3 Days Tour: Altyn Emel NP, Charyn Canyon, Kaindy & Kolsay Lakes

The area is referred to as the Singing Dunes on account of the rumbling sound emitted from the sand. A light breeze gives a barely audible squeak, while strong gusts produce a more intense sound, similar to an organ. In the Middle Ages, people who heard the singing of a dune, believed that it was the howling devil.

This is one of the most interesting and spectacular objects of tourism in the State National Natural Park “Altyn-Emel”. In Kazakh it means the White Mountains. Mountains seem white only from afar. In the canyons of the mountains one can find naked multi-colored dome rocks, towers composed of colored layers alternate with dry canyons, filled with calcite crystals. Landscapes change constantly – bastions, towers, small towns, inaccessible castles and canyons, there is no end to them.

ith the purpose of preserving natural and geological objects. On the territory of the park there is a large number of rare and endangered species of animals listed in the Red Book. Canyon Charyn is a picturesque natural place, which strikes with its unearthly landscapes. The depth of the canyon is 200 m. The height of the sheer mountains of the canyon reaches 150-300 m.

It is located among a huge coniferous forest at an altitude of more than 2000 thousand meters above sea level. It was formed by a landslide of a huge accumulation of limestone, as well as subsidence of the soil.

The word “kolsay” means “lake in the gorge” and there are three of them: Upper, Middle and Lower. They are all quite deep, cool and scenic. The lower lake is located at 1818 meters above sea level and 80 meters in depth. It is accessible by road and has guest-houses, campsites, boats and horse riding.