Attractions of the Kolsay Lakes National Park -
Organization of tours, excursions and jeep tours from Almaty to Kolsay -
The Kolsay Lakes National Park is one of the most picturesque places in Kazakhstan, where nature has preserved its pristine beauty. This Park is famous for its unique ecosystem, crystal clear lakes and breathtaking mountain landscapes. Here everyone will find something for themselves: from leisurely walks along picturesque paths to challenging hiking routes among majestic mountains and endless mountain forests. The Park is located at an altitude of 1800 to 3500 meters above sea level. Here you can see dense coniferous forests, alpine meadows and rocky peaks. Depending on the season, nature changes its appearance here: in summer the slopes are covered with flowering grasses, and in winter the park turns into a snowy fairy tale. We recommend traveling around the park in the summer months of June, July, and August, when the weather is stable and warm. The climate here is moderately continental: in summer, the daytime temperature reaches +20°C, and at night it can drop to +5°C. In winter, frosts often reach -15°C.
Three Kolsay Lakes - Three Jewels in the Mountains -
The main attraction of the park is "Lower Kolsay Lake (first, No. 1)" (1818 m) - the most accessible and most visited, since you can drive up to the lake by car. The lake is surrounded by dense spruce forests. It is ideal for camping and leisurely recreation. You can rent a boat on the lake. So, next to the lake there are guest houses and hotels where you can stay overnight.
Higher up is the “Middle Kolsay Lake (second, No. 2)” (2253 m) – less visited, but incredibly beautiful. The distance from the lower lake to the middle lake is 9 kilometers. Travelers who are ready for a difficult mountain hike that will take you several hours get here. You can rent a horse and arrange a horse ride to the lake.
Even higher up is the “Upper Kolsay Lake (third, No. 3)” (2640 m) – the most difficult to access and the most remote, but also the most beautiful and miniature. The path to it from the lower lake takes several hours, but the landscapes here are truly mesmerizing. You need to leave early in the morning and be ready for a difficult mountain crossing. The distance from the middle lake to the upper one is 3 kilometers, which is two hours of walking. In total, the total route through all three lakes in one direction is 12 kilometers through the mountains.
Lake Kaindy and its sunken mystical forest -
In the pair of "Kolsay lakes" a little on the other side is the beautiful mountain "Lake Kaindy" famous for its sunken forest and crystal turquoise transparent water. The lake is located 15 kilometers from the village of Saty. It was formed after the earthquake of 1911, when a landslide blocked the gorge and created a natural dam. The water flooded the dense spruce forest, and now dried tree trunks stick out from the depths of the lake, creating a fantastic landscape. Kaindy is famous for its mystical appearance, cold blue water and absolute silence, broken only by the rustle of the wind. Diving is practiced on the lake.
How to get there and visit -
Kolsay Lakes Nature Park is located 300 kilometers from Almaty, Kungey Alatau Mountains, Northern Tien Shan Mountains, Saty settlement area, Raimbek district, Talgar district, Kegen district, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 42°59'41"N 78°19'47"E
Flora and fauna -
Kolsay Lakes Park is the pearl of Kazakhstan, a chain of three turquoise mountain lakes in the northern Tien Shan, at altitudes from 1800 to 2850 meters. They are called the "blue necklace" because of the stunning shade of the water, which changes from turquoise to emerald depending on the weather, sunlight and time of year. The lakes are surrounded by pine forests, alpine meadows and rocky peaks – ideal scenery for hiking and photography. Nearby is Lake Kaindy and its flooded magical forest with spruce trunks sticking out of the water – a mystical place for diving and relaxing on the lake shore. People come to the park for wildlife: the park is home to marals, mountain goats, pheasants, wolves, lynxes, and if you are lucky, high in the mountains in the area of the upper Kolsay Lake and above, you can see a snow leopard. In the summer, poppies and edelweiss bloom here, and in the fall, the mountain slopes turn golden. The best time to visit is from June to September, when the roads are passable and the temperature is comfortable. In winter, the lakes freeze, turning into icy mirrors, but getting here becomes more difficult – you need an SUV. In the park you can find Tien Shan spruce, juniper, alpine flowers and rare species of plants listed in the Red Book. It is forbidden to light fires and collect plants in the park. It is also necessary to keep the park clean and remove trash.
Travel to Kolsay Lakes Park -
Tours and excursions in Kolsay Lakes Park include: trekking and hiking in the mountains (routes of varying difficulty), horseback riding, overnight stays in yurts or guest houses. A popular route is through all three lakes with a transition to Lake Kaindy. From Almaty to Kolsay is about 300 km - you can get there by car (5-6 hours) or with a group excursion. The base camp is usually located near the lower lake, there is also infrastructure: houses, guest houses, hotels, cafes, horse rental, boat rental for a walk on the lake, mountain guides, etc. You can also stay in the village of Saty, in the village there are guest houses for rest. Be sure to take warm clothes with you (it is cool in the mountains even in summer), comfortable shoes for trekking and a supply of water. If you want privacy, head to the upper lake, which is accessible only on foot or horseback. The place is gaining popularity, so it is better to plan your trip in advance, especially in the summer season. This is the case when nature eclipses all expectations - mountain air, silence and views that will take your breath away!
The Kolsay Lakes National Nature Park and Reserve is a place where you can merge with nature, feel the grandeur of the mountains and enjoy the silence, which is broken only by the sound of the wind and the murmur of mountain rivers. Regardless of the time of year, this is one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan that is worth visiting first of all! People come here not for comfort, but for a real adventure - to walk along paths that animals have walked for centuries, sleep under the stars, listening to the sound of streams, and see how the dawn colors the ice on the peaks pink. Kolsay does not submit – it allows you to look into your soul, if you are ready to accept its rules: respect the silence, protect every blade of grass and remember that this kingdom belongs to leopards, eagles and centuries-old firs. A trip here is not tourism, but a journey into the heart of wild nature, after which ordinary landscapes seem faded. And when you leave, Kolsay will remain with you forever – in memories of how the water in the lakes changes color, how the alpine meadow smells and how on a cold morning the fog spreads across the water like the breath of the Earth.
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