Charyn Canyon at a glance
Charyn (Sharyn) Canyon lies in the Charyn National Park, which was established in 2004 around the Charyn River. Over millions of years, the fast-running river has slowly created a truly spectacular 150 m to 300 m deep canyon, the deepest point being where the canyon crosses the Toraigyr Mountains. While making its way through the layers of soil, the river has exposed colorful sandstone that erosion has sculpted into mysterious rock formations, mostly in reddish and yellowish colors.
There are at least three canyon sections that are commonly known as the Valley of Castles (or the red canyon), the Dragon Gorge and the Witch’s Gorge.
- From Almaty: about 200 km, 3–3.5 hours each way.
- Time needed: a full day from Almaty (10–12 hours), or stop on the way to Saty and the Kolsai Lakes.
- The walk: about 2–3 km one way through the Valley of Castles. Allow 1.5–2 hours return and at least 3 hours on site.
- Park fee and shuttle: cars may not drive down into the canyon; a park shuttle runs from the visitor centre. See the entrance fee.
- Best time: April–June and September–October.
Walking the Valley of Castles: trail, time and difficulty
The most famous, impressive and luckily the easiest canyon to reach is the Valley of Castles. It is about 2 km long, 20–80 m wide and up to about 100 m deep. This canyon is a whole chain of stone cliffs with bizarre shapes, sometimes reminiscent of ancient hill forts or giant sandcastles.
Perhaps the most picturesque and colorful part of the path is where the canyon meets the Charyn River. You can walk down on a path between the red-black rocks, or take the park shuttle: since 2019 cars may not drive down into the canyon.
The national park’s marked route through the Valley of Castles is 3 km long and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. The trail follows a dry riverbed between red cliffs down to the river. It is easy underfoot, but there is no shade and no water, and there is mostly no wind in the canyon. Carry 2–3 litres of water in summer and wear a hat. The walk back up is the hard part, so allow about 45 minutes for it.
Charyn lies in the border zone, so carry your passport.
The Charyn River flows for about 400 kilometers from the highlands of the Ketmen ridge towards the lower reaches of the Ili. Its turbulent stream can easily carry a person away, so do not try swimming here. Further north, the valley gets less deep and an ancient forest of Sogdian ash trees grows next to the river (see the ash grove).
Black Canyon viewpoint
For a view of the river from above, go to the Black Canyon viewpoint. Continue south on the A-351 road from the Valley of Castles turn-off for about 13 km to a viewpoint with parking next to the bridge, where the Charyn River runs in its canyon far below. The canyon is deeper here than in the Valley of Castles.
Other canyons in Charyn
Uzunbulak Canyon
Uzunbulak canyon, which is sometimes called also the yellow or moon canyon, also joins the river Charyn from the east side and is a popular place for camping with tents and has less tourists. Nevertheless, if you are willing to hike and want to see some great views off the beaten path with more nature, this is the canyon to go to.
Temirlik Canyon
If you continue further east towards the border of China along the R-24 road, you will cross the Temirlik gorge, which also joins the Charyn River further north. This gorge offers green meadows and groves to explore, with rare wildlife such as black storks and other birds.
The national park’s marked route through the Temirlik and Small canyons is 13 km long and takes about 4 hours.
Bestamak Canyon
Bestamak is another deep, multi-tinted canyon which is located between the Valley of Castles and Temirlik canyons. Along its length, Bestamak repeatedly changes its look. Wide U-shaped valleys alternate with narrow passages and the color in the rocks gradually changes from pink to orange as you walk down the dry riverbed.
Sogdian ash grove
The ancient Sogdian ash grove lies about 20 km from the Valley of Castles, along the river in the Sarytogay area of the park. To get there, drive back northwest from the Valley of Castles and join the A-352 road going northeast, or take the shorter track straight north-northeast, which needs a suitable car. The grove area starts where the A-352 bridge crosses the river. The national park’s marked route through the grove is 2.5 km long and takes about 1.5 hours.
Explore a bit more and you will find a small waterfall that can even be used for washing. The area also has colorful streaked boulders for geology enthusiasts, and on rare occasions a mountain goat might show itself. Chundzha is a good place to stay the night if camping is not your cup of tea, with many hot springs for a soak.
Charyn tours
These tours include Charyn Canyon, most of them together with the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes.
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Getting to Charyn from Almaty
Most visitors come by private car with a driver, either as a day trip or on the way to Saty for the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes.
Take the main road east from Almaty. After the midpoint you pass the small town of Shelek, once the Kapshagay reservoir has disappeared from the horizon on your left. After around 190 km, turn left (east–northeast) onto the road signposted Charyn. You reach the canyon after a further 9 km, passing the Charyn National Park checkpoint (see the entrance fee).
Without a car, shared taxis towards Kegen can drop you at the Charyn turn-off. From there it is still about 9 km to the canyon, so it only works if you arrange a pickup.
There is no phone signal on the canyon floor.
You can also reach the Charyn National Park from the Issyk Kul area in Kyrgyzstan, but the road on the Kyrgyz side is in very bad shape and slow to drive. The road through the Karkara valley on the Kazakh side is in much better condition. The high Karkara valley is a beautiful place, with very high mountains to its south and southeast and red poppy fields if you cross it in late spring.
The other canyons in the Charyn area need a 4×4 car or can only be reached on foot, so they suit travellers looking for a more adventurous trip, usually with camping.
Our 2-day Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy tour begins with a walk through Charyn Canyon, then continues to Kaindy Lake and a night in Saty village.
Entrance fee, shuttle and costs
- The national park charges an entry fee of about 930 tenge per adult (2026). You can pay in the Kaspi.kz or Halyk Homebank app.
- Since 2019 visitors may not drive down into the canyon. Walk, or use the park shuttle, which costs 500 tenge per seat each way.
- Fires are allowed only in designated places. You can camp with your own tent in the equipped camping areas, usually from May to September.
On our tours all park fees and the shuttle are included.
Best time to visit, month by month
- April–June and September–October: the best months, with warm days and cool mornings. In spring the plants are green and in flower; in early autumn the canyon turns reddish-yellow.
- July–August: the canyon floor can pass 40 °C, so start at sunrise.
- November–March: freezing and icy on the trail, but empty and beautiful in the low light.
- September: the fewest visitors.
Where to stay near Charyn
Staying overnight near the canyon lets you see it at sunset and sunrise without the day-trip crowds. At the canyon itself, the national park’s Charyn Camp has heated glamping tents on the plateau near the path down into the Valley of Castles, at about 50,000 tenge per night for two (2026). The national park also lists guest houses near the ash grove and in Shonzhy (Chundzha) village.
Most travellers continue 1.5 hours to Saty village and stay in a guesthouse near the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes.
Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy: 1, 2 or 3 days?
All three can be seen in one day, but it is a 17-hour day with seven or more hours in the car.
Two days with a night in Saty is the comfortable minimum:
- Day 1: Charyn on the way, then Kaindy Lake.
- Day 2: the Kolsai Lakes, and the Black Canyon viewpoint on the way back.
With three days you can also hike to the second Kolsai lake or ride horses at Kaindy.
See the day-by-day plan of our 2-day Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy tour.
Map of Charyn Canyon and nearby sights
Charyn Canyon lies about 200 km east of Almaty, on the way to Saty village and the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes. Click a marker for a photo and a short description.
Sights near Charyn Canyon
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated