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From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes

Activity provider: AsiaByLocals
From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes
From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes 2
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4-day trip from Almaty visiting Lunch, Aktau mountains and Aktau mountains. Operated by Kazia Tours.

Highlights

  • Discover the colorful Aktau Mountains and the dramatic Katytau Mountains

From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes: Key Facts

PriceFrom $2843 per person
Duration4 days
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes

4-day trip from Almaty visiting Lunch, Aktau mountains and Aktau mountains. Operated by Kazia Tours.
4 days
English
$2,843
Free cancellation

Full description

A 4-day trip out of Almaty taking in Lunch, Aktau mountains, Katutau mountains and Photo stop. There are 17 stops in all.

The running order is Lunch, then Aktau mountains, then Katutau mountains, then Photo stop, then Return, and on from there.

The price covers private comfortable 4x4 SUV transportation, English-speaking driver-guide, Meal and 2 nights in local guesthouses. It does not cover horseback riding, Boat rental at Kolsai Lake and Personal expenses and other optional activities, so budget for those separately. Two travellers pay $3200 together rather than $2843 each, because this is priced per party and not per head.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Departure

08:00 – Departure from Almaty. Drive approximately 250 km to Basshy village.

Lunch

12:00 – Arrival in Basshy, check-in at the guesthouse and lunch.

Aktau mountains

13:00 – Transfer to the Aktau Mountains.

Aktau mountains

14:30 – Explore the spectacular Aktau Mountains with a moderate hike among the colorful hills and unique landscapes.

Katutau mountains

16:00 – Drive to the Katutau Mountains.

Photo stop

16:30 – Photo stop and time to enjoy the dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Return

17:00 – Return to Basshy village.

Overnight

18:00 – Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.

Breakfast

07:00 – Breakfast.

Singing Dune

07:30 – Departure to the famous Singing Dune. Enjoy the impressive desert landscape and time to explore and take photographs.

Basshy village

10:00 – Return to Basshy village.

Lunch

11:00 – Lunch and check-out.

Canyon

12:00 – Departure toward Charyn Canyon.

Charyn canyon

14:00 – Arrival at Charyn Canyon. Enjoy the panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Valley of Castles. Then walk approximately 3 km down into the canyon toward the river. Relax by the river, enjoy the natural surroundings and take photographs.

Resort

18:00 – Arrival at the hot spring resort in Chunja. Dinner and free time to relax and swim in the thermal pool. Overnight at the hot spring resort.

Hot spring stay

08:00 – Breakfast.

Resort

09:30–12:00 – Free time at the resort. Relax in the thermal pools, walk around the resort or enjoy recreational activities such as volleyball.

Lunch

12:00–13:00 – Lunch.

Kaindy lake

13:00 – Departure toward Kaindy Lake.

Lake

15:00–18:30 – Explore the spectacular Kaindy Lake, famous for its submerged spruce trees rising from the turquoise mountain water. Enjoy the scenery and take photographs.

Overnight

19:30 – Arrival in Saty village. Check-in at the guesthouse, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and lake

07:00 – Breakfast. Visit Kolsai Lake 1 and enjoy the beautiful alpine scenery.

Kolsay lake

Hiking 2-3 hours approximately

Lunch

Lunch time

Departure

16:00 – Departure from Kolsai and drive back to Almaty.

Includes

  • Private comfortable 4x4 SUV transportation
  • English-speaking driver-guide
  • Meal
  • 2 nights in local guesthouses
  • 1 night at a Chunja hot spring resort
  • Entrance tickets to the included attractions
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Hot spring resort access

Excludes

  • Horseback riding
  • Boat rental at Kolsai Lake
  • Personal expenses and other optional activities

Important information

Meeting point

The operator confirms the exact meeting point and time once your booking is confirmed, and you will have it well before the day. If you would rather know before you book, message us on WhatsApp and we will ask them for you.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 4 days
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $2,843
$2,843
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
We reply within 5 minutes
Free cancellation
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Private comfortable 4x4 SUV transportation, English-speaking driver-guide, Meal, 2 nights in local guesthouses, 1 night at a Chunja hot spring resort, Entrance tickets to the included attractions, Bottled drinking water, Hot spring resort access
The duration of the From Almaty: 4-Day Tour of Altyn-Emel, Charyn Canyon & Lakes is typically 4 days. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Starting from$2,843Free cancellation