★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Jeep Tour · Kaindy
We set off by jeeps to the mysterious Lake Kaindy, where trunks of a submerged spruce forest rise from turquoise water. The route goes through the Kungei Alatau, and on the way back — a stop at the Charyn Canyon. A tour for those who want to see one of the most unusual lakes in Kazakhstan.
Program
Departure from the Kazakhstan Hotel (52/1 Dostyk Ave.). Boarding comfortable jeeps.
Driving along the Almaty — Kegen highway, through the Kok-Pek pass.
About 4–4.5 hours on the road (about 280 km). Entrance to the national park, hiking down to the lake.
Photo session against the backdrop of the sunken forest, free time to explore the shoreline.
Picnic with Kazakh dishes (beshbarmak, kumis, flatbreads) on the lake shore.
Jeeps head to the Valley of Castles (about 120 km, 2–2.5 hours).
Descent into the canyon, walk along the trail past rocks of whimsical shapes.
Departure along the highway, optional stop at a café.
Approximate return time to the starting point.
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
Doroga dolgaia no vidy otkryvalis volshebnye. Ozero zatonuvshiy les mne ponravilsia.
Kaindy is a fairy tale. The water is unreal blue. The trunks stick out like in a swamp.
At first I thought the flooded forest would be boring. It turned out to be super. The organization was top-notch.
The trip to Kaindy Lake was very interesting. The nature along the way is wonderful. I went with my family, my wife and children love nature very much. The water in the lake is very clear, trees stick out of the water. I didn't want to leave this place. Only the road was long, we got tired.
Kaindy is a top spot. Only the departure was delayed by half an hour, but we weren't upset. We went with a big group, about eight people gathered. On the way we stopped at the pass, photographed the mountains. At the lake the trunks stick right out of the water, it looks unreal. We walked along the shore, found a convenient spot for a picnic. The food was tasty, especially the flatbreads. We arrived at the canyon already towards evening, managed to walk along the trail by the rocks. On the way back we were tired but content. The only minus is for the delayed departure.
Yspeshniy tur. Mne ochen' ponravilos'. Vse bylo chorosho organizovano.
Byl s semyoi. Ozero krasivoe no doroga ochen plotnaya. Deti v vostorge.
I thought for a long time about where to go and chose Kaindy. No regrets. Thanks to Aleksandr for a great trip.
I went to Kaindy. The water is very clean, trees stick out of the water. Amazing! We went with friends, took advantage of the day off. The road was long, but the view of the mountains is wonderful. We took photos at the lake, enjoyed nature. On the way back we stopped at Charyn Canyon, the rocks are amazing.
Kaindy-Kol is a gem. Too bad time was limited. But we managed to see everything.
Spontaneously chose this tour. Really enjoyed it. Driver Sergey drove carefully.
The road to the mountains is a separate attraction. I almost got carsick, but for such beauty you can endure. I went with a friend, she had been inviting me for a long time. The jeep went along the serpentine, the views opened up amazing. We spent a couple of hours at the lake, the water is icy, but beautiful. The descent to the lake was steep, we had to hold on. Lunch in nature was very timely.
Thanks to Ilyas for the fascinating story about the flooded forest. Very educational.
We chose this tour based on the reviews. They didn't deceive us. Lake Kaindy is a natural wonder.
With friends we took a weekend tour. We liked everything. Especially the trekking along the lake. We decided to go spontaneously on Friday evening to unwind. The jeep is comfortable, the guide told us everything. Lunch in nature was delicious, especially beshbarmak. We got a bit tired from the long road, but the impressions were worth it.
I spent a long time choosing a tour and settled on this one. No regrets. Madina is very friendly.
Reliable tour company. Andrey led, everything was on time. Kaindy is beautiful. I went with my wife, taking advantage of the day off. The water in the lake is very clean, trees stick out of the water. Nature is quiet, only the rustle of the wind is heard. Lunch was delicious, especially kumys. The descent to the lake was difficult, but the view is amazing.
Kaindy is a must-see for tourists from Almaty. The lake with dry firs looks surreal.
Lake Kaindy is simply incredible. The firs stick out of the water like movie decorations. My husband and I had long wanted to go there, but kept hesitating. In the end we went and never regretted it. We had a picnic on the shore, tried beshbarmak and kumys. It's quiet all around, only the wind rustles in the branches. The descent to the water was a bit steep, but it was worth it. The photos turned out simply magical.
Beautiful but very crowded. I liked the organization of the tour. We went with colleagues, decided to unwind after the work week. The road took quite a while, but the views out the window were worth it. We spent a couple of hours at the lake, didn't dare swim, the water is icy. Then we stopped by the canyon, it takes your breath away. The guide told us everything, showed the best spots for photos. The only thing is, I would have liked more free time at the lake itself. Overall, great impressions.
Jeeping in the mountains is adrenaline. Then trekking to the lake. Anzhelika explained everything clearly. I went alone, wanted to change the scenery and see something unusual. The road over the pass is what I remember most, the serpentine and stunning panoramas. We spent enough time at the lake, I got plenty of photos. Lunch was organized right on the shore, the beshbarmak was very tasty. On the way back we stopped by the canyon, walked along the bottom among the rocks. I returned to the city full of impressions, I recommend it to everyone.
The trip to Kaindy is one of the best adventures. The only downside is the long road. I had long dreamed of seeing the flooded forest, and finally I gathered with friends. The lake impressed: the water is turquoise, the trunks of firs stick out of the water. We walked along the shore, took many photos. On the way back we stopped at Charyn Canyon, the rocks there are bizarre. But the road really tired us.
I went with my wife. Very romantic. Aleksandr took great photos.
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, waterproof shoes — you'll be walking on uneven ground along the lake shore and in the canyon. It's windy in the mountains, so a warm jacket or windbreaker is definitely not unnecessary, plus a hat and sunscreen. In a small backpack, pack water and your phone or camera — the views of the flooded forest and Charyn are worth it.
The route isn't athletic: most of the time you ride in jeeps, and on foot you go down to the lake, stroll along the shore and descend into Charyn Canyon. It's a leisurely pace with photo stops, without long hikes. If you have knee problems or find it hard to walk on slopes, tell us honestly when booking — the guide will suggest how to cover the sections more comfortably.
The whole trip is designed for 14 hours, with an early start — meeting at 06:00. We expect to return to the starting point in Almaty by 20:00, but the exact time depends on the group and the weather. Keep this in mind if you're planning anything for the evening.
Meeting at 06:00 in Almaty, at the Kazakhstan Hotel on Dostyk Avenue, 52/1, then you travel by jeep. At 06:30 we set off along the highway towards Kegen via the Kok-Pek Pass. Arrive a little early so you can settle into the car calmly.
The price already includes the jeep transfer, the guide-driver's services, environmental fees to the national park, lunch in nature and water for the road. Separately, only personal expenses: souvenirs, extra drinks and accident insurance if you want to take it out. There are no other mandatory extra payments on the route.
The tour is a group tour, but we'll check about travelling with just your group on this date via WhatsApp — write to us with how many people you are. We hold the booking without any upfront payment: a WhatsApp message is enough, and you pay on the day of the trip — Kaspi, card or cash. If your plans change, cancellation of the booking is free.