★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Jeep Tour · One Day
You'll see the red rocks of the Valley of Castles, walk along the canyon floor, and capture breathtaking shots. The route from Almaty in a comfortable SUV takes just one day.
Program
We meet in the city center, have a snack on the road.
Enter the Valley of Castles — first photos against the red rocks.
Descent to the canyon floor, a route of about 2 km among bizarre rock formations.
Picnic with a view of the canyon (lunch is paid separately).
Climb up, panoramic views of the bends of the Charyn River.
Optional stop at a cafe, arrival around 18:00.
What's included
Already included in the tour price
Optional, on site
To make the day comfortable
Team
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
★4.52Alexander Пашкин
Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу
★4.74Andrey Шевелёв
Driver-guide
★4.27Анжелика Чвыкова
Гид-фотограф
★4.27Ильяс Дарбеков
Гид-переводчик
★4.55Мадина Данина
Организатор туров
★4.49Сергей Бабичев
Personal guide-водитель
Reviews
The canyon is very beautiful. The hike is not difficult, suitable for everyone. The guide showed the best spots for photos. Very pleased.
kyzyl tas pen asem korkem. balalarga qatti unaidy. tek kun ystyk boldy. aman-essen kaittyk. rakhmet Madina ga
Great tour, I recommend it. Chose it with my girlfriend to unwind, had long heard about these places. The manager was very helpful with the choice. The views are unreal, especially the viewpoints.
Liked the organization. The manager helped with the choice of tour. The only thing is we waited in line at the entrance for about 20 minutes. But the views were worth it.
I walked through the Valley of Castles with great pleasure. It's like a labyrinth made of stone. The guide explained everything clearly. The tour is excellent.
The Valley of Castles is top-notch! Too bad we didn't have enough time to explore. I wish we could have walked for another hour. Thanks to the guide for the tour.
Went with family, the kids are thrilled with the red rocks. The descent and walk along the bottom of the canyon were the most memorable. Departure was delayed by 15 minutes but that's minor.
Great tour! I recommend it to everyone. Red rocks and bizarre shapes. Thanks to the guide for a cool excursion. We went with our family in June, the kids were thrilled. True, we got a bit tired from the long road, but the views are worth it. The descent into the canyon and the walk among the rocks is something incredible. Lunch in nature was very welcome, although it was for an extra fee. Overall, we liked everything, but we would like more time for photo stops.
We went with friends. Very beautiful and unusual. But the road is long and it makes you carsick. Better to take pills. The guide did great, told us everything.
I had long wanted to see this canyon and didn't regret it. Went with my brother spontaneously, just wanted adventure. The guide told a lot of interesting things about the Tethys Ocean. We went down, walked among the rocks — it takes your breath away. Rating 5.
I had long wanted to get to the Valley of Castles. The dream came true thanks to this trip. The guide told stories very interestingly. I was impressed.
The Valley of Castles is something else! The photos turned out great. Anzhelika suggested the best angles. My sister and I had long wanted to see these red rocks, and we finally made it. We went down to the bottom of the canyon and walked among the bizarre shapes — like being in another world. Lunch in nature was very welcome, though we had to pay extra, but it was worth it. Then we climbed up to the viewpoints, from where there's an incredible view of the river bends. We drove back tired but happy. Anzhelika, thanks for a great tour!
Went with friends, amazing experience. Rocks of all colors of the rainbow. Only downside was the heat and little shade. The guide was awesome.
tabigat korkem. Kylemetshilikten artik eshtepe kerek emes. jolda bir az keshikti. bari jaksy boldy
The Valley of Castles is just a delight! It feels like you're walking through another world. Thanks to the guide for the excellent organization.
Very beautiful, like on Mars. Minus: the road is bumpy, but it's worth it. I advise taking comfortable shoes. My husband and I went in May, the weather was excellent. The guide told a lot of interesting things about the canyon. The descent to the bottom and a walk among the red rocks impressed us. I especially liked the viewpoints — breathtaking. Lunch was not included, but we took a snack with us. Overall, the trip left a lot of emotions, despite the shaking on the road.
Beautiful, but lots of people. The guide quickly gathered everyone into a group. I advise coming early in the morning. My colleagues and I decided to unwind and didn't regret it. The Valley of Castles impresses with its scale. True, there were quite a few people, especially at the viewpoints. But the guide skillfully organized our group, so we managed to see everything. The walk along the bottom of the canyon was the most memorable. Next time I'll go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
The place is super! The energy is unusual. Went with a colleague after a stressful week, wanted to recharge. Walked along the bottom of the canyon, looked at the river from the viewpoints. The only thing is there wasn't enough time to see all the castles. Want to come back. The guide is caring.
tabii korkem jer! okigan Tethis tubinde jurgen koredi. tek jolda kop silkindik. bari de jaksy
cht eto bilo! prosto kosmos! guleyali po dnu okeana. spasibo gidu za organizatsiyu. ochen vse ponravilos
A very atmospheric place! You feel small among the huge rocks. The manager organized everything perfectly, no complaints.
FAQ
We've collected the questions travelers ask most often. Didn't find your answer? Write to us — a guide will reply in a couple of minutes.
Ask a questionWear comfortable shoes for walking on the rocky bottom of the canyon; sneakers are best. A hat, sunscreen and a warm jacket will come in handy — it's windy in the canyon. Also bring a camera or smartphone and snacks with water in addition to the water we provide for the road.
The effort is moderate: we descend to the bottom of the canyon, walk about 2 km among the rocks, then climb up to the viewpoints. We go at a calm pace with stops for photos; no athletic training is needed. If you're unsure about your abilities, message us on WhatsApp — the guide will advise you before departure.
The format is a mini-group in an off-road vehicle, with no overnight stays and no extreme off-roading, so the trip suits both children and elderly people, as long as they are ready for a walk through the canyon and a climb to the viewpoints. The programme doesn't list specific age limits. Message us on WhatsApp — we'll discuss your group for a specific date.
Meet in the center of Almaty at 06:00, and from there we go straight to the canyon. We head back around 16:00 and plan to be in the city at about 18:00; along the way there may be a stop at a cafe if you wish. The whole trip takes one day, about 12 hours.
The price includes the road to the canyon and back in an off-road vehicle, the work of a guide-driver, entrance tickets with eco fees, and bottled water for the road. Lunch is paid separately — a picnic in nature if you wish, from $10 per person — as well as personal expenses and souvenirs.
The tour runs as a mini-group on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with departure at 06:00; if you want to go with just your own group, ask about it on WhatsApp for your date. Booking is simply a message on WhatsApp, with no prepayment. Payment on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash; cancellation of the booking is free.
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