Jeep Tour · Canyons

Jeep tour to Charyn Canyon — Valley of Castles

4.9 · 24 reviews

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.

WhenDaily, departure 07:00
Duration12 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $33/person

Program

Jeep tour to Charyn Canyon hourly itinerary

06:30

Meeting in Almaty

Meeting with the guide and breakfast pack. Boarding the jeep.

07:00

Departure from Almaty

Driving along the highway towards Charyn Canyon. Short photo stops along the way.

09:30

Arrival at the Valley of Castles

Start a walking tour of the most scenic part of the canyon. Wall heights up to 150 meters, rock formations resembling castles.

11:00

Kurtogai Gorge

Transfer by jeep to the next canyon. Unique red rocks and whimsical erosion forms.

13:00

Lunch in nature

Picnic with a view of the canyon. Menu includes hot meal, tea, and sweets.

14:30

Red and Black Canyons

Visit two contrasting canyons: red rocks give way to almost black basalt walls.

17:00

Return to Almaty

Departure back. Transfer to the meeting point. Arrival approximately at 19:00.

What's included

What's included in the jeep tour to Charyn Canyon

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer by SUV Toyota Land Cruiser or similar
  • Guide-driver services
  • Breakfast pack and lunch in nature
  • Entrance tickets to the national park
  • Bottled water (1 liter per person)

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses
  • Insurance (recommended to arrange independently)

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable shoes for walking in the canyon
  • Warm jacket (cool in the morning and evening)
  • Hat and sunscreen
  • Camera or phone with a good camera
  • Extra water (optional)

Team

Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty

Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.

Aidos Serikov — Senior guide, mountain routes★4.9

Aidos Serikov

Senior guide, mountain routes

187 reviews · experience 14 years

Dinara Kassymova — Guide-lecturer in Almaty★5

Dinara Kassymova

Guide-lecturer in Almaty

142 review · experience 11 years

Marat Zhunussov — Trekking instructor★4.8

Marat Zhunussov

Trekking instructor

96 reviews · experience 9 years

Oleg Kim — Driver-guide, jeep tours★4.9

Oleg Kim

Driver-guide, jeep tours

164 review · experience 13 years

Zhanna Abenova — Tour manager★4.8

Zhanna Abenova

Tour manager

78 reviews · experience 7 years

Timur Beketov — Multi-day tour guide★4.9

Timur Beketov

Multi-day tour guide

118 reviews · experience 10 years

Aliya Nurlan — Group coordinator★5

Aliya Nurlan

Group coordinator

64 review · experience 6 years

Sergey Volkov — Instructor, ski tours★4.8

Sergey Volkov

Instructor, ski tours

103 review · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of jeep tour to Charyn Canyon

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
LA
Leila A.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #47725
AK
Askhat K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #47331
IG
Ivan G.
Google ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #47279
ET
Elena T.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #47082
ND
Natalya D.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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

Verified review · Order #42400
KB
Kanat B.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #39673
RK
Roman K.
Google ·
★★★★★

Charyn Canyon is powerful. I will definitely come back. The guide is fire. Organization is fine

Verified review · Order #38059
VS
Viktor S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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

Verified review · Order #37773
OV
Olga V.
Google ·
★★★★★

Very beautiful. The nature is impressive. Too bad we didn't have much time for a walk. But overall, good.

Verified review · Order #37614
SP
Sergey P.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #36286
ET
Ermek T.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

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!

Verified review · Order #34265
AS
Aigerim S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

A wonder of nature. We took lots of photos. Oleg helped a lot. An unforgettable trip

Verified review · Order #32022
AS
Aliya S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I liked everything very much. Beautiful landscapes. The departure was delayed a bit but that's a minor thing.

Verified review · Order #28181
RS
Ruslan Sh.
Our website ·
★★★★★

The canyon is beautiful. But the road is long. Overall fine. I liked the guide as a storyteller

Verified review · Order #23523
IM
Irina M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #21644
SF
Svetlana F.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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!

Verified review · Order #21525
GN
Gaukhar N.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I really liked the tour. Beautiful places. I learned a lot of new things. Thanks to Aidos for the company.

Verified review · Order #19540
DK
Dastan K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #18745
DA
Damir A.
Google ·
★★★★★

The canyon is very beautiful. But it was hot in the car. The guide told interesting stories. Overall 4 out of 5

Verified review · Order #17100
AK
Anar K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

The nature is very beautiful. The canyon is incredible. I am satisfied.

Verified review · Order #15918
DL
Dmitry L.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Good tour. The views are amazing. But we could have used a bit more time for the trail walk. Still recommend it.

Verified review · Order #15668
ZM
Zhanna M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Valley of Castles looks like a movie set. The guide is very pleasant. Lunch is simple but filling

Verified review · Order #15357
AR
Aigul R.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #12326
KY
Kamila Ye.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Beautiful landscapes. I liked everything. The only downside is that there are so many tourists at the same time. But still just awesome.

Verified review · Order #12046

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about jeep tour to Charyn Canyon

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 question

The 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.