About This Journey
Kolsai is a chain of three glacial lakes high in the Tian Shan mountains, four hours from Almaty. Most visitors only see the first one — the easy, accessible lake at the trailhead. We go further. From Kolsai 1, we hike up through old-growth spruce forest along a mountain stream to Kolsai 2 — the upper lake, set in a quieter alpine bowl with snow-edged shores well into early summer.
This is a real day hike, not a photo stop. The trail is roughly 15km round-trip with about 600m of elevation gain, mostly on the way up. Forest paths, rocky sections, occasional stream crossings. The reward is what most travelers never see: a still, deep mountain lake without the crowds, where you can sit on a log with hot tea and a light lunch, then turn around and head back down.
Not feeling fit enough to hike the full distance? The full Kolsai 1 → Kolsai 2 ascent is also available on horseback for an additional $40-$50 (price depends on season, paid directly to the local horse provider at the trailhead). The horses are mellow, well-trained, and easy to manage even for first-time riders, and a dedicated local horse handler accompanies us up and back to the lake. This means the hike's fitness bar isn't a deal-breaker — if you'd love to see Kolsai 2 but the climb feels like too much, the horses make it accessible.
We start early — 5 AM pickup from your hotel — to arrive at Kolsai 1 in the soft morning light, before the day-trippers. The hike up usually takes 3-4 hours on foot, less on horseback. We rest at Kolsai 2 for an hour or so, then descend. If we're moving well and complete the full Kolsai loop in 6-7 hours, we have time on the way back to stop at Kaindy Lake — the famous submerged forest lake — as a bonus. From the Kaindy parking, it's a short hike of about 2km with ~200m elevation gain to the lake itself; horses are also available there for an additional fee, again paid directly to the local provider. Before the long drive back, we stop in Saty village for a homecooked dinner — a proper warm meal to refuel after a long day on the trail. You're back in Almaty by evening.
Itinerary
Almaty → Kolsai → Almaty
- 5:00 AM Pickup from your hotel or apartment in Almaty. Private 4×4, door to door. The early start matters — we want to be on the trail before the day-tour buses arrive.
- ~9:00 AM Arrive at Kolsai 1. Park entry, brief stop at the lower lake to take it in, then straight onto the trail. Soft morning light, quiet shoreline.
- Morning Hike up to Kolsai 2 — on foot or horseback. The trail climbs through old-growth spruce forest, alongside a fast mountain stream with cascading sections. Roughly 7-8km of climbing, ~600m elevation gain. Steady, scenic, occasionally steep on rocky sections. Horseback option available at the trailhead (~$40-$50, paid directly to the local provider) — a dedicated horse handler accompanies the ride up and back.
- Midday Light lunch at Kolsai 2. Hot coffee or tea from a thermos, simple packed lunch, about an hour to rest by the upper lake. Quiet, often windless, mountains reflected in the water.
- Afternoon Descend to Kolsai 1 & vehicle. Same trail back down. Lighter on the legs, easier on the lungs. Total round trip on the trail: 6-7 hours typical.
- Late afternoon — if time allows Optional Kaindy Lake stop. If we finish the Kolsai hike in good time, we drive to Kaindy Lake — the famous submerged spruce forest. From the parking, it's a short hike of about 2km with ~200m elevation gain to the lake. Horses are also available here for an additional fee (paid directly to the local provider) for anyone who'd prefer not to walk it. (Time-dependent — depends on Kolsai pace)
- Early evening Dinner in Saty village. Before the long drive back, we stop in Saty village for a homecooked dinner — a proper warm meal after a long day on the trail. A chance to eat real Kazakh food, refuel, and let the body settle before the road.
- Evening Drive back to Almaty. Arrive around 9:00 PM, tired but full of mountain air.
On the Trail
Good to Know
Fitness Level
Moderate – Challenging on foot. ~15km round-trip with ~600m elevation gain. Mostly forest trail with rocky sections. Not very fit? The full route is also doable on horseback — see "Horseback Option" below.
Best Season
May to October. Snow may linger near Kolsai 2 in early spring; full alpine conditions in summer; golden colours in early autumn.
Hike Duration
6-7 hours on the trail (round-trip Kolsai 1 → Kolsai 2 → Kolsai 1). Total day: ~16 hours including drive each way and lunch.
Group Size
Maximum 4 people. Always private — no strangers added to your group.
What to Bring
Proper hiking boots (this matters — the trail is real), layers (mountain weather changes), waterproof jacket, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, daypack. Detailed packing list provided after booking.
Horseback Option
Available at both Kolsai (~$40-$50) and Kaindy (additional fee) for travelers who'd prefer to ride than hike. Paid directly to the local horse provider at the trailhead. Horses are mellow, well-trained, easy for first-time riders. At Kolsai, a dedicated local handler accompanies the ride to the upper lake and back.
Go further than the day-trippers.
Get in touch and we'll confirm your dates, answer any questions, and have you on the trail before the buses arrive.