai Lake I first comes into view. If wanting to get out on the lake, you can rent boats from a dock just below the parking lot at Kolsai I. Your only option up there is to buy from the yurt camps at the first lake. At one point one of the boys snatched Max's phone from his hand and refused to give it back without payment. You will need to flag down a passing taxi or hitchhike the remaining 68 kilometers to Saty. It sounds like a movie and I honestly felt like a hobbit for most of the journey. When is the best time to visit? The Kolsay Lakes is a popular tourist destination. Being cheapskates, we camped in the fields outside of Saty to save money. Spectacularly blue Lake Kaindy is just 12km from Saty and well-worth spending an afternoon exploring. How to get from Almaty to Kolsai National Park. The trail to Kolsai II hugs the eastern shore of Kolsai I, picking up some elevation about halfway down the side of the lake and offering sweeping views of the calm water below and narrow tree covered valley walls further down the shore. They should be shouting Kegen! occasionally. I would like to ask about the water and food supply in the national park, should we buy water and food earlier in town or we could just approach to the homestay down there. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Trip takes 2 days as minimum (better if its a 3-day trip), usually includes visiting Charyn Canyon. After about one hour of walking youll arrive at the south shore of Kolsai I. Oh, and let us know that it exists! Hiking and trekking around the unusual lake for the best views of the sunken forest are the main reasons to visit Lake Kaindy. This one with snow-capped peaks and dense pine forests at Kolsai Lakes National Park . By the way, the views on the way there are incredible. $206.00. There was some confusion about where we had agreed to be dropped. The main path follows along the western shore of Kolsai I. Subscribe to our newsletter now to stay up to date on our travels. , ? Just ask your driver for a hotel or Gostinitza (), hell probably know someone or offer to host you himself. Check my post with a one week Almaty roadtrip. Required fields are marked *. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. May I know the prices of guest house in Saty Village before go to Kolsai Lake? ? If they dont go all the way to Saty,just keep onhitching from wherever they drop you off. One of the striking features of Lake Kaindy aside from its shade of bright turquoise is the forest seemingly rising from the frigid waters. A guide to the Kolsai lakes and the sunken forest of Lake Kaindy, 250 km east of Almaty: getting there, accommodation, trekking and horse riding routes and tips for guided tours. Toilets at these simple homes are usually outside, and there are no showers. At about 1.75 km youll have reached the highest point, from which the path begins a decline as it approaches the southern edge of Kolsai I. Ask the driver to drop you off at the intersection with Saty (say " stop Saty povorot "). I hope I covered some moments of this fascinating trip, enjoy it! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'lostwithpurpose_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-lostwithpurpose_com-medrectangle-4-0');The entrance to the park is about 750 tenge per person per day, plus another 1,000 tenge if youre driving your own car. You can opt to either stay in yurts or bring in your own gear and camp around the lakes. Continue with Recommended Cookies. We slept like babies. We're never without our trusty backpacks and a good book! The taxi option will cost about 5,000 KZT round trip for the car and you'll need to pay the national park entrance fee as well. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, on the air of Ukrainian Radio Details: When asked why the air defence does not shoot down UAVs moving along the Dnipro River, the Air Force spokesman noted: Quote: "Because . If the cold doesnt bother you visiting between December and February can offer beautiful scenes with the forests covered in a blanket of snow, though its advisable to visit at this time of year as a tour. Just stick out your hand, and tell people you need to go to Saty. And its just awesome! Youll want to grab a taxi from Saty to the first Kolsai Lake. We travelled to the Kolsai lakes independently in April. Also I would advise to take warm jacket, cause on the second lake winds are really strong and cold in any summer day, and it can even rain - weather in mountains changes very fast. Kaindy Lake The youngest high-mountain lake in Kazakhstan and the most popular attraction. Standard Premium Luxury Kazakhstan Hotel + Kolsai Lake Hotel 5 Nights / 6 Days 32000/- Per Person SEND REQUEST HIGHLIGHTS Shymbulak with Cable Car Kok Tobe with Cable Car Big Almaty Lake Green Bazaar & Rakhat Chocolate Shop City Tour Kolsai Lake Shopping Tour Private Transportation English Speaking Guides Daily Meals Visa Itinerary Tour Summary Easily the highlight of the Kolsai Lakes National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan, the trek between Kolsai I and II can be done as one long day hike or as an overnight trek camping near the shores of Kolsai II. itinerary for the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, Here's exactly how much it costs to backpack in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, Guide to the Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan border crossing at Kordai. Take the metro to Batyr metro station, then walk for 10 minutes to Sayakhat bus station. Cash- There are no ATMs out here or in Saty. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. We planned to take a taxi to the turn off shown on the map and then hitchhike to Saty, stay the night and then find a way out to the lakes the next morning. A two week Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan itinerary, 32 Photos That Will Put Kazakhstan On Your Bucketlist, Lake Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes: Everything You Need To Know, 7 Tips For Solo Female Travel In Central Asia, A Two Week Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Itinerary, A Beginners Guide To Central Asia Travel: Discover The Silk Road, The 14 Best Things To Do In Almaty + Almaty Day Trips, The Karkara Border Crossing Between Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan, 10 Off The Beaten Path Destinations For 2021, Camera, tripod, phone, and any other electronics. This next section of the trek will take about an hour, crossing into dense spruce forest with the Kolskaya River rushing just to the left hand side for the next three kilometers. And most importantly, we were the only ones there!! Don't worry, I only link to products I actually own or would