★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
Jeep Tour · Canyons
In one day you'll see four canyons of the Charyn River: the Valley of Castles, Kurtogai Gorge, Red Canyon, and Black Canyon. We ride in a comfortable SUV off-road — no crowds, just nature and adrenaline.
Program
Meeting with the guide and breakfast pack. Boarding the jeep.
Driving along the highway towards Charyn Canyon. Short photo stops along the way.
Start a walking tour of the most scenic part of the canyon. Wall heights up to 150 meters, rock formations resembling castles.
Transfer by jeep to the next canyon. Unique red rocks and whimsical erosion forms.
Picnic with a view of the canyon. Menu includes hot meal, tea, and sweets.
Visit two contrasting canyons: red rocks give way to almost black basalt walls.
Departure back. Transfer to the meeting point. Arrival approximately at 19:00.
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.
★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
★5Dinara Kassymova
Guide-lecturer in Almaty
★4.8Marat Zhunussov
Trekking instructor
★4.9Oleg Kim
Driver-guide, jeep tours
★4.8Zhanna Abenova
Tour manager
★4.9Timur Beketov
Multi-day tour guide
★5Aliya Nurlan
Group coordinator
★4.8Sergey Volkov
Instructor, ski tours
Reviews
Celebrated a birthday in nature with friends. The tour met expectations: the red rocks and the Charyn River are a fairy tale. Thanks to Aidos for great company and interesting stories.
We went on vacation with my father. The fresh air of the canyon is amazing. A wonderful place, especially the tall cliffs. Thanks to the guide, we learned a lot.
I went alone because I'm into photography. Really very picturesque, the guide suggested the best angles. The only downside is that we waited 15 minutes for the car.
The nature is amazing, especially the rocks and the river. The only thing was it was hot. But we were prepared. The tour is worth the money.
Organization is top-notch. We left on time. The car is comfortable. Valley of Castles is a wonder of nature. It's a pity that lunch was cold
We rested with my husband, decided to spend the weekend in nature. The canyon is impressive, especially the Valley of Castles — the rocks look like real fortresses. But they could have warned that you need to bring water. Otherwise everything is top.
Charyn Canyon is powerful. I will definitely come back. The guide is fire. Organization is fine
I hesitated for a long time but decided. Never regretted it once. Valley of Castles impresses. Lunch on the shore is delicious. The guide is excellent. I recommend to everyone
Very beautiful. The nature is impressive. Too bad we didn't have much time for a walk. But overall, good.
The guide gave a great talk about the geology of the canyon. The trip is comfortable. I wanted to come back. But there wasn't quite enough time for a walk along the trail. We went with friends, chose this tour because of the reviews. The jeep is comfortable, but it shook a bit on the bumps. The nature impressed, especially the red rocks. Lunch on the shore was simple but hearty. Overall I liked it, but I would have wanted more stops for photos.
We went out with colleagues for a corporate event. The canyon is gorgeous, especially the contrast of red and black rocks. The guide explained everything clearly, the driver is experienced. I recommend it to everyone!
A wonder of nature. We took lots of photos. Oleg helped a lot. An unforgettable trip
I liked everything very much. Beautiful landscapes. The departure was delayed a bit but that's a minor thing.
The canyon is beautiful. But the road is long. Overall fine. I liked the guide as a storyteller
Overall good. But I expected more from lunch. The rocks are beautiful. The guide is pleasant. My sister and I had long wanted to see the canyon, we chose this tour because of the packed program. The Valley of Castles is truly impressive, especially when the guide tells the history of these places. The weather was great, we took many photos. Lunch in nature turned out to be simple, but we didn't stay hungry. The red and black canyons contrast, that's interesting. There was enough time for a walk, but it could have been more. Overall I recommend it if you want to see nature without the hustle.
We had long wanted to see the canyon with the family, and finally gathered. The trip was a success, despite the early wake-up. The Valley of Castles pleases the eye, and lunch on the shore was very romantic. The kids are thrilled!
I really liked the tour. Beautiful places. I learned a lot of new things. Thanks to Aidos for the company.
We left at 6 in the morning, but it was worth it. The Valley of Castles is simply incredible. Thanks to Aidos for the organization. We went with colleagues from work, wanted to unwind. The guide told interesting things about the canyons. We managed to see several locations, all different. Lunch in nature was tasty. We got a bit tired from the road, but the impressions outweigh everything. I recommend it to everyone who appreciates nature.
The canyon is very beautiful. But it was hot in the car. The guide told interesting stories. Overall 4 out of 5
The nature is very beautiful. The canyon is incredible. I am satisfied.
Good tour. The views are amazing. But we could have used a bit more time for the trail walk. Still recommend it.
Valley of Castles looks like a movie set. The guide is very pleasant. Lunch is simple but filling
I chose the tour for a long time and didn't regret it. The red rocks are like in a movie. Lunch on the riverbank is very atmospheric. The only thing is the road is bumpy. We went with a friend, wanted to escape the city for a day. The jeep is comfortable, but on the off-road it rocked a bit. The guide told a lot, it was interesting. We managed to see several canyons, all different. Lunch in nature with a view of the river is a separate pleasure. We were tired, but there are tons of impressions. I recommend it to those who like active recreation.
Beautiful landscapes. I liked everything. The only downside is that there are so many tourists at the same time. But still just awesome.
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 questionThe main walking is a stroll through the Valley of Castles, where you look at rocks up to 150 metres high, and a jeep drives you between the other points. There are no long stretches or climbs in the programme, so people without any athletic training manage the route easily. If you get tired, tell your guide — they will adjust the group's pace.
Take shoes that are comfortable for walking on rocky ground, a warm jacket for the morning and evening, a hat and sunscreen. A camera with a good sensor or a decent phone won't go amiss — you really want to photograph the castle rocks and the red formations of Kurtogay. You can bring extra water of your own if you drink a lot.
The group meets in Almaty at 06:30, and we leave at 07:00 — during that time the guide hands out breakfast packs and seats everyone in the jeeps. We leave the canyon at 17:00 and expect to be in Almaty around 19:00. We'll confirm the exact meeting point in the city for your date on WhatsApp.
It's a long day: an early start, off-road drives between four canyons and a walking section in the Valley of Castles. If the children handle the road well and are ready to walk on uneven ground, they'll enjoy the tour. If you're unsure about a specific age or health condition, message us on WhatsApp and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth taking your child.
The tour price includes an off-road vehicle with a guide-driver for the whole day, a breakfast pack, a picnic lunch by the canyon, entry tickets to the national park and a bottle of water for each person. The only extras are your personal expenses and insurance, which you arrange yourself if you want. There are no mandatory additional payments on the route.
The tour is a group tour, but it's best to ask about going as your own group on a specific date on WhatsApp — we'll check what we can offer. We hold a booking on a normal WhatsApp message, with no prepayment. You pay on the day of the trip via Kaspi, by card or in cash, and cancelling a booking is free.