Kolsai Lakes at a glance
The Kolsai (Kolsay) Lakes are a system of three lakes about 300 km southeast of Almaty, in the Kungei Alatau mountain ridge. This ridge of the northern Tien Shan borders the Issyk-Kul basin to the south and runs alongside the Zailisky Alatau ridge to the north. The two great ridges are divided in the east by the large valley of the Chilik River.
Kungei Alatau is famous for its lakes, which are the real gems of the Northern Tien Shan in Kazakhstan. The Kolsai lakes were formed by a powerful earthquake in the late 19th century. Huge amounts of stones and soil flooded the gorge in several places and dammed the river running at the bottom of the gorge, creating the lakes. The color of all the lakes changes with the weather from dark blue to turquoise or green, and the water is very clear in all of them.
The first lake, called the Lower Kolsai lake, lies at about 1,800 m above sea level and is about 1 km long and 80 m deep. When there is no wind, the lake is like a vast mirror along the gorge, reflecting the forested slopes and peaks. A steep path from the parking area leads down to the lake between mountain slopes covered with thick spruce forest. Many beautiful plants grow on the slopes, including the bluish Tien Shan spruce. There is a path along the eastern side of the lake with some spots for tents. The Kolsai lakes are best seen together with other sights like Kaindy Lake, Charyn Canyon and the Altyn Emel desert, and they are included in several of our Kazakhstan tours.
- From Almaty: about 300 km, 4–5 hours to Saty village. The first lake is about 15 minutes beyond Saty.
- Time needed: at least one night in Saty. A day trip from Almaty is possible but very long.
- Bring your passport: it is a border area.
- No swimming: the park rules forbid it. Boats and catamarans are for hire on the first lake in summer, from about 5,000 tenge for 30 minutes.
- Season: late May to early October. Most guesthouses and yurt camps close from October to May, and snow can close the road in midwinter.
If you want to walk further to the second and third lakes you should have your passport at hand as there are border guards who will want to take your passport for the duration of the hike as it is possible to cross to Kyrgyzstan from the pass after the third lake.
The marked trail uphill to the second (middle) lake “Manzhyly” starts at the right (west) side of the lake and goes along the spruce forest and later follows the river that runs between the lakes all the way to the largest lake of the three. The second lake is located at the height of about 2200 m above the sea level. Even steeper cliffs on three sides surround the lake and almost all the slopes are covered with deep spruce forest interspersed with ash trees. There are good places for tent camping on the further north coast of the second lake.
Hiking to the second and third lakes
The hiking route between the first and second Kolsai lakes is well balanced in terms of the gradual rise in altitude and the difficulty of the terrain. It is about 7 km one way between the first and second lakes, and the national park’s route table gives about 3.5 hours of hiking. This applies to the “right side route” described here. If you are not an experienced hiker, it is better to follow this western route, as the eastern “left route” is more demanding, with fairly steep slopes and ledges with high drops.
There are three good rest points with benches and tables, and some of them have information boards with altitudes and other information. The route to the first rest point is mostly relaxed hiking, with just one steep section close to the middle of the first lake. Between the first and second points the hike becomes a bit more demanding, and the part between the second and third points is the hardest but also the most interesting.
There are some steep rises with tiny zigzag paths leading continuously uphill. Many people turn back here, but this is actually the last big climb on the way to the second lake. So if you have enough time (always turn back by 4 pm in the mountains if you don’t plan to camp) and energy, just keep going. From the third rest point with benches it is only about 30 minutes to the second lake. At the beginning of the second lake you may meet border guards who will want to check your passport, as the border with Kyrgyzstan is very close to the lakes.
It is possible to continue the hike to the third lake, close to the Kyrgyz border. The upper lake lies in the border zone: several sources say you need a border-zone pass for it, arranged in advance through the border service, while the lower and middle lakes need only your passport. Check the current rules before you go.
The third (upper) Kolsai lake lies at a height of about 2,800 m above sea level, and its surface area is less than half that of the second lake. The dam of huge boulders that formed the lake is now overgrown with forest. On the north shore of the lake there is a grove of juniper trees, the highest more than 4 metres tall.
If you wish to go to the pass “just” above the lake (6 km further), you will find a great spot to see Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan to the south. We have no first-hand knowledge of the path to the pass, and the pass is on the border of the two countries, where the weather can turn harsh quickly. The Sary-Bulak Pass towards Kyrgyzstan is 3,278 m high, so make sure you have the proper equipment and skills before trying it.