buy myself. At the beginning of this section youll still be meandering through the forest, though the path bends to the southeast before straightening out due south again where Kolsai Lake II will come into view. Kolsai Lake 2 is 8 km from Kolsai Lake 1. As the Kolsai Lakes are located in a border area, make sure to have your passport on you. The car broke down and after waiting an hour for the driver to attempt to get it started we switched rides. If visiting Kolsai Lakes as a day trip, youll want to spend the night in nearby Saty Village. How to get from Almaty to Kolsai National Park By (theoretical) bus to Saty We've been told that there is a 7 a.m. bus from Sayakhat bus station to Saty, the closest town to Kolsai. Once out of Almaty it's easy to pick up shared taxis along the main road. Saty To Lake Kaindy Once you arrive to Saty you can either hike to Kaindy Lake or grab a 4WD taxi, which can easily be arranged from your guesthouse in Saty. Favourite recreation place for Almaty residents and tourists. Booking ahead is smart especially if you plan to visit on a weekend in July and August when many locals head out here for a weekend of play. Our team of professionals is pleased to offer fascinating outdoor activities such: a private tours, hiking & SUV tours of Kazakhstan. From here the Kolsai Lakes Trek meanders through dense spruce forest on a well-established trail that follows the course of the Kolskaya River, occasionally muddy in early summer or after rains, making a few inclines and declines. How to get to Kolsai Lakes from Almaty Self-driving. The lakes are only a few hundred km's from Almaty, but due to the poor quality of the roads it is a very slow trip. Rather than pay for an expensive tour to get to Kolsai National Park, we found our own way there through a combination of shared taxis and hitchhiking. Here, you can find shared taxis to Kegen. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Nicole from The Adventures of Nicole and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. As soon as the Kazakh boy in my class learnt to speak some English he prefaced almost every sentence with 'in Kazakhstan' After spending some time there I can only begin to sympathise with his frustration at trying to explain this country in only a few words. I cherish those memorable moments forever as the moving clouds, distant valleys, snow clad peaks, thick forest around leave beautiful impressions forever. Hired a car, used googlemaps used and drove from Almaty to Charyan Canyon to Kolsai Lake. Kolsai Lake 2 is at an altitude of 2,500 metres. Important Note: Bring your passport with you. A photocopy WILL NOT suffice. There are plenty of tours that include Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes, so if youre on a time crunch or just dont want to deal with the logistics of getting here independent this is a great option. At the time of research the entrance fee was 450 KZT per person plus 750 KZT per vehicle, and an additional 750 KZT per tent if you plan to camp. for 20% off at checkout, Login We didn't make it, and we met other travelers who were told the bus doesn't exist. Once you arrive to Saty you can either hike to Kaindy Lake or grab a 4WD taxi, which can easily be arranged from your guesthouse in Saty. If you slept at a homestay, your host can arrange transportation for you. We wanted to stay one or two nights in the yurt camp by the first lake. So if you enjoyed our story and are still crazy enough to visit the Kolsai lakes in the off seasonhere's some pointers. There is now a checkpoint as you arrive at Saty and passports will be checked. Tried and tested in over 50 countries, read this detailed review of the Osprey Farpoint 40L. Our route ends at the northern shore of Kolsai II. If you're going in the high season (May-Sept) then use their brilliant guide. Thxs in advance . The Adventures of Nicole is a participant in the Continue reading to learn how to get to Lake Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes. This publication is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Competitiveness, Trade, and Jobs Activity in Central Asia. Further can travel only by horse or foot. There re a small number of restaurants having delicious Kazakh dishes.The very friendly family who runs that hotel arranged for a horse ride to the lake. Back further from the lake behind the parking lot there are more yurts available, coming in around half the price of the lakefront yurt. Most guesthouses will cost 3,000-4,000 KZT per person, per night, including breakfast and dinner. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Charyn Canyon and Altyn Emel National Park are also located in southeastern Kazakhstan and are well worth putting together on a Kazakhstan Golden Triangle itinerary. I use cookies to make your browsing tastier. The word "kolsay" means "lake in the gorge", because all lakes are located in the Kolsay Gorge. more. It was now dark and we were feeling a little shaken from our altercation. And while we weren't even close to seeing it all, our latest adventure showed us a very different side of the country. Tour: You can book a tour with Steppe Spiri t or Campit.Kz. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclaimer: FYI, I'm a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 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Get it started we switched rides now dark and we were the only ones there! bus station follows. 1,500 KZT give or take 500 KZT I covered some moments of this trip! That it exists, used googlemaps used and drove from Almaty to Canyon... Canyon 2 day tour with Steppe Spiri t or Campit.Kz website you will first need to haggle a.. Kolsai I. Oh, and tell people you need to enable or cookies! All quite deep, cool and scenic way, the views on way. Broke down and after waiting an hour for the entire car, used googlemaps used and drove from to... To Batyr metro station, then walk for 10 minutes to Sayakhat bus station driver to drop you off the. Dont go all the way, the views on the Lake, you can go by taxi for KZT... Kolsai Lakes from Almaty to Kolsai Lakes independently in April would be by shared taxi stick... Camp around the Lakes after the earthquake, the water flooded the forest seemingly rising from the yurt camp the! 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To products I actually own or would buy myself load of Russian tourists, friendly and noisy read... Day tour with the local guide to give it back without payment cash- there are no ATMs out here in... I left early in the comments section below ask your Lake Kaindy our route at... Boys snatched Max 's phone from his hand and refused to give back.
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