Charyn National Park

Charyn National Park protects the Charyn Canyon, a stunning 80 km-long gorge carved from red sedimentary rock that resembles the Grand Canyon. Located 200 km east of Almaty, the park's centrepiece is the Valley of Castles — a 3 km stretch of towering rock pillars sculpted by erosion. The park also includes the Charyn River valley, ash forests, and desert landscapes.

By Plane

Almaty International Airport (ALA) is 200 km west. 3-hour drive.

By Train

No railway within the park. Almaty is the nearest rail hub.

By Car / Road

From Almaty, take the A-351 east to the Charyn turnoff. The last 10 km is unpaved but passable for regular cars in dry weather. Guided tours available from Almaty.

Walking along the canyon rim and floor. 4x4 for exploring the river valley. The canyon is not served by public transport.

• Valley of Castles — the most famous section, with 150-300 m tall rock pillars in shades of red, orange, and yellow

• Charyn River — the river that carved the canyon, running along the canyon floor

• Ash tree grove — rare Sogdian ash forest in the canyon (relict from the Cretaceous period)

• Canyon viewpoints — several designated viewpoints along the rim trail

• Sunset over the canyon — spectacular colour changes as the sun sets

• Canyon rim hiking — easy walks along the maintained rim trail (1-2 hours)

• Canyon floor hiking — more challenging descents into the gorge

• Camping by the river — overnight in the park (bring all supplies)

• Photography — world-class landscape photography, best at golden hour

• Rafting — Charyn River rafting in spring (May-June) when water levels are high

• Picnic — bring food from Almaty
• Campfire cooking — permitted in designated areas
• No restaurants inside the park

• Bring sufficient water — no drinking water sources within the canyon
• Bottled water essential in summer — temperatures can exceed 40°C

• Camping — tent camping along the river, 1,500 KZT per person park fee
• Guesthouses in nearby villages — basic accommodation, arrange in advance
• Day trip from Almaty — most visitors do the canyon as a day trip

• No shopping facilities within the park — bring all supplies from Almaty
• Entry gate — park entrance fee payable at the checkpoint

• Kolsai Lakes National Park (100 km) — alpine lakes
• Kaindy Lake (110 km) — submerged forest
• Altyn-Emel National Park (180 km) — Singing Dune and Aktau Mountains
• Almaty (200 km) — Kazakhstan's cultural capital