Kolsay & Kaindy Lakes: A Review of a Day Trip from Almaty

So, you’re thinking of checking out the Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes on a day trip coming from Almaty, is that right? Well, let me share my experience, so you get what’s coming! That it’s a long one, I tell you, but it’s certainly memorable. Very quickly, it turns into a “highlight of my Kazakhstan trip” type of situation. It’s a seriously pretty area, and I reckon anyone who digs striking nature spots ought to add it to their travel list, that’s the truth!

The Early Start and Drive From Almaty

Alright, so the day starts rather early. Expect a pickup between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, give or take. Anyway, the vehicle is usually a van, maybe an SUV in some cases, to make it comfortable for everyone. We were about seven folks altogether when I went. This tour normally throws together small groups. Right away, you can, like, chat to people coming from all around! Now, the ride to the Kolsay Lakes takes around 3 to 4 hours, I want to say. It’s fairly long, that it is. We zipped across the Kazakh landscape, that’s a mix of open plains, smaller villages, and rolling hills later as you get rather close to the mountains. The driver usually, in a way, stops at a local place to get some grub. Maybe you grab a quick pastry or fill up with some plov, Kazakhstan’s sort of national rice dish, you know, depending on where they pull over. Anyway, stretch your legs, use the restrooms, and take it all in; that’s a tip! Seriously, those long rides go by very fast, and you will need this.

Kolsay Lake #1: A Tranquil Beauty

Anyway, after the drive, you make it to the first Kolsay Lake – Kolsay Lake #1, that’s what it’s named! Just getting out and laying your eyes on the turquoise water and the huge pine trees almost feels unreal. Anyway, it is really tranquil! The setting, in a way, just asks you to slow it down and just take the area. This stop tends to be, like, one of the longer ones. So there’s room to explore. Usually, the guide has time fixed for folks who feel like hiking some bits or renting a boat and skimming about a bit on the water. If you’re up for something pretty mellow, just chilling near the banks works, just snap shots and, in a way, breathe in the super fresh mountain air! We spent at least two hours here, arguably. Some walked round part of the lake and back, you know. That lake and, in a way, seeing it just sit beneath those forests made a massive splash with me. I reckon if I get back that side of the world again, I’m giving that spot another look-in, obviously!

Lunch with a View

Alright, lunch usually comes straight after your time looking about Kolsay Lake #1, you see. More or less, the guides already sort of arranged everything at a local guest house. This means sitting for an authentic homemade meal, a pretty generous amount. I filled up on stuff, that I did. I would say that this typically turns out as several Kazakh plates and salads. There is always hot tea on offer, just so you warm up properly, I mean, if you’ve rocked up at a cooler time of year. The view whilst you are sat munching adds a whole level of enjoyment to this experience. Eating up dishes after taking that air in earlier while gazing at nature seemed special, I swear! The guest house also seems welcoming. They also add something really valuable to trips. By, say, providing that taste regarding authentic local culture, that sort of is central. I mean it’s key when viewing somewhere that you get it from lots of points!

Kaindy Lake: The Sunken Forest

After filling up during lunch, it’s Kaindy Lake, like your next visit! The van ride just gets close, then its like, walking it from the parking. You will want decent shoes! The short stroll downwards goes through some woods. Then the reward sort of slaps you once you have a first sight of that water with the old trees reaching directly outwards. Pretty dramatic that thing, is that not right? That happened due to earthquake bits causing an almighty landslide years ago. The lake sort of formed rapidly. So then this collection, of, say, submerged trees basically remains just standing here! Kaindy seemed even eerier because it looked unlike anything I had checked out, that is a strong shout. This really does become rather special, and folks are often just quiet during this point, gazing regarding it for quite a while to ingest it. Most certainly take many photos so you treasure them later! You can ramble near the edges here as well, in some respects. Otherwise simply absorb stuff from various spots and perspectives. This location also lets your imagination run amok! It actually feels somewhat mysterious. That vision certainly sticks a while following everything.

The Ride Back to Almaty

Then, like your Kaindy excursion, we began the journey straight back to Almaty! That is pretty long. At times this seemed like the most tricky bit about what’s already happened on that day because lots of folks already felt very tired during this point. You’ll already start catching Z’s inside that ride. Thinking on that I will shout now, pack something that’s comfy if wishing to sleep better inside any moving car. So during the last sunlight regarding sunset, what starts developing around, just goes magical across Kazakhstan. Big, almost unending vistas just become saturated in colors then! It presents, if clear at night still, an outlook on seeing quite bright stars above outside town. It is often quite incredible at looking when sat during the ride after dusk, I guess!

What to Bring on Your Day Trip

Very quick I will just fire off my ‘essential things’ everyone simply needs whilst making travels towards those glorious Kolsay or Kaindy areas, right? Very critical: put sturdy foot attire first. So basically make certain regarding walking plus any possible bit regarding unlevel paths since everything looks often less sturdy otherwise! That means bringing something really versatile which is already appropriate considering both hikes, besides just roaming during normal days inside that sunshine. By the way: get layered given how ever changing settings may simply change at elevations. Sun protection goes vital also like wearing anything via sunglasses coupled next up alongside sunscreen because reflecting effects could become deceptively aggressive. Do carry around plenty from hydration (particularly something refilled) when it ends lasting longer times, very essential when outside besides physically more active!

Is This Trip Right for You?

Is that ‘From Almaty: Kolsay Lakes & Kaindy 1-Day Guided Tour’ suited particularly considering “you”? The kind of individual which most seems like benefiting often tends from taking full chances inside exploring different landscape areas while avoiding too strict requirements from high strenuous paces when trekking continuously! I mean it needs getting enjoyed despite experiencing long transport duration so also taking possible crowds within central months before feeling overwhelming rather suddenly throughout locations etc. Travelers mostly wishing when catching remarkable chances simply with snapshots from various geological aspects including those strange looking flooded woodlands also probably may appreciate a wide diversity from angles given through only having tour. Besides simply for wanting one less hassle option seeing major scenic hot spots from around Almaty easily – all things just tend strongly advising towards saying totally confirm about something already turning outright incredible!

Essential Insights and Recommendations

The journey showed several lessons during a glance about simply tips too – what may aid folks planning trips going near around.

• Wear Footwear Intended Regarding Some Strolling: So maybe get prepared before facing lots including little inclines along irregular path sections already between them.
• Transport Beverages Alongside Bites: Mostly avoid waiting regarding scheduled eating windows instead take anything alongside at least refilled canisters given all outdoor period duration when needed between meals during tours away too.
• Layers Remain Imperative: Remember considering just temperature ranges which always differ up based either on elevations or daytime hours particularly close above heights around mountaintops itself already particularly soon through springs itself almost at fall too!

Well, hopefully having checked now thoroughly this extensive viewpoint you are capable via making extremely mindful conclusion either whenever one selected experience turns matching requirements best based just personal options.

Kazakhstan really includes one amazing range regarding landscapes plus these scenic ponds show probably many memorable instances!