Jeep Tour · Kaindy

Sunken Forest — Lake Kaindy: Jeep Tour from Almaty

4.9 · 23 reviews

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.

WhenSat, Sun
Duration14 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $53/person

Program

Jeep Tour to Lake Kaindy Hour-by-Hour Program

06:00

Meeting in Almaty

Departure from the Kazakhstan Hotel (52/1 Dostyk Ave.). Boarding comfortable jeeps.

06:30

Departure

Driving along the Almaty — Kegen highway, through the Kok-Pek pass.

11:00

Arrival at Lake Kaindy

About 4–4.5 hours on the road (about 280 km). Entrance to the national park, hiking down to the lake.

11:15

Walk along the lake

Photo session against the backdrop of the sunken forest, free time to explore the shoreline.

12:15

Lunch in nature

Picnic with Kazakh dishes (beshbarmak, kumis, flatbreads) on the lake shore.

13:00

Transfer to Charyn Canyon

Jeeps head to the Valley of Castles (about 120 km, 2–2.5 hours).

15:15

Walk through Charyn

Descent into the canyon, walk along the trail past rocks of whimsical shapes.

16:30

Return journey to Almaty

Departure along the highway, optional stop at a café.

20:00

Arrival in Almaty

Approximate return time to the starting point.

What's included

What's Included in the Jeep Tour to Lake Kaindy

Included in Price

Already included in the tour price

  • Transfer in comfortable jeeps
  • Guide-driver services
  • Environmental fees to the national park
  • Lunch (hot dish, tea, pastries)
  • Bottled water for the road

Paid separately

Optional, on site

  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
  • Accident insurance

What to Bring

To make the day comfortable

  • Comfortable waterproof footwear (sneakers or trekking boots)
  • Warm jacket or windbreaker (it's windy in the mountains)
  • Hat and sunscreen
  • Camera or phone with a good camera
  • Backpack for personal items

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.

Alexander Пашкин — Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу★4.52

Alexander Пашкин

Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу

52 review · experience 10 years

Andrey Шевелёв — Driver-guide★4.74

Andrey Шевелёв

Driver-guide

73 review · experience 13 years

Анжелика Чвыкова — Гид-фотограф★4.27

Анжелика Чвыкова

Гид-фотограф

58 reviews · experience 11 years

Ильяс Дарбеков — Гид-переводчик★4.27

Ильяс Дарбеков

Гид-переводчик

36 reviews · experience 6 years

Мадина Данина — Организатор туров★4.55

Мадина Данина

Организатор туров

65 reviews · experience 15 лет

Сергей Бабичев — Personal guide-водитель★4.49

Сергей Бабичев

Personal guide-водитель

65 reviews · experience 12 years

Reviews

Reviews of the jeep tour to Kaindy

Leave a review
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
YS
Yerzhan S.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Doroga dolgaia no vidy otkryvalis volshebnye. Ozero zatonuvshiy les mne ponravilsia.

Verified review · Order #46232
AI
Asel I.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Kaindy is a fairy tale. The water is unreal blue. The trunks stick out like in a swamp.

Verified review · Order #45392
NS
Natalya Sh.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

At first I thought the flooded forest would be boring. It turned out to be super. The organization was top-notch.

Verified review · Order #44121
MZ
Marat Zh.
Google ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #38008
SP
Sergey P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #37106
ZA
Zhanna A.
Google ·
★★★★★

Yspeshniy tur. Mne ochen' ponravilos'. Vse bylo chorosho organizovano.

Verified review · Order #36633
AK
Aidos K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

Byl s semyoi. Ozero krasivoe no doroga ochen plotnaya. Deti v vostorge.

Verified review · Order #35476
OS
Oleg S.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I thought for a long time about where to go and chose Kaindy. No regrets. Thanks to Aleksandr for a great trip.

Verified review · Order #35125
ZT
Zhansaya T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #34917
BN
Bolat N.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Kaindy-Kol is a gem. Too bad time was limited. But we managed to see everything.

Verified review · Order #34598
IV
Irina V.
Our website ·
★★★★★

Spontaneously chose this tour. Really enjoyed it. Driver Sergey drove carefully.

Verified review · Order #33847
ML
Maria L.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #33048
SF
Svetlana F.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Thanks to Ilyas for the fascinating story about the flooded forest. Very educational.

Verified review · Order #33054
EG
Elena G.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

We chose this tour based on the reviews. They didn't deceive us. Lake Kaindy is a natural wonder.

Verified review · Order #32667
AK
Almaz K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #28789
LT
Lyudmila T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

I spent a long time choosing a tour and settled on this one. No regrets. Madina is very friendly.

Verified review · Order #28799
SM
Saule M.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #25671
VL
Vitaliy L.
Yandex ·
★★★★★

Kaindy is a must-see for tourists from Almaty. The lake with dry firs looks surreal.

Verified review · Order #25294
AK
Aigul K.
Our website ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #22328
ZM
Zhanna M.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #18709
AR
Aliya R.
Google ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #16089
AD
Anna D.
2GIS ·
★★★★★

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.

Verified review · Order #15521
DD
Daniyar D.
Our website ·
★★★★★

I went with my wife. Very romantic. Aleksandr took great photos.

Verified review · Order #12562

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the trip to Kaindy

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

Wear 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.