Where to stay near the Kolsai Lakes
If you are traveling to Kolsai lakes (to see the Kaindy Lake and Charyn canyon as well) it’s definitely worth spending at least two days, as the drive from Almaty or Issyk Kul side takes time. The best place to stay is the Saty village that offers several guesthouses. They offer delicious home made traditional Kazakh food and are very friendly. The facilities are of the village level, meaning that the toilets might not be the ones you have gotten used to or there might not be showers but banyas (Russian sauna) instead, but it is only part of the experience!
There is also a new more comfortable option to stay in the first Kolsai Lake Village cottages. There are double rooms, cottages for three, four, and six people and a hostel. It is also possible to stay in a yurt by the first lake.
Kolsai tours
2 Day tour Charyn Canyon Kolsay and Kaindy lakes
Walk through Charyn Canyon, see the sunken forest of Kaindy Lake, stay in Saty village and visit the Kolsai Lakes.
Pure Kazakhstan Tour
Kok-Tobe, the Aktau Mountains and Singing Dune in Altyn Emel, the Kolsay and Kaindy lakes, Charyn Canyon and Shymbulak.
Nature tour around Almaty
Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai Lakes, two nights with families in Saty, Kok-Tobe, Medeu, Shymbulak and Lake Issyk.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Tour with Mountain lakes and Issyk Kul
Charyn Canyon, the Kaindy and Kolsai lakes, Altyn Arashan hot springs, Issyk-Kul, eagle hunting and riding at Song Kol.
Central Asia in Depth Tour
Charyn Canyon, the Kolsay and Kaindy lakes, Kyrgyz mountain villages, Bishkek, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Trekking Tour
The Singing Dunes of Altyn Emel, Charyn Canyon, Kol Sai Lake, a trek from Jyrgalan to Jeti Oguz and a yurt by Issyk-Kul.
How to get from Almaty to the Kolsai Lakes
- By car with a driver: the simplest option, and it lets you stop at Charyn Canyon on the way.
- Public transport: shared taxis towards Kegen can drop you at the Saty turn-off. From there you need a local taxi into the village and up to the lake. There is no reliable direct bus.
- On a tour: the time-efficient choice, because Kaindy, Kolsai and Charyn are spread out.
Saty village is about 300 km from Almaty, and the first lake is about 15 minutes’ drive beyond it. Make sure to visit Kaindy Lake while you are in the area.
Stay the night in Saty on our 2-day Charyn, Kolsai and Kaindy tour, or spend two nights there on our Nature tour around Almaty, which leaves a full day for the hike to the second lake.
Park fees and rules
Entry costs about 926 tenge per adult, plus about 3,000 tenge per car (2026). Tent pitches (738 tenge per tent per day) and parking (221 tenge per car) are charged separately, according to the park’s 2026 tariffs.
Fires and tents are allowed only in marked places, swimming is not allowed, and only non-motorised boats may be used on the lakes. Keep the receipt, because rangers check it.
Big Almaty Lake or Kolsai?
- Big Almaty Lake: about an hour above the city, a half-day trip, but no walking along the shore.
- Kolsai: three lakes in spruce forest, real hiking and a night in the mountains, but 4–5 hours each way.
With only one free day, choose Big Almaty Lake. With two or three, choose Kolsai and add Charyn and Kaindy.
When to visit
June to September is the main season, and September brings autumn colours and fewer people. Nights drop below freezing by mid-October, and snow can lie on the upper trail into June.
Temperatures at Kolsai vary a lot, from hot summers (+30 °C) to very cold winters (−25 °C). You can have summer heat at the first lake and heavy rain with an ice-cold wind at the second within a few hours. Don’t forget a rain- and windproof jacket and a warm fleece, and wear proper hiking shoes.
Remember that the higher you go, the colder it gets: from +40 °C in Almaty it can drop below 20 °C during the day if you hike high enough. Nights can be very cold even in summer if you plan to stay in the mountains.
Map of the Kolsai Lakes and Kaindy
The Kolsai Lakes lie above Saty village, a short drive from Kaindy Lake and on the way from Charyn Canyon. Click a marker for a photo and a short description.
Sights & Destinations near Kolsai Lakes
Written by Anssi Karppinen, Central Asia Guide · Page updated