Lake Kaindy at a glance
Kaindy lake is one of the most famous natural wonders of Kazakhstan, known for the narrow trunks of the spruce trees that rise up from its eerie blueish color water almost like in a horror movie and therefore some refer to it as the Dead lake of Kazakhstan. Kaindy lake is located in the Chon-Urekty gorge, in the Tien Shan mountain system at an altitude of 1,867 metres above sea level and not very far from Almaty. The length of the lake Kaindy is only 400 meters and the depth is about 30 meters, making it significantly smaller and less deep than the Kolsai Lakes not far away, nearby the village of Saty. If you are visiting the area, make sure to visit both, Lake Kaindy and the Kolsai lakes. Lake Kaindy is also a part of the Kolsai lakes national park.
The Kaindy lake is very cold most of the time, having the highest temperature of only about 6 C during the summer. The chilly temperature also keeps the underwater trees preserved in the lake. Otherwise they most likely would have already fallen down. The water in the lake changes the color irregularly from greenish to extreme blue according to the light conditions meaning that the lake can look very different from different angles and during different weather conditions and seasons. Kaindy Lake is included in most of our Almaty area Kazakhstan tours and in many Central Asia Tours.
Even though the Kaindy lake is relatively close to Almaty and near the Kolsai lakes, it does not have as many tourists most likely due to it being harder to reach. From our perspective it is still the most interesting sight in the area with the eerie blueish color water and the tree branches partially visible from underwater.
If you happen to be traveling in Kazakhstan in the autumn time, you can also enjoy the amazing autumn colors of the trees near the lake reflecting from this peculiar colored lake! In winter the lake freezes and the road is often blocked by snow; see the best time to visit.
Kaindy Sunken Forest
Kaindy is a young lake. It is usually said to have formed after the 1911 Kemin earthquake, when a landslide dammed the valley; a 2024 study suggests the 1889 Chilik earthquake instead. The landslide blocked the river and the small valley slowly filled with water, drowning the spruce trees. The tops of the trees still point up from the surface of the lake, and well-preserved branches and needles can be seen under water in divers’ videos.
Diving in Kaindy is possible, but it needs a diving certificate, your own equipment and a permit from the national park.
Before reaching Kaindy Lake there is a small pond where you can park, and yurts where you can order a barbecue, tea and koumiss in summer. From the upper car park it is a 1.5–2 km walk, mostly uphill, to the lake. Do not limit yourself to the main shore: go further to the viewpoint for a view of the lake from above and towards the river inflow, and to the other side of the lake for more picturesque spots.
Dead lake of Kazakhstan
As mentioned, some call Kaindy the Kazakhstan dead lake and really Kaindy could be described as a dead lake due to the dead gray and somewhat ghostly trees. Some also say that the trees are growing here upside down, but it is simply not true. Otherwise, the lake being very cold throughout the year and the amount of nutrients in the glacier originated water, there is no big amount of vegetation or other life in the lake.
Nevertheless, in the underwater images and videos it can be seen that there is some algae growing from the tree branches and there are quite often birds swimming at the lake and eating so the lake could be considered very alive in our opinion.
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How to get to Lake Kaindy from Almaty
Kaindy is about 280–300 km from Almaty by road, about 5 hours each way, near the village of Saty, along the Kuldzhinsky highway. The turn-off is about 1 km before Saty village, just after the small river coming down from the lake.
From the turn-off the track climbs about 9 km to the national park post and on towards the lake. Road conditions change from year to year, so travel with a driver who knows the route.
From the upper car park, a 1.5–2 km walk, mostly uphill, takes about 40 minutes. Horses are available for this last leg. Kaindy is far for a day trip from Almaty, so most visitors stay a night in a guesthouse in Saty and see the Kolsai Lakes the same trip.
Visit Kaindy with Kolsai and Charyn Canyon on our 2-day Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy tour.
Best time to visit, and Kaindy in winter
June and September give the best colours and fewer people. Come early in the morning for still water and reflections.
The lake starts to freeze in November and is frozen by January. In midwinter the road is often blocked by snow. The ice melts in April. The yurt camps near the lakes close from October to May.
Can you swim? Water temperature and safety
Swimming is not allowed under the national park rules, and the water stays at about 4–6 °C all year.
Diving, including winter ice diving, needs a certification and a park permit. Drones need written park permission.
The name “dead lake” refers to the drowned spruce trees, not to accidents.
Entrance fee and tickets
Kaindy and the Kolsai Lakes have separate tickets, with a fee per person and per vehicle, paid in cash. In 2026 the entrance fee was around 3,000 tenge per person. Keep the receipt.
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 Canyon 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 spend longer at Kaindy.
Where to stay near Kaindy
The Saty village offers few guesthouses and homestays from where 4 wheeled rides and horses are available to the lake. It is also possible to camp near the lake and there are some toilets and picnic tables near the car parking. One can also stay in a yurt close to the first Kolsai lake.
Avoid visiting Kaindy Lake during summer weekends
Locals, especially the young generation of Almaty, has found Kaindy lake. The weekends in June – August can get super crowded at the lake, even so that it will decrease the value of your experience significantly. It will be very hard to get nice photos during the busy times as people crowd the best locations and it can be hard to even move around safely in the congested small paths and trails that surround the lake area. During the week, there won’t be more than a few dozen tourists, and going for a hike and sitting by the shore is enjoyable.
Map of Kaindy and the nearby lakes
Kaindy lies in the Chon-Urekty gorge above Saty village, a short drive from the Kolsai Lakes and on the way back from Charyn Canyon. Click a marker for a photo and a short description.
Sights near Kaindy Lake
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated