The best time to visit Charyn National Park -
Overnight and hiking tour on Charyn -
The Charyn River Canyon is a legend of Kazakhstan's nature, a real natural cathedral with giant walls of multi-colored sandstone. This is not just a gorge, but a whole universe, where every bend of the river opens up new breathtaking landscapes. Not just a beautiful place, but a real symbol of power, time and incredible life forms. Stretching for almost 150 kilometers along the Charyn River, this canyon amazes with its scale, colors and how everything here is real - without embellishment, without fuss, only nature and its eternal work. The Charyn River Canyon is part of the Charyn National Park and is its main natural attraction. Another famous canyon adjoins this canyon, 3 kilometers long, known as the "Valley of Castles in the Charyn Canyon" along the bottom of which there is a walking route. Also in the Charyn Canyon is the famous Charyn Ash Grove (forest). Another famous canyon Bestamak, adjoins the Charyn Canyon and is popular among travelers.
How to get there and visit -
The Charyn Canyon is located 195 kilometers from the city of Almaty and runs along the Charyn River, Uygur District, Raimbek District, Enbekshikazakh District, Almaty Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°18'25"N 79°02'04"E
Information -
The Charyn Canyon is often compared to the Grand Canyon in the USA, and for good reason. Only ours, the Kazakhstani one, may be smaller in size, but it is certainly not inferior in beauty and character. The most famous place here is the Valley of Castles. Rock formations in the form of towers, walls, arches - all this was carved by nature by wind, water and time. And each turn of the path reveals a new fantasy of stone. Imagine: you are standing on the edge of the cliffs, under your feet are red, red, terracotta rocks that are millions of years old. The wind ruffles your hair, below you there is a river meandering, cutting its way through the stone. This place seems to be outside of time. Here you can just sit and watch - and you do not need anything else. All the fuss remains somewhere far away, and here you are - and eternity. But the canyon is not only geology. It is also the Charyn River, carrying its waters through the steppe, and rare vegetation that clings to every patch of land, and animals that live in these harsh, but surprisingly vibrant places. In the spring, everything comes to life here: flowers, birds singing, fresh wind. In autumn – soft light, silence, the perfect time for walks. And in summer – hot sun, dry air and scorching beauty. People come here in different ways: some come as savages with a tent, some come on excursions. There are trails, observation decks, campsites. But even despite the development of infrastructure, the place still remains wild in spirit. It is not about comfort – it is about impressions.
The Charyn River Canyon is a place where you feel how small we are in front of nature, and at the same time – how beautiful it is. This is not just a point on the map, it is an experience. This is the moment when you breathe deeply and understand: here it is, Kazakhstan. Real. Strong. Ours.
Attractions nearby:
Kurtogay tract
Sarytogay tract
Temirlik Canyon
Temerlik River
Charyn Moon Canyon
Bugutty Mountains
Charyn ash cottage
Photogallery:
