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Kaindy Lake & Kolsai Lakes: Complete Travel Guide

Updated September 2026, Kaindy Lake & Kolsai Lakes: Complete Travel Guide was originally written in August 2019

Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes are two of the most spectacular places to visit in southeastern Kazakhstan. Located in the Northern Tien Shan near the village of Saty, the two destinations are famous for completely different reasons: Kaindy is known for its submerged Schrenk spruce forest rising from turquoise water, while Kolsai consists of three alpine lakes surrounded by dense mountain forests and high peaks.

The good news is that you can visit Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes independently, although getting there takes some planning. Most travelers use Saty as their base and arrange local transport to Kaindy and Kolsai, while organized tours from Almaty are the easiest option if you don’t want to deal with the logistics yourself.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to get to Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes from Almaty, where to stay, entrance fees, hiking options, the best time to visit, what to pack, and whether you should visit independently or with a tour.

Start here: The Kazakhstan travel guide
and grab your copy of Bradt’s Kazakhstan to help you plan

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Kaindy Lake & Kolsai Lakes at a Glance

	Kaindy Lake	Kolsai Lakes
Known for	Sunken spruce forest	Three alpine lakes
Nearest village	Saty	Saty
From Saty	Roughly 12 km	Roughly 12 km to Lake 1
Main activity	Hiking and sightseeing	Hiking, horseback riding and boating
Best for	Short visits, picnicking	Hiking and camping
Can you visit independently?	Yes	Yes
Overnight options	Camping	Camping, guesthouses, and yurts
Recommended time	Half day	1-2 days

Can you visit Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes in one day? Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to hike. You can visit Kaindy and Lower Kolsai on the same day with your own vehicle or a tour, but you’ll have very little time for the Kolsai trails. If you want to hike to Middle Kolsai, plan on spending at least one night in Saty.

Kolsai Lakes

Kolsai Lakes are a chain of three alpine lakes in the Northern Tien Shan of southeastern Kazakhstan. The lakes sit at progressively higher elevations in a forested mountain valley, with Lower Kolsai Lake accessible by road and the second and third lakes requiring a hike or horseback ride.

Most travelers visit Kolsai as a hiking destination. Lower Kolsai is the easiest to reach and has the most facilities, while Middle Kolsai is the main hiking destination and, in my opinion, the lake worth putting in the effort to reach. Upper Kolsai is considerably more remote, requires a much longer trek, and a permit.

You can visit Lower Kolsai as a quick stop, hike to Middle Kolsai as a long day trip, or spend the night camping and continue toward Upper Kolsai.

The Three Kolsai Lakes

Kolsai Lake 1, Lower Kolsai: Around 1,800 meters above sea level and the only lake you can reach by road. This is the busiest of the three, with parking, boats, horseback riding and other visitor facilities.

Kolsai Lake 2, Middle Kolsai: Around 2,250 meters above sea level. The hike from Lower Kolsai is roughly 5-8 km depending on the route and takes around 3 hours one way. This is generally considered the most scenic of the three lakes.

Kolsai Lake 3, Upper Kolsai: Around 2,850 meters above sea level and much more remote. Reaching it requires a substantially longer hike from Middle Kolsai, so you’ll want to plan appropriately rather than treating it as a casual extension of the Lake 2 hike.

The Sunken Forest of Lake Kaindy

Lake Kaindy is famous for the eerie-looking Schrenk spruce trees that rise from its turquoise water. The trees were submerged after an earthquake triggered a landslide in 1911, blocking the valley and creating the lake.

Unlike Kolsai, Kaindy isn’t really a destination for a long alpine hike. Most people come for the sunken forest and mountain scenery, making it possible to visit in a few hours.

The color and appearance of the lake change with the weather and season. On a calm day, the surrounding mountains and trees can reflect beautifully in the water, while cloudy weather gives the place a much moodier feel.

Why Are There Trees in Lake Kaindy?

Lake Kaindy is famous for the eerie-looking Schrenk spruce trees that rise from its turquoise water. The trees were submerged after an earthquake triggered a landslide in 1911, blocking the valley and creating the lake.

Unlike Kolsai, Kaindy isn’t really a destination for a long alpine hike. Most people come for the sunken forest and mountain scenery, making it possible to visit in a few hours.

The color and appearance of the lake change with the weather and season. On a calm day, the surrounding mountains and Shrenk spruce trees can reflect beautifully in the water, while cloudy weather gives the place a much moodier feel.

Important Note: Bring your passport with you. There is now a checkpoint as you arrive at Saty and passports will be checked. A photocopy WILL NOT suffice.

