Charyn Canyon, one of the main natural attractions of Kazakhstan, is located relatively close to Almaty (about 200 km). You can go there by car all year round. Every local taxi driver will take you there for a reasonable price.

The age of the canyon is estimated at 12 million years. Its total length is about 150 km, but the most popular place is the so-called “Valley of the Castles”, the length – about 2 km, the width – 20-80 m. Photos by: lusika33.

very interesting place

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

A long time ago this place was covered by a mountain glacier, but climate change led to its disappearance and a system of beautiful small mountain lakes formed here.

The system of lakes in the upper reaches of the Kensu River, on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, is located about 260 km from Almaty, in the Almaty region. This is a unique area of untouched wildlife with eight lakes flowing into each other. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

explore the lakes

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

In the south-eastern part of the mountain system Ile Alatau (the most northern ridge of Tien Shan), near Almaty, you can find three beautiful tectonic lakes. They are called Kolsai lakes.

All three lakes are surrounded by pine forests and have rich underwater flora and fauna. The water in the lakes is crystal clear. Kolsai Lakes National Park on Google Maps. Photos by: Gregory Bedenko.

Upper Kolsai Lake (2,850 meters above sea level) is the smallest of the three lakes.

beautiful lakes

Tags: Almaty oblast

Boszhira tract is located in the western part of the Ustyurt Plateau, on Mangyshlak Peninsula in the Mangistau region. The highway Necropolis Becket-Ata – Zhanaozen passes about 20 km from the tract.

As the tract covers a huge area, it will take more than one day to explore it. This place is little known and inaccessible to tourists. Everything is white here – canyons, peaks, mountains-towers, mountains-castles, mountains-yurts, etc.

almost Martian landscape

Tags: Mangystau oblast

Assy-Turgen is a mountain plateau located at an altitude of about 2,650 meters above sea level, in the Assy River valley, 100 km east of Almaty.

In addition to the picturesque alpine views this place is known for the Assy-Turgen observatory located here. Let’s go on a trip to this plateau and see how it looks in the middle of summer, in late June. Assy plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Denis Frantsouzov.

go on a trip on Assy plateau

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

Taldykorgan is a city located in the Almaty region having the status of the regional center. It is the center of Semirechye (“seven rivers”) area. The distance from Taldykorgan to Almaty is 271 km.

The city stands on the Karatal River, at the foothills of the Jungar Alatau, at an altitude of 602 meters above sea level. “Taldykorgan” means “a hill surrounded by willows.” The city’s population is about 138,000 people. Photos by: Rinna Lee for voxpopuli.kz

explore Taldykorgan

Tags: Taldykorgan city

Alakol in Kazakh means “multi-colored lake.” It is situated on the border of the east and southeast of Kazakhstan. In the south-western part its water is clean and very clear, in the north-east – the water is muddy.

The lake water is strongly mineralized and is considered therapeutic. The length of the lake is 104 kilometers, the maximum width – 52 kilometers, the depth – 54 meters. Lake Alakol on Google Maps. Photos by: Grigoriy Bedenko.

beautiful lakes

Tags: Almaty oblast · East Kazakhstan oblast

Tuzkol is the saltiest mountain lake in Kazakhstan, located in the south-east of the Almaty region, in Raiymbeksky district, about 310 km from Almaty.

The lake is quite large – the length is 5 km and the width in some places reaches 1 km. The water is very salty, but the level of salinity changes with the seasons. The maximum value is up to 300 g per liter. For comparison: in the Dead Sea, the concentration of salt is about 340-350 g per liter.

amazing scenery

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

The tract of Boszhira, a mountain range located in the center of the Mangystau region, occupies a large area. It takes more than one day to explore this place.

This area is known for its amazing unearthly landscape in white chalk tones. Boszhira is little known and difficult to access for tourists. Travel to Boszhira usually consists of two parts: hiking and road trips.

amazing place

Tags: Mangystau oblast

Trans-Ili Alatau or Ile Alatau is a mountain system located in the northwest of the Tien Shan (on the border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan). It is the most northern mountain range of the Tien Shan.

These mountains are rich with numerous glaciers and lakes that increase the risk of mudflows creating a hazard to the settlements located at the foot of the mountains, including the city of Almaty. That’s why regular monitoring of Trans-Ili Alatau is conducted from the air. Photos by: Grigoriy Bedenko.

fly over Trans-Ili Alatau

Tags: Almaty oblast