Day 1 / Visit of Almaty 

We will arrive in Almaty in the early afternoon, after meeting you at the airport we will drive to the beautiful Almaty lake about 30 km from the city. The large Almaty lake also called BAO is located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level in the mountains of the Alatau Trans-Ili plateu.

According to scientists over 2,000 years ago there was a strong earthquake in these places that literally moved mountains. As a result of this natural cataclysm a natural dam 38 meters deep was formed creating the lake. Even on hot summer days the water temperature in the lake does not exceed 12 degrees Celsius while the color of the water changes according to the season, the weather and the water temperature. It is a wonderful lake to admire both in summer and in winter.

We will walk near the area and enjoy the view, then we will see some Kazakh traditions and customs in a location near the great Almaty lake.

Included: Breakfast - Lunch
Hotel: 3 or 4 star hotel depending on availability and group size

Day 2 / Departure for Charyn Canyon and Kolsai lake 

The magnificent 3 Kolsai lakes are located 290 kilometers to the southeast of Almaty. This area is surrounded by three splendid alpine lakes, called Kolsai-1, Kolsai-2, and Kolsai-3, situated respectively the altitudes of 1700, 2252, and 2650 meters above sea level. Many people consider them the pearl of the northern Tian Shan mountains.

Even the depth of the lakes is impressive: the deepest point of the first lake is of 80 meters, the second is of approximately 50 meters, and the water in all the lakes is really dark.

We will visit the first Kolsai lake during this trip.

The Charyn Canyon is located in the Charyn National Park, established in 2004 by the Kazakh government. The Charyn valleys is 3 km long, a canyon drained adjacent to the main river with the same name. The river runs along a different track, and millions of years ago this place was hardly under the sea which nowadays stretches from the Alakol lake and the Caspian Sea. This explains the rock formations around the area with its clay rocks that can easily change their shape under the influence of wind and water. This material is excellent for creating sculptures, and the nature creates fantastic forms with this particular type of sand/rocks.

We will explore the area by hiking around and sleep there.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Overnight: tent camp in the park ( or guesthouse ) 
( Hotel and resort around the lake are available on request )

Day 3 / Kaindy Lake - Almaty  

Lake Kaindy is located in Kazakhstan, nestled in the woods of the Tian Shan mountains and is just over 100 kilometers from the city of Almaty. Located at an altitude of about 2,000 meters above sea level, the lake is 400 meters long and reaches a depth of almost 30 meters. It is a mirror of water with beautiful colors, which has become famous for a series of upside-down trees that sprout in the center of its surface. A real submerged forest of spruce trees that show the trunks above the water, while below they hide the branches and leaves.

The origin of the lake is due to a strong earthquake in 1911 which definitively changed the morphology of the Asian valley.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Overnight: 3 Star Hotel ( Upgrate to 4-5 star hotel possible on request )