Plan the perfect trip: A two week Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan itinerary

How to Get to Kaindy Lake & Kolsai Lakes

The easiest way to visit Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes independently is to travel from Almaty to Saty, spend the night in Saty, and arrange local transport to the lakes. You can also rent a car and drive yourself or book an organized day trip from Almaty.

Almaty to Saty

By Marshrutka

From Sayakhat bus station in Almaty, there is a 6 am marshrutka that leaves bound for the village of Saty where you will begin your trek. Arrive early and ask around where the marshrutka will be, some have reported difficulty in finding it. Plan to pay 3000 KZT one way.

By Marshrutka + Taxi or Hitchhiking

Alternatively, if you don’t arrive early enough or can’t find the direct marshrutka you can grab a marshrutka bound for Kegan and ask to be dropped at the turn off to Saty for 2000 KZT. You will need to flag down a passing taxi or hitchhike the remaining 68 kilometers to Saty.

Saty to Lake Kaindy

Once you arrive to Saty you can either hike to Kaindy Lake or grab a taxi, which can easily be arranged from your guesthouse in Saty.

The taxi option will cost about 5,000 KZT round trip for the car and you’ll need to pay the national park entrance fee as well. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes each way. This road is in bad shape and a 4WD is strongly advised. The 5,000 KZT can be split among up to 5 people.

If planning to trek it’s a 12 kilometer hike along the road. Make sure you have warm camping equipment.

The road to Kaindy has been undergoing reconstruction, so don’t assume that older travel guides describing a rough 4WD-only track are still accurate. Conditions have been changing as work progresses, and some sections may still be rough or unfinished. Parts of the road have been paved or reconstructed, while other sections have remained gravel or under construction.

The easiest option is to have your guesthouse in Saty arrange a local driver. If you’re driving yourself, check the current road conditions before setting out and don’t assume that a normal rental car will be suitable simply because the road is being improved.

Saty to Kolsai Lakes

Lower Kolsai Lake is roughly 12 km from Saty and can be reached by road. Unlike Kaindy, the road to the first Kolsai Lake is much easier, and you can drive directly to the lake rather than stopping at the park entrance.

If you aren’t driving yourself, ask your guesthouse in Saty to arrange a taxi or local driver. This is usually much easier than trying to negotiate transport after arriving at the park entrance. Plan for it to cost 1,500 KZT give or take 500 KZT.

Make sure you agree on whether the driver is taking you all the way to Lower Kolsai Lake, rather than simply to the national park entrance.

Visiting Kaindy and Kolsai by Tour

If you don’t want to deal with marshrutkas, taxis and arranging transport in Saty, joining a tour from Almaty is the easiest way to visit Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes. Most day tours include transportation, national park fees and a guide, and visit both Kaindy and Lower Kolsai in a single day.

The downside is limited time. Day tours generally won’t give you enough time to hike to Middle Kolsai Lake, so I’d recommend traveling independently if hiking is your priority.

For more time at the lakes, look for a 2-day Kaindy and Kolsai tour from Almaty that includes an overnight stay in Saty.

Park Entrance Fee

The park entrance fee sees to fluctuate a bit on my research but expect park entry to cost 750-1000 KZT per person, and 750 KZT per tent if planning to camp.

Things to Do Around Kolsai Lakes

Hike to Middle Kolsai Lake

The hike from Lower Kolsai to Middle Kolsai Lake is the most popular trek in the park. The trail climbs through spruce forest and alpine meadows for roughly 5-8 kilometers one way, taking around 3 hours depending on your pace. The lake sits at about 2,250 meters and makes a rewarding day hike from Lower Kolsai.

Trek to Upper Kolsai Lake

Upper Kolsai Lake is the most remote of the three lakes, sitting at roughly 2,800 meters. Reaching it requires continuing beyond Middle Kolsai, making this a much longer trek best suited to experienced hikers. Plan to camp or spend the night in the area rather than attempting the entire route as a rushed day trip.

Take a Boat on Lower Kolsai Lake

If hiking isn’t your thing, you can take a boat ride on Lower Kolsai Lake. Boats are available to rent near the lakeshore and offer an easy way to enjoy the mountain scenery without breaking a sweat. It’s also a nice option if you’re only spending a few hours at Kolsai.

Go Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is another popular way to explore the Kolsai area. Local horses can be hired around Lower Kolsai, with rides allowing you to cover some of the trails without walking the entire distance. Ask locally about available routes and prices.

Staying the Night at Kolsai Lakes

You can opt to either stay in yurts or bring in your own gear and camp around the lakes. If it’s obvious that you are camping (hauling in obvious camping gear) you will be charged an additional fee at the park entrance for camping.

