Remote mountain gorges in the Almaty region -
Jeep tour to the hard-to-reach Karasay mountain gorge on the Karasay River -
Karasay Gorge is a remote picturesque mountain gorge, part of the Kolsay Lakes National Park and is located in the upper reaches of the Shilik (Chilik) River at an altitude of 2562 meters above sea level. The length of the gorge is over 20 kilometers. A turbulent mountain river with the same name, the Karasay River, flows through the gorge. The path to the gorge begins in the village of Saty, which serves as the starting point for the entire national park. Up the gorge from the Shilik River, a 6-kilometer-long dirt road has been laid, along which you can climb to the upper reaches of the gorge, crossing three bridges over the river along the way. These places are quite remote and rarely visited, you can only move here by 4x4 SUVs. In the upper reaches of the gorge, you will come across an abandoned forester's house on the road. This location can be visited on your trip to the Kolsay Lakes and Lake Kaindy, but this will require one separate day.
How to get there and visit -
The Karasay Gorge is located in the Kungey-Alatu Mountains in the Kolsay Lakes National Nature Park and Reserve, near the village of Saty, Kegen District, Almaty Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°01'16"N 77°47'30"E
Information -
In the Karasay mountain gorge in the heart of the Kungey Alatau, where the borders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan converge, lies a kingdom of glacial lakes and snow-capped passes. At an altitude of 4117 meters, the peak rises, from where the winding gorges of Karasay and Tulkisay with their ancient spruce forests stretching for 8 kilometers along the mountain slopes are visible as if on the palm of your hand. Here, among the eternal snows, crystal clear rivers originate, fed by two cascading lakes - Lower Karasay (3376 m) with its turquoise surface stretching for 546 meters and Upper Karasay (3414 m), as if suspended on a rocky ledge. A little further downstream, the Karasay River is joined by its main tributary, the Kaskasu River, which originates at the Burgu-Suu Pass (3,755 m) – this turbulent stream feeds a chain of six moraine lakes, among which the Blue Lake (3,165 m) stands out with its water of an incredible azure hue, like a piece of the Mediterranean Sea lost in the Tien Shan Mountains. The ridge is dotted with mountain passes: the Karasai Pass (3,870 m) with its snow-ice slopes and the Karasai West Pass (3,850 m), where rocky scree alternates with firn fields, as well as Baysaur West – the gateway to the turquoise waters of Lake Issyk-Kul. These places have a special atmosphere – in summer, glacial streams boil here, and in winter, everything freezes under a thick blanket of snow, turning into a kingdom of absolute silence and peace. The unique "story" of the lakes, located like the steps of a giant natural staircase, creates a unique landscape, where each new turn of the path opens up more and more breathtaking views. In these places, you especially keenly feel the power and grandeur of nature – ancient firs, like sentries, stand guard over the mountain valleys, and the crystal-clear air is filled with the aroma of pine needles and the freshness of glacial waters.
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