Mountain Lakes of Almaty Region: Kolsai, Kaindy, Big Almaty Lake and More

Kolsai Lakes: Three lakes of the Northern Tien Shan

The Kolsai Lakes are a chain of three mountain lakes about 300 kilometers from Almaty, near Saty village. The lakes are strung along one river and hidden in the dense spruce forest of the Kungey Alatau.

The lower lake, the easiest to reach, sits at about 1,800 meters — this is where most visitors come. The second lake is at about 2,250 meters, several hours away on foot or on horseback, and the third rises to almost 2,700 meters near the border with Kyrgyzstan and is only for experienced hikers.

The water at Kolsai is cold and changes color over the day from deep blue to emerald, and the first lake is up to about 80 meters deep.

• Lower lake — about 1,800 m, reachable by car plus a short walk
• Middle lake — about 2,250 m, several hours on foot or on horseback
• Upper lake — almost 2,700 m, for experienced hikers only
• What to do: walks along the shore, photos, trout fishing

Kaindy Lake: The sunken forest and its story

Kaindy Lake is not far from Kolsai, about 290 kilometers from Almaty, in a gorge of the Kungey Alatau at about 2,000 meters. It is the region’s top photo spot: bare trunks of Tien Shan spruces rise out of the turquoise water, and the place is rightly called the sunken forest.

The forest went under water after the 1911 earthquake: a landslide dammed the river, the water flooded the gorge and preserved the spruce trunks almost whole. The lake is about 400 meters long, and the water is icy and so clear that divers come here.

It makes sense to see Kolsai and Kaindy on one trip with a night in Saty — a classic weekend trip from Almaty. The last stretch to Kaindy is off-road: the minibus takes you to an agreed point near Saty, and from there you switch to a local off-road vehicle (it and the national park entry are paid separately) and walk about twenty minutes through the forest.

• Altitude — about 2,000 m; the lake is around 400 m long
• What caused it — the 1911 earthquake and a landslide
• Best season — June to September; the dirt road washes out in the rain
• The last kilometers — by off-road vehicle only, plus a short walk uphill

Big Almaty Lake (BAO): The closest to the city

Big Almaty Lake is the mountain lake closest to the city: only about 28 kilometers south of Almaty, in Big Almaty Gorge, at 2,511 meters. This turquoise bowl among the spruces and rocks of the Trans-Ili Alatau is the nearest high-mountain lake to the city, although the walk up from the barrier to the water takes several hours.

The color of the water changes with the season: in summer it is deep turquoise and slightly cloudy from glacial meltwater, in the fall a clear blue. Swimming in BAO is not allowed: it is the city’s drinking-water reservoir, and the water stays icy year-round anyway.

Above the lake stands the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory, and the road beyond climbs into the border zone near the pass to the Cosmostation — you need a passport there. The best time for BAO is May to October, but the snowy gorge is beautiful in winter too.

• Altitude — 2,511 m; distance from the city — about 28 km
• Swimming is prohibited — it is a drinking-water source
• Above the lake is a border zone: bring your ID card or passport
• Best season — May to October; in winter the snowy road is beautiful

Issyk-Kul, Balkhash and Alakol: Big lakes for a vacation

Beyond the mountains near Almaty lie three big lakes for a vacation of several days. These are trips of several days, with overnight stays.

Issyk-Kul is one of the largest and deepest mountain lakes in the world, at about 1,600 meters, already in Kyrgyzstan. It almost never freezes and is slightly salty, and the beaches of Cholpon-Ata stretch along its northern shore. You need a document to cross the border, and almost a full day on the road.

Balkhash is a huge steppe lake, one of the largest in Asia; its special feature is that the western half is fresh and the eastern half brackish. Alakol is also a steppe lake, about 600 kilometers away, known for its mineral-rich healing water and black therapeutic pebbles; the swimming season here runs from June to September, and the water warms up to 26°C.

• Issyk-Kul — about 1,600 m, Kyrgyzstan; passport required; a full day on the road
• Balkhash — a steppe lake, about 470 km; half fresh, half brackish
• Alakol — about 600 km; healing water and black pebbles; season June to September

When to visit the lakes near Almaty

Mountain and steppe lakes have different seasons. The mountain lakes are open mainly from June to September, when the snow has melted and the dirt roads are dry. BAO is accessible longer — from May to October — and in a mild winter people go to admire the snowy slopes.

The beach season at Alakol and Issyk-Kul is June to September, with peak heat and prices in July. September is the gentle late season on the big lakes: the water is still warm, and there are fewer people and less wind.

• Kolsai and Kaindy — June to September, ideally July–August
• BAO — May to October, plus a scenic winter
• Alakol, Issyk-Kul, Balkhash — June to September, with the gentle late season in September

How to get to the lakes by car or minibus

For most of the lakes, it is easiest to travel from Almaty as your own group in a minibus with a driver. The 13-seat Toyota Hiace fits a large family or a group of colleagues, and the mountain switchbacks are handled by a driver with more than 20 years of experience.

To BAO, the minibus climbs the gorge up to the barrier: the upper section of the road is closed to vehicles, and the last kilometers to the water are on foot, so plan a full day and bring hiking shoes. For Kolsai and Kaindy, the drive to Saty takes 4.5–5 hours; the last off-road stretch to Kaindy is covered in a local off-road vehicle — it and the national park entry are paid separately, and we’ll help arrange it. For Alakol, Balkhash and Issyk-Kul, plan a trip of several days and bring documents if you are heading to the border.

• A 13-seat minibus: all 13 traveling light, up to 9 people with large suitcases
• BAO — a day trip: minibus to the barrier, on foot from there
• Kolsai and Kaindy — with a night in Saty; the last stretch by off-road vehicle
• Distant lakes — a 2–3 day route with accommodation

How much a lake trip costs and what’s included

The exact cost of a trip depends on the destination, the number of days, the season and whether an overnight stay is needed. A day trip to BAO and a trip of several days to Alakol are completely different calculations, but there are reference prices: BAO from 50,000 ₸, Kolsai and Kaindy from 100,000 ₸ round trip, Alakol from 110,000 ₸ and Balkhash from 150,000 ₸ round trip, Issyk-Kul from 150,000 ₸ one way; our full minibus rental price list is on a separate page.

We’ll give you the exact amount for your date and route on WhatsApp — and suggest which lakes are easy to combine in one trip.

• A 13-seat Toyota Hiace for the whole trip, with air conditioning
• A driver with more than 20 years of experience who knows the mountain routes
• Fuel and help planning the trip; national park entry and the off-road vehicle to Kaindy are extra
• Flexible schedule: stops for photos and rest along the way