Kazakhstan: Kolsai Lakes National Park
Казахстан: Кольсайские озера

Kazakhstan’s Kolsai Lakes truly earn the nickname ‘Pearls of the Tien Shan’ – a fact you’ll understand immediately when Kolsai Lake I first comes into view. Easily the highlight of the Kolsai Lakes National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan, the trek between Kolsai I and II can be done as one long day hike or as an overnight trek camping near the shores of Kolsai II.

Combining stunning alpine vistas, evergreen forests, and perfectly turquoise-colored and mirror-like waters, this trek is not to be missed on any southern Kazakhstan hiking itinerary.

Total km: 15.6 km
Total days: 1 day
Elevation gain/loss: 720m+/720m-
Start point: Kolsai Lake 1
Endpoint: Kolsai Lake 1
GPS Files

The trail to Kolsai II hugs the eastern shore of Kolsai I, picking up some elevation about halfway down the side of the lake and offering sweeping views of the calm water below and narrow tree covered valley walls further down the shore. The path descends at roughly the last third of Kolsai I’s length, bringing you back to the shore’s level at the southern terminus of the lake.

From here the Kolsai Lakes Trek meanders through dense spruce forest on a well-established trail that follows the course of the Kolskaya River, occasionally muddy in early summer or after rains, making a few inclines and declines.

The 3 kilometers of the trek gain roughly 400 meters of elevation to end you at the near shore of Kolsai II Lake in an attractive amphitheater of the Tien Shan.

Starting from the parking lot at the end of the dirt road from Saty Village, you’ll easily find the trailhead for the Kolsai Lakes as this is a regularly used pathway for local visitors and tourists alike. In the first 500 meters the trail descends about 70 meters to the northern end of Kolsai I Lake. Just to the east of here, a small side trail runs to a dock popular among local tourists for photos and especially selfies.

The main path follows along the western shore of Kolsai I. After about 1 km the trail begins to climb above the shore of the lake. Even though you’re trekking through a forest, keep an eye out to the left for intermittent gaps in the trees where you’ll have grand views of Kolsai I below. At about 1.75 km you’ll have reached the highest point, from which the path begins a decline as it approaches the southern edge of Kolsai I.

After about one hour of walking you’ll arrive at the south shore of Kolsai I. Here you will find a great spot to take a break or even have a picnic – those wanting to make a slow journey of it could even camp here, though most who’ve come prepared for camping will want to continue onwards to Kolsai II before setting up for the night.

This next section of the trek will take about an hour, crossing into dense spruce forest with the Kolskaya River rushing just to the left hand side for the next three kilometers. In this section the path does make some small climbs and descents, but the trail is still easy to follow. You will find occasional sections where the path may fork into two, but they all tend to rejoin together after a short distance. You can find a variety of wildflowers such as roses growing along this sections as well as many types of berries and butterflies.

The final section of the trek is where you’ll gain the most elevation, about 400 vertical meters over three km. At the beginning of this section you’ll still be meandering through the forest, though the path bends to the southeast before straightening out due south again where Kolsai Lake II will come into view. Our route ends at the northern shore of Kolsai II.

Alternate Options for the Kolsai Lakes Trek

There is a third Kolsai Lake beyond the second lake that is possible to trek on to. Given the close proximity to the Kyrgyz border, it is at times not possible to trek on to the third lake, so enquire in Saty before departing.

Given the proximity of Kazakhstan’s other top sights, it’s recommended to combine a visit to Kolsai Lakes with nearby Lake Kaindy at the very least. Charyn Canyon and Altyn Emel National Park are also located in southeastern Kazakhstan and are well worth putting together on a Kazakhstan Golden Triangle itinerary.

Good to Know

As the Kolsai Lakes are located in a border area, make sure to have your passport on you. Passports will be checked at a gate near the entrance of the national park – this is also where you’ll want to verify whether it is currently possible to hike to the third Kolsai Lake.

An entry fee will be collected at the park entry gate as well. At the time of research the entrance fee was 450 KZT per person plus 750 KZT per vehicle, and an additional 750 KZT per tent if you plan to camp. The entrance fee seems to fluctuate between 550-750 KZT periodically.

For those not keen on trekking but still want to visit both Kolsai Lakes, it’s possible to arrange a horseback riding trip between the two.

If wanting to get out on the lake, you can rent boats from a dock just below the parking lot at Kolsai I.

How to Get to Kolsai Lakes National Park

To get to Kolsai Lake I, you will first need to reach the village of Saty, which is easily done from Almaty. There is a marshrutka at Sayakhat Bus Station in Almaty that is scheduled to leave around 6am daily for around 3,000 KZT per seat. Otherwise, you can go by taxi for 30,000 KZT for the entire car, though you will need to haggle a bit.

From Saty you can grab a taxi to Kolsai Lake I for about 2,000 KZT. You can also ask your guesthouse to arrange a car there for you. Make sure that the car takes you all the way to the lake and not just the national park entrance gate as this is 8 km away from the lake.

Where to Stay and Eat

There are excellent places to camp around Kolsai I and Kolsai II, so if planning to do so come equipped with a tent, sleeping bag, food, and any other gear you may need.

There is a yurt camp right on Kolsai I Lake that rents out for 7,000 KZT per person per night, 10,000 KZT if you’d like to include 3 meals per day. Back further from the lake behind the parking lot there are more yurts available, coming in around half the price of the lakefront yurt.

If visiting Kolsai Lakes as a day trip, you’ll want to spend the night in nearby Saty Village. A handful of guesthouses exist, with Gostinitsa Saty and Guesthouse Arcabay-Karligash coming recommended. Most guesthouses will cost 3,000-4,000 KZT per person, per night, including breakfast and dinner.

[All photos in this post courtesy of Adventures of Nicole]