Almaty: Kolsai, Kaindy Lakes & Black Canyon Full-Day Trip Review

Thinking about seeing some top sights near Almaty, Kazakhstan? A full-day trip to Kolsai Lakes, Kaindy Lake, and the Black Canyon might be just what you’re looking for. We recently took this trip, and well, let me tell you all about what to think about. I’ll touch on everything from the super scenery to just how comfy the ride actually is.

What to expect from the trip

Okay, let’s chat about what your day might look like. Be ready for a seriously long day, almost certainly. Usually, it kicks off early, like way before breakfast hours. You’re often picked up right from wherever you’re staying. This trip packs a lot into a single day, you see, so getting going when the birds do makes complete sense.

The transport they use is usually a minivan or, I guess a smaller bus, might be reasonably alright for the ride, mostly. It depends on the road situations, naturally, but yeah. Plan to spend a fair bit of that time getting from point A to point B because things are a ways apart.

Kolsai Lakes might impress you, just maybe, like they impressed me with this seriously glassy, reflective water surrounded by this kind of massive evergreen forest. You could easily spend a decent bit taking it all in or I would imagine even wandering the banks a tiny bit. Seriously a photo-op paradise there. Kaindy Lake, quite differently, has, like, these skeletal tree trunks coming out straight of this unreal blue water, that may be due to an earthquake way back when, and yes, forming the lake. It’s almost an unbelievably surreal type scene that really sticks in your mind, clearly. Last is the Black Canyon which presents a landscape with, like, super deep gorges and formations with layered textures, clearly shaped by that wind and the river. What a way to, more or less, cap the day’s sight-seeing trifecta, wouldn’t you say?

Kolsai Lakes: A serene experience

Visiting Kolsai Lakes is like stepping straight into a painting that just, honestly, feels both epic and still, nearly. So the biggest of the Kolsai Lakes—the one most trips take you too—is, pretty, set high in the Tian Shan Mountains. Those reflections on the water are very much jaw-dropping, that may be the case with most visitors. The water has this mirror quality that, honestly, reflects the sky and the trees around, almost seamlessly blurring where water ends and the real landscape starts, right, almost.

You could almost spend a relaxed couple of hours chilling around the lake’s shore. Many folks I noticed choose to just walk, but with various trail lengths and difficulty. The longest one allows one to ramble through the woods and with views that are totally gorgeous, apparently. As you would expect the air is noticeably crisper out there, which tends to add to the peace, maybe?

Something else: for the visitor, a small selection of refreshment vendors and snack are nearby the parking spots, which basically means getting a quick bite isn’t all that hard. Or there is always the other option: Pack your sandwiches in advance, as some do. Very often people just do both to almost maximize their opportunities while visiting.

Kaindy Lake: The sunken forest

Then there’s Kaindy Lake, which, in complete contrast to Kolsai, presents something that, like, truly leans toward surreal. You are immediately met with standing-dead trees jutting from the lake as though the water and land battled for dominance decades ago. That scene gives it this ghostly yet strikingly wonderful ambiance, pretty much. The thing you quickly find out about Kaindy Lake: It came from an earthquake in the early 20th century. So the earthquake triggered this pretty significant landslide that blocked the gorge. In turn, the block filled with water, well, in time creating what you view at this day and age.

Since the lake water is cold it just helped in, somewhat, preserving the tree trunks underneath. The effect for people above? Yeah, seriously spectacular and something they certainly haven’t seen elsewhere, too. People snap images endlessly. That explains why it has become this particular thing you have to snap while seeing it.

You need something tough with very good traction to almost reach the lake from that car park area. This isn’t your typical stroll through a manicured park so come set to do a small amount of rough terrain, almost for certain. So I may or may not advise, watch those ankles to nearly avert turning them on some uneven patches.

Black Canyon: A geological marvel

Last up is the Black Canyon. What is on display for the visitor, pretty much, is an amazing transformation the elements have shaped for all of us. Over seriously a long time, running water, and even harsh winds did their number. So it produced these impressive, that could also be menacing, canyon features which makes one feels seriously puny.

Going to the Canyon is basically one quick walk right off where that vehicle can safely park and then that view as that earth falls sharply down just hits you. Many agree on a visual oomph and is very hard to describe as you see them, but seriously gorgeous.

The area might offer a quick spot to stop on any very lengthy itinerary, even with the views from up there giving a worthwhile look for all visiting Kazakhstan. Almost always, you’re fighting dust, pretty much. Also, you very might be fighting for that clear picture shot too since the canyon became very known thanks to media channels.

What makes these trips worth it?

So why is it worth blocking off your entire day for this kind of journey, pretty much? Well, mainly, I think so that a person can soak up lots of distinct things that mother Earth gives to Kazakhstan, just like that. Instead of arranging different journeys with a small window each to observe Kolsai’s tranquility with clear-water surface reflections, and Kaindy’s strange sunken evergreens coupled with a forceful atmosphere down from the chasms along with these bluffs found within Black Canyon: It all happens in a short day trip. For a busy tourist to Kazakhstan I feel they shouldn’t look away due how handy this becomes, pretty much.

Another positive element here really leans onto all aspects of convenience as someone would experience as a customer when doing guided expeditions over this general area and those surrounding, that maybe sounds decent if you hate that constant headache over coordination, pretty much? Well almost from anywhere based out in Alma-Ata is normally served by tour vehicles through hotel frontages on schedule for pick-ups coupled, too, and with the removal of language worries using competent local advisers and tour translators there to fill these boots with, quite almost. Transport/Logistic related matters during one long journey throughout varied landmarks all get streamlined by specialist trip handlers just from morning till evening time as tourists hop within destinations and with virtually limited planning/thought at visitor areas!

Potential downsides and how to work around them

No question this kind day-long activity isn’t right sans various issues at most as it comes attached near logistical aspects here pretty surely. First one being: Seriously lots of driving as you travel by sites at that location – a little while back tourists noted such point concerning transport times could literally sap through all daylight energies when out over roads at hand given trip legs might easily clock near four, or three+ driving hours even when they each were fully filled as a consequence regarding views to witness here on location with it always worth checking regarding the most comfy method to address prolonged drive-spells with possibly more periodic stops for refreshing breaks too?

Next could be timing, quite really. It appears certain planned sight-seeing tours appear tight by each designated setting here or along route areas therefore people are almost forced regarding speedy touring around all popular outlook posts coupled using limited self choices at any individual destinations due mainly with a group-arranged excursion or that timeframe becomes firm for most as what these trip firms can control best within their offered bundles anyway, so maybe prepare as such in going for said adventure, that they get what becomes offered most really through current arrangements with that booking done overall as that comes.

To that last disadvantage I might possibly indicate in food at sight-seeing spots – this usually comes costly too as variety generally shrinks from location areas over here or then at worse this selection probably cannot handle certain diet stuff there, thus make every preparation or stuff snacks when one travels on these journey ventures along. Ultimately the overall excursion gets remarkably filled up. One still finds enjoyment across trips. Simply weigh on ups that exist near downs, really.

What to bring on your Almaty day trip

Preparing adequately is almost super important for these kinds adventures. Make every wear near this with layer-able pieces considering given elevation combined at weather changes could potentially take place in course with what the hour would showcase – perhaps transport wind-resistance shells just, possibly in aiding towards battling such circumstances happening quickly/present within said excursion! A walking footwear becomes virtually vital here also with landscape parts presenting themselves via varying levels in that grounds quality over paths; consider robust boot pairs regarding adequate grips to traverse safely using at a trip’s set locations here especially. Finally remember camera or at cellular tech so moments do possibly get saved using a device when out here across these vista sceneries which can come seriously priceless whenever reflecting, I mean while sitting still in such an outside landscape from Almaty day trips, in short!

Stay super-hydrated while walking using the area since no various liquids normally exist there besides purchased ones by such rest points which can mostly empty banks pretty fast while being costly given that situation.

Final word

An excursion out from Kolsai lakes onto Kaindy or right using Black Canyon almost definitely ends proving themselves incredibly valuable – mostly via experiencing multiple landmarks at such one-setting type trip plus with logistical problems which all happen safely given professional planning coming as default. Sure these drives clock seriously high as excursion limitations do mostly exist there for duration but then it gets nearly minor looking across opportunities at landscape images combined regarding smooth journey types! If convenience as visual experiences tend interesting mostly regarding how one then likes setting up personal daytimes. Yes. Look no longer on bookings via travels along Kolsai Kaindy Canyon!

• Consider the overall length plus possible extended travel during transit intervals by routes.
• Ensure regarding wearing several garment articles suitable per different settings at such excursion – primarily regarding the mountainous regions existing above.
• Do capture vista opportunities across regions via mobile or then dedicated photograph machinery across such day’s trips out as the region’s visuals prove just almost completely picture book ones

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