There are yurts at the first Kolsai Lake for 7,000 KZT per person per night or 10,000 KZT including 3 meals. Further back from the parking lot there are more yurts, these cheaper at 5,000 KZT per night.

Things to Do Around Lake Kaindy

Hiking and trekking around the unusual lake for the best views of the sunken forest are the main reasons to visit Lake Kaindy.

See the Sunken Forest

The submerged spruce trunks are the main attraction at Kaindy Lake. Walk along the shoreline and viewpoints around the lake for different perspectives of the trees rising from the turquoise water.

Hike Around Lake Kaindy

The area around Kaindy offers short hikes and viewpoints rather than the long alpine trekking found at Kolsai. Give yourself enough time to walk beyond the main arrival point and explore the shoreline.

Go Horseback Riding

Local horse rides are available around the lake and can be useful if you want to cover ground without walking the entire route.

Staying the Night at Lake Kaindy

There are no formal accommodations around Lake Kaindy, so you will need to bring in your own camping gear if you plan to spend the night.

Staying in Saty Village

Saty is more of a base for exploring the area further. You can typically show up and find a homestay (plan to pay about 3,000-4,000 KZT per person, per night).

If you like to plan ahead you can book a bed at A-Frame Kolsai or Guesthouse Arcabay-Karligash. Booking ahead is smart especially if you plan to visit on a weekend in July and August when many locals head out here for a weekend of play.

Kaindy Lake vs. Kolsai Lakes: Which Should You Visit?

Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes are close enough that you should visit both if you have the time, but they’re very different experiences.

• Choose Kaindy Lake if you want unusual scenery, the famous submerged forest, and a relatively short visit.
• Choose Kolsai Lakes if you want hiking, mountain scenery, camping and more time in nature.
• Have one day? Visit both Kaindy and Lower Kolsai with a car, driver or tour.
• Have two or three days? Stay in Saty and give yourself time to hike toward Middle Kolsai.

Best Time to Visit Kaindy Lake & Kolsai Lakes

June through September is generally the best period for visiting Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes, particularly if you want to hike around Kolsai. Summer brings the most reliable access and the warmest conditions, although mountain weather can still change quickly.

July and August are the busiest months, especially on weekends when travelers from Almaty head into the mountains. If you want fewer people, September is my favorite month to visit. The weather is cooler, but the crowds thin out and the landscape starts taking on autumn colors.

October and later can bring colder temperatures, snow and more difficult trail conditions. Winter is a completely different experience, with snow-covered scenery and frozen landscapes, but access can be more complicated. November is a an excellent time to visit to see the lakes dusted with snow but roads still navigable.

If you’re hiking beyond Lower Kolsai, check current trail and weather conditions before setting out. Snow can linger at higher elevations well into the season.

Month	What to expect
May	Cool, variable conditions
June	Hiking season begins, snow possible higher up
July	Warmest, busiest
August	Warm, busy
September	Excellent balance of weather and crowds
October	Cold, possible snow
November-April	Winter conditions, more complicated access

Visit nearby Charyn Canyon on your way from or back to Almaty

What to Pack for Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes

• 3-season tent
• Backpack (I personally recommend the Ariel 65 for women)
• Hydration Pack
• Sleeping bag (Make sure to grab one cold rated to the temperatures you’ll likely face overnight)
• Hiking boots
• Katadyn water purifier
• Campstove and Cooking set

Getting Back to Almaty from Saty

Shared minibuses and other local transport connect Saty with Almaty, but schedules can change. Ask your guesthouse to confirm the current departure time and reserve a seat in advance, particularly during the busy summer season.

Looking For Things To Do In Almaty? Check out my previous post Best Things to Do in Almaty

Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes Are Worth the Detour

Kaindy Lake and Kolsai Lakes are one of those places in Kazakhstan where the journey is genuinely part of the experience. The landscape changes quickly as you leave Almaty behind, trading the city’s wide boulevards for dry steppe, mountain valleys and eventually the dark forests of the Northern Tien Shan.

Kaindy is the more unusual of the two, with its drowned spruce forest poking through the blue-green water, while Kolsai is where you’ll want to spend your time if hiking is the goal. If you can fit both into your Kazakhstan itinerary, I’d absolutely do it.

And while these lakes have become increasingly popular, they still feel a world away from the cities. Stay in Saty for a couple of nights, slow down, hike beyond the easy viewpoints and give yourself enough time to actually experience the mountains rather than simply checking two lakes off a list.

Have Any Questions About Visiting Lake Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes?

Ask your Lake Kaindy & Kolsai Lakes questions in the comments section below